It took ten ballots for Minnesota Republicans to settle on a candidate for governor, with former health executive Kendall Qualls edging out House Speaker Lisa Demuth during the GOP convention Saturday in Duluth.
Following what many are calling a major upset, Qualls told members of the party gathered at the Duluth Events and Convocation Center that Republicans need to be united going into the November elections, telling the DFL that "Minnesota is no longer yours."
Qualls is the first Black to win a major party endorsement for Minnesota governor.
The balloting on Saturday was marred by electronic problems that keep nearly 2,000 convention-goers waiting for long periods of time.
Republicans have not won a statewide race in Minnesota since Tim Pawlenty won his second term as governor in 2026.
As expected, Senator Amy Klobuchar is the Democratic party's endorsed candidate for governor, the balloting at the DFL state convention in Rochester taking until early Saturday morning to complete
The endorsement comes not long after Klobuchar named Ben Scheier as her running mate.
Klobuchar has been the presumptive Democratic choice for governor after Tim Walz announced he would not seek a third term.
Also at the DFL convention, delegates endorsed attorney general Keith Ellison for another term.
On Friday in Duluth, Republicans endorsed Adam Schwarze for the US Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Tina Smith.
The race for governor is among a long list of campaigns that includes statewide constitutional offices and hundreds of spots in the legislature.
