Republican Kendall Qualls is running for Minnesota governor.
The Army veteran and former healthcare exec filed his 2026 gubernatorial campaign fundraising paperwork on Thursday—making him one of the first big names to do so.
While Qualls declined a request for an interview, a spokesperson told Alpha News that he plans to make a formal campaign announcement next week. Qualls’ gubernatorial campaign fundraising paperwork lists medical device industry entrepreneur and Republican donor Mark Summers as his campaign chair.
Qualls, 61, is the president of Twin Cities-based TakeCharge Minnesota, an organization he co-founded with his wife Sheila in 2020. Sheila Qualls is a former contributor to Alpha News.
Qualls first came on to the Minnesota political scene when he ran as the Republican U.S House candidate for the Third Congressional District in 2020. The father of five ultimately lost to then-incumbent Democrat Dean Phillips. In 2022, Qualls ran for governor and narrowly lost the Republican endorsement to Dr. Scott Jensen.
Although Gov. Tim Walz hasn’t announced if he will run for a rare third term, the Democrat and former vice-presidential running mate of Kamala Harris has continued to raise money for a potential reelection campaign.
Some political insiders had been speculating that DFL Congresswoman Angie Craig may consider a gubernatorial run, but last week Craig announced she is running for U.S. Senate in 2026. No other Democrats have announced their interest in running. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is running for U.S. Senate.
Other Republicans whose names have been floated as possible candidates include Jim Schultz, who ran for attorney general in 2022 and lost to incumbent Democrat Keith Ellison by less than 1 percentage point, and Dr. Scott Jensen, who lost to Walz in the 2022 governor’s race by 7 points.
Well-known attorney Chris Madel, who successfully represented State Trooper Ryan Londregan in his criminal trial and is a strong public critic of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, told Alpha News on Thursday that he is continuing to seriously consider a gubernatorial run.
In February, state Sen. Zack Duckworth, R-Lakeville, flirted with the idea of running for governor in a post he made to X.
Jeff Johnson, a former St. Cloud City Council member, and Phil Parrish have also announced gubernatorial campaigns on the Republican side.
Hank Long
Hank Long is a journalism and communications professional whose writing career includes coverage of the Minnesota legislature, city and county governments and the commercial real estate industry. Hank received his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota, where he studied journalism, and his law degree at the University of St. Thomas. The Minnesota native lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and four children. His dream is to be around when the Vikings win the Super Bowl.
