The Scott County Republican Party will be hosting a gubernatorial debate Thursday night in Prior Lake.
The event will be moderated by State Sen. Bill Lieske and livestreamed by Alpha News.
The Republican candidates for Minnesota’s top executive are State Rep. Peggy Bennett, House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Dr. Scott Jensen, former St. Cloud city council member Jeff Johnson, former MMA fighter Brad Kohler, Good Sense Foods CEO Patrick Knight, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, attorney Chris Madel, retired Naval intelligence officer Phillip Parrish, Army veteran and former business executive Kendall Qualls, and State Rep. Kristin Robbins.
The debate will take place at Twin Oaks Middle School in Prior Lake. To attend in person, register on the Scott County Republican Party website.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with social networking until 6:15 p.m. The debate runs from 6:15-8 p.m. A straw poll will be conducted among in-person attendees.
Republican CD2 Chair Joe Ditto said it’s important for people to come out “to learn more about what the candidates believe in and their strategies for defeating the Democrat candidate now that Walz is out.”
There are 49 cities in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, which covers the south Twin Cities metro area and includes Dakota and Scott counties and portions of Le Sueur, Rice and Washington counties.
Lieske is a lifelong Minnesotan, serving his first term and running for reelection.
“Without these types of events, voters wouldn’t be as informed about the candidates. Having this event allows them to come and learn about the candidates,” he said
Alpha News will livestream the event here:
The Minnesota gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on Nov. 3, 2026. Primary elections will take place Aug. 11. Gov. Tim Walz ended his bid for reelection last week.
