2026 primary archive

The primary was held August 11, 2026 and certified August 18. These are the candidates who did not advance, with their records as last reviewed October 11, 2026. They are no longer on the ballot, and this page is not updated for new statements.

Eliminated in the primary, or left the race before it

Eliminated in the August 11 primary

Kendall Qualls

with Brian NicholsonRepublican

Eliminated in the August 11 primary with 88,416 votes (21.4 percent). GOP-endorsed May 30, 2026 after 10 ballots. Conceded on primary night.

Healthcare executive and Army veteran. Has not held public office.

Fraud-related official actions: Has not held public office, so no official actions exist to examine.
Campaign proposals (promises, not actions): Campaign centers a pledge to "deliver a $9 billion dollar fraud rebate paid back to Minnesota tax payers." The same reporting notes the state budget is about $35 billion a year, and that in December the DHS inspector general said he had not received any evidence or information from law enforcement supporting the $9 billion figure.Characterization source:ABC 6 News / KAAL
On the record: “Under my administration we’ll deliver a $9 billion dollar fraud rebate paid back to Minnesota tax payers, we’ll roll it out responsibly over the next two years to cut the bloat without causing chaos.” (June 24, 2026)
A campaign pledge. For comparison, the DHS inspector general said in December he had not received any evidence or information from law enforcement supporting the $9 billion figure.
Characterization source:ABC 6 News / KAAL
“You hold people responsible that should have been responsible. This is a dereliction of duty in the Army.” (August 5, 2026)
At the Farmfest candidate forum, per MPR News.
Characterization source:MPR News

Roster sources: Secondary source:KTTC Primary source:Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State

Mike Lindell

with Phillip ParrishRepublican

Launched December 11, 2025 and eliminated in the August 11 primary with 134,282 votes (32.5 percent). Did not concede. The Minnesota Supreme Court denied his recount petition on August 29, 2026, and he did not request a paid recount by the deadline.

MyPillow chief executive. Has not held public office.

Fraud-related official actions: Has not held public office, so no official actions exist to examine.
Campaign proposals (promises, not actions): Launched at the MyPillow factory in Shakopee with stopping fraud listed first among his campaign priorities, saying his record of solving problems would help fight fraud in government programs.Characterization source:Associated Press Characterization source:CBS Minnesota
On the record: “Either he was grossly negligent, incompetent or complicit with the fraud.” (December 11, 2025)
On Governor Walz, at his campaign launch. A characterization by the candidate, not a finding.
Characterization source:CBS Minnesota

Roster sources: Secondary source:KTTC Primary source:Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State

Exited the race before the primary

Tim Walz

DFL

Ended his reelection campaign January 5, 2026

Governor since 2019. The fraud cases and oversight record span his administration.

Fraud-related official actions: His administration’s record is documented across this section in the oversight decision log, the reform tracker, and the fired-vs-resigned record on this page. He testified before the US House Oversight Committee on March 4, 2026.Primary source:U.S. Government Publishing Office Primary source:Office of Governor Tim Walz
Campaign proposals (promises, not actions): Exited the race citing the fraud fight. His statement said he would "let others worry about the election" while he focused on the work.Primary source:Office of Governor Tim Walz Secondary source:USA Today
On the record: “There’s more to do. A single taxpayer dollar wasted on fraud is a dollar too much to tolerate. But the political gamesmanship we’re seeing from Republicans is only making that fight harder to win.” (January 5, 2026)
Announcing the end of his campaign.
Secondary source:USA Today
“We do take responsibility.” (March 4, 2026)
Under questioning at the US House Oversight hearing, per the official transcript.
Primary source:U.S. Government Publishing Office
“Fraud, should have stopped it sooner, we didn’t stop them. I accept that.” (September 22, 2026)
On stage at the Star Tribune’s North Star Summit, in what the paper called his exit interview.
Characterization source:KARE 11 Characterization source:Star Tribune

Roster sources: Primary source:Office of Governor Tim Walz

Kristin Robbins

Republican

Suspended her campaign May 1, 2026

State representative and chair of the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee.

Fraud-related official actions: Chaired the House fraud committee, which held numerous hearings with whistleblowers and agency officials and elevated the fraud issue. It passed no legislation in the past year, per the Pioneer Press. The committee adopted an 84-page final report in May 2026. She publicly characterized Eric Grumdahl’s DHS separation as a firing.Secondary source:St. Paul Pioneer Press Secondary source:Star Tribune Official retrospective report source:Minnesota House fraud committee
Campaign proposals (promises, not actions): Her campaign centered on the fraud issue before she suspended it and announced she would leave the Legislature when her term ends.Secondary source:St. Paul Pioneer Press
On the record: “They keep rearranging the deck chairs, and people have to take responsibility for changing these programs or they need to move on from the state government.” (September 17, 2025)
Responding to Assistant DHS Commissioner Eric Grumdahl’s departure, which she cast as a firing, per the Star Tribune.
Secondary source:Star Tribune

Roster sources: Secondary source:St. Paul Pioneer Press

Scott Jensen

Republican

Dropped out of the governor race February 9, 2026. Won the August 11 Republican primary for state auditor over the GOP-endorsed Nate George and faces DFL nominee Zack Filipovich on November 3

Family physician, 2022 Republican nominee for governor, and former state senator.

Fraud-related official actions: Former state senator. No fraud-related official actions documented in the sources reviewed as of October 11, 2026.
Campaign proposals (promises, not actions): Ended his governor bid and ran for state auditor instead, citing fraud as a reason. The Reformer notes the state auditor audits local governments and has no jurisdiction over state government spending.Secondary source:Minnesota Reformer Secondary source:FOX 9
On the record: No fraud-related statements located in the sources reviewed as of October 11, 2026.

Roster sources: Secondary source:Minnesota Reformer

The other tickets

These tickets filed with the Secretary of State during the May 19 to June 2, 2026 filing period. None has held state office, and this site found no fraud-related plan or statement for any of them as of October 11, 2026.

DFLTom Evenstad

with Jason Haarsager