The Minnesota GOP has taken the unusual step of effectively encouraging people to run against the party’s endorsed candidates in the August primary following technology issues at last weekend’s convention.
Over the weekend, both major parties gathered for their statewide conventions where delegates get together to vote on party business and endorse candidates for statewide office.
Although candidates are officially chosen through primary elections in August, the party endorsement is a significant stamp of approval that comes with access to resources and can boost a candidate’s odds of winning the primary. Historically, this has been especially true for Republican primaries in Minnesota.
At their convention, Republicans endorsed businessman Kendall Qualls for governor, lawyer Ron Schutz for attorney general, former judge Tad Jude for secretary of state, Braham Mayor Nate George for auditor, and former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze for U.S. Senate.
Prior to the convention, some candidates made clear that they would run in the primary regardless of the outcome of the endorsement process, including U.S. Senate candidate Michele Tafoya, auditor candidate Scott Jensen, and gubernatorial candidate Mike Lindell.
However, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth pledged to abide by the endorsement. A candidate for governor, Demuth was considered by many to be the frontrunner for the endorsement, which she lost to Qualls.
But the endorsement process was marred by complaints about the electronic clickers used for voting and what the convention chair described as inconsistencies between ballots.
Now, Republican Party of Minnesota Chair Alex Plechash has released a statement saying “any gubernatorial candidate who agreed to abide by the endorsement, should not be treated as bound by that pledge.”
“Those candidates may make their own decision about whether to continue their campaign into the primary,” he said.
NEW: Minnesota GOP Chairman Alex Plechash released a statement saying "I believe it is appropriate to make clear that any gubernatorial candidate who agreed to abide by the endorsement, should not be treated as bound by that pledge. Those candidates may make their own decision… pic.twitter.com/zVFGQk813l
— Luke Sprinkel (@LukeSprinkel) June 1, 2026
At the same time, Plechash said the party stands behind its endorsed candidates and only they will “receive the full support, resources, and organizational backing of the state party.”
Demuth is set to hold a press conference at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Minnesota Capitol announcing whether she plans to run in the primary or not. Whoever wins August’s primary is all but certain to face U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the general election.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
