Both the Minnesota DFL and Republican parties are holding their endorsing convention this weekend.
"This is just a prelude for what is going to be a very intense election in Minnesota," says University of Minnesota political science professor Larry Jacobs. "These are the people who are most engaged in each party. They tend to be the ones who are the true believers."
The DFL will hold its 2026 convention in Rochester this weekend, while the state GOP has its convention in Duluth.
Both parties will decide endorsements for statewide races, including governor, U.S. Senate, secretary of state, attorney general and state auditor. The DFL convention runs from 1:00 p.m. Friday through Sunday, while the GOP convention started at 8:00 a.m. Friday and ends Saturday.
GOP race for governor up for grabs
Jacobs says most eyes will be on the endorsement of candidates in the U.S. Senate race, and of course in the governor's race.
In the governor's race on the Republican side, House Speaker Lisa Demuth may not come out on top, despite winning the statewide straw poll for Republican governor at precinct caucuses in February. Her main challenger, businessman and Army veteran Kendall Qualls, won another GOP straw poll on Thursday night.
"It's possible that no one will get it because there won't be enough votes, given the number of candidates and the support they have," Jacobs says.
Another GOP candidate, MyPillow CEO and fervent Trump supporter Mike Lindell, has been running a distant third but has said he will remain in the race no matter the result of this weekend's convention. Both Qualls and Demuth said they would go by the party endorsement.
"The Republican Party has had a bit more history of candidates respecting the endorsement," Jacobs added. "Some of the candidates will drop out if they don't get the endorsement and not run in the primary. It's quite different from the DFL."
There's far less drama on the DFL side for governor. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar jumped into the race after current Governor Tim Walz announced in January he would not seek a third term, and ended his candidacy.
WCCO political analyst Blois Olson says there are two things to watch there: who her choice of running mate will be, and will Klobuchar get the support of the far left Democratic Socialists in the state given her more moderate leanings.
"Some more leftist groups are making news on the eve of the convention that they have demands of Klobuchar, and have the votes to block an endorsement," Olson said in his Morning Take. "A very long shot scenario is that Klobuchar does not get endorsed – and is blocked by the noisy and DSA aligned delegates. If that happens, Klobuchar will solidify her middle lane positioning in the race."
Klobuchar picks Lt. Governor running mate
Friday morning, Klobuchar announced that the former Mayor of Fergus Falls, Ben Schierer is her choice for Lt Governor. That comes as a bit of surprise, as Schierer has been running for state auditor.
“I am proud and excited to join the ticket and work with Senator Klobuchar to lead this state with a growth agenda,” Schierer said. “With experience as a small business owner and a father of five, I know the hard work it takes to support a family and run a business. And as a former mayor devoted to rural economic development, I know how important it is to elect a Governor who will focus on expanding our economy and creating good jobs for Minnesotans across this state. Amy Klobuchar gets it – she shows up time and time again, in all 87 counties – and I am ready to partner with her to get things done for our families, our communities, and our state.”
Schierer grew up in Fergus Falls, was first elected to the Fergus Falls City Council in 2004, and was elected Mayor in 2016 and reelected in 2020. He would be the first person to be elected to statewide office from CD-7 in over 50 years.
“Ben Schierer hasn’t just talked about how to create opportunities in Minnesota – he’s actually done it,” Klobuchar said. “He knows what it takes to run a small business – he’s run two of them. He knows what it takes to hammer out results by bringing together the private sector, the public sector, and the people – because that’s what he did as mayor. And he knows that transforming our government can’t happen without economic growth. Together, we will bring that approach to our state government.”
Does the party endorsement matter to Senate candidates?
On the U.S. Senate side, once more it is the GOP that will hold more interest this weekend after Democratic Rep. Angie Craig announced she would skip the party endorsement this weekend and head right for the Primary in August.
"My path to being on the ballot in November was not through the endorsement process," Craig said Wednesday. "It was through the primary process. And so today, for me and for my supporters, is the day that we have been planning for since the start of this race."
That paves the way for Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan to get the DFL endorsement this weekend.
There are several GOP candidates for Senate. Former NBC sports reporter, and WCCO Radio host Michele Tafoya, former NBA basketball player Royce White, and former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze. Tafoya has said she plans to continue even without the endorsement.
Olson says the endorsement process has a mixed record in Minnesota.
"On the Republican side, endorsed candidates do better, but both sides are testing that this year," he told Vineeta Sawkar on the WCCO Morning News. "And both sides kind of want to. Because behind the scenes, they'll tell you that they know the caucus system, which leads to the party endorsement, doesn't always deliver the strongest candidates. Especially on the Republican side."
So why even go through with this process, if both parties are uncertain of the benefits?
"I'll just kind of say it bluntly," Olson said. "It's the way that the activists and some of the special interest groups for the DFL, like unions, for Republicans, like religious alliances, can still control who have a better chance of controlling who the nominee is. It's more predictable."
It's a big midterm election for Minnesota
There are also in-state races to decide. Jacobs also says there will also be endorsements for all those running in the Minnesota House and Senate. The House is now evenly split, and the DFL holds a one-seat margin in the Senate.
"So strap in, there's a lot of fun, interesting politics coming," Jacobs adds.
Minnesotans will have the ultimate say when they vote in the August 11 Primary Election. It's a busy midterm, with the election comprising races for all the constitutional offices including governor, one U.S. Senate seat, and all 201 legislative seats.
And should Klobuchar win the governor's office in November, she would temporarily appoint a replacement for her Senate seat, before a special election is held.
