Minnesota Minute: Conventions and Endorsements

Minnesota’s major political parties concluded their 2026 state conventions over the past weekend, providing a clearer picture of the candidates who will compete in this year’s statewide elections. While both parties successfully endorsed candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, and the constitutional offices, the conventions also highlighted differing levels of party unity and raised questions about the role of endorsements in an increasingly primary-driven political environment.

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Republican Convention – Duluth, MN

Delegates ultimately endorsed veteran and healthcare executive Kendall Qualls for Governor over six other candidates after a marathon balloting process that ended in a head-to-head showdown with MN House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who was favored to win. Qualls emerged with the needed 60 percent support on the 10^th ballot. MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and Speaker Lisa Demuth have both announced that they will continue their campaigns and run in the primary on August 11.

Republicans also endorsed former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze for the open U.S. Senate seat over former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya and former NBA player Royce White. All three candidates have announced they will be running in the August primary.

The party rounded out its statewide ticket by endorsing Ron Schutz for attorney general, Nate George for state auditor, and Tad Jude for secretary of state. Collectively, the endorsements reflected a convention in which delegates frequently favored candidates viewed as political outsiders or challengers to the status quo.

The convention was overshadowed by significant technical issues involving the electronic clicker voting system. Multiple rounds of voting were delayed after party officials reported inconsistencies in vote totals, prompting pauses in the proceedings and renewed scrutiny of the technology used to count delegate votes. Party officials maintained that the issues were procedural rather than substantive and ultimately certified the results.

Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Convention – Rochester, MN

The DFL convention in Rochester was more orderly, but not without technical glitches and a few surprises. However, they largely affirmed candidates who entered the weekend with strong delegate support. For Governor, after one round of voting, delegates supported Klobuchar with 67.6% against her lone surprise challenger, Kobey Layne, who received 27.6% support from progressives. A few days before the convention, Klobuchar announced that former Fergus Falls Mayor, Ben Schierer, would be her running mate.

Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan won the party’s endorsement for the open U.S. Senate handily after U.S. Representative Angie Craig opted to bypass the endorsement process and continue directly to the primary election. The race is expected to be one of the most closely watched Democratic primaries in the country.

The DFL also endorsed Attorney General Keith Ellison and Secretary of State Steve Simon for reelection, and Zack Filipovich for the open state auditor seat left by Julie Blaha’s (DFL) retirement. These picks position the party to defend all of its statewide constitutional offices in November.

Taken together, the two conventions offered a snapshot of Minnesota’s evolving political landscape. Republicans showcased a strong  grassroots appetite for outsider candidates but also faced internal disputes over convention procedures and voting technology. Democrats largely ratified  candidates who entered the weekend with established support and organizational  strength. Although party endorsements remain influential in Minnesota politics, several major races are headed toward competitive August primaries.

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