MN-GOV: Kendall Qualls enters 2026 Minnesota governor's race as a GOP nomination contender

The first big-name Republican contender has entered the 2026 governor’s race.

Kendall Qualls filed campaign paperwork Thursday to begin raising money toward his second bid for Minnesota’s highest office.

Qualls, 61, is a former business executive who has led conservative advocacy groups in recent years. He sought the GOP nomination for governor in 2022 but fell just short at the party’s endorsing convention. He didn’t move on to a primary.

DFL Gov. Tim Walz hasn’t said if he’ll seek a rare third term, but said that announcement would come sometime after the legislative session concludes.

Qualls is an Army veteran and ran unsuccessfully for Congress in a suburban district in 2020.



https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/05/08/qualls-makes-second-run-for-minnesota-governor