Sen. Amy Klobuchar greets supporters during a rally kicking off Gov. Tim Walz’s third gubernatorial campaign at The Depot in Minneapolis, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz announced on Monday that he would end his campaign for a third term, and several of the state’s top Democrats are considering running to succeed him but have yet to announce campaigns.
The Republican primary is already packed, with House Speaker Lisa Demuth among them. MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell; 2022 Republican nominee for Gov. Scott Jensen; state Rep. Kristen Robbins; and perennial candidate Kendall Qualls, who recently won a poll of Republican State Central Committee delegates.
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who is running for U.S. Senate, said in a statement Monday that she is focused on her Senate race and will not run for governor. Former U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips say on X He has no intention of running for governor.
The primary election will be held on August 11.
Here are some potential Democratic gubernatorial candidates:
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
Senator Amy Klobuchar speaks during a launch rally for Governor Tim Walz’s third gubernatorial campaign at The Depot in Minneapolis on Friday, September 19, 2025. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)
Amy Klobuchar has represented Minnesota in the U.S. Senate since 2007 and has easily won every re-election bid since, though the margin of victory has narrowed over time, perhaps reflecting political changes in Minnesota and nationally. In 2024, she outperformed presidential candidate Kamala Harris by more than 5 percentage points.
“Senator Klobuchar is getting help from people who are encouraging her to run and is seriously considering it,” said a source close to Klobuchar who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Klobuchar entered the 2020 Democratic presidential primary but underperformed in the early campaign and dropped out after some slumps State media surveillance. She ended up endorsing former President Joe Biden just before Super Tuesday.
The veteran senator previously served as Hennepin County prosecutor, where she brought high profile accusations. That could give her a platform to speak out about public program fraud, which is expected to continue to dominate political conversations in the coming months.
Secretary of State Steve Simon
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon waits to be called before the session begins on the first day of the 94th legislative session at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota. Photography by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer.
Steve Simon has served as the state’s top elections administrator since 2015 and has other responsibilities as secretary of state. Simon represented the West Capital House district in the Legislature more than a decade ago.
During his tenure, Simon has battled election misinformation among the public and top elected officials. he has refuse to comply The Trump administration has called for voter rolls, saying the requirements are unconstitutional.
At the 2022 State DFL Convention, Simon briefly About how his great-grandfather, a Lithuanian Jew, ended up in America.
“He didn’t just immigrate to the United States. He fled. He fled discrimination and persecution. He was what we would today call a refugee. The year before he left for the United States, Jews in the Russian Empire lost their right to vote.”
Simon announced in December that he would seek a fourth term as secretary of state.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison speaks to state newsroom leaders and reporters at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in downtown Minneapolis on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)
Keith Ellison represented Minneapolis in Congress for 12 years before narrowly winning election in 2018 to become the state’s top legal official. He won re-election in 2022 by less than 1 percentage point.
Ellison was the first black man and the first Muslim elected to statewide office in the United States.
As attorney general, Ellison took over the gun manufacturer, Tik Tok and Negligent Landlord. he is a Blue state attorneys general queue The company is fighting the Trump administration in court, filing dozens of lawsuits over a range of issues, including funding cuts, Transgender athlete ban and Immigration status check in federal programs.
Ellison said in October he would Seeking third term as attorney general.
Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy
Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy speaks during a news conference announcing the budget agreement at the Minnesota State Capitol on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer) \
Erin Murphy has led the state Senate’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor caucus since February 2024.
Before winning the 2020 Senate election, she served in the state House of Representatives and served as House majority leader in 2013 and 2014. Murphy is a registered nurse and executive director of the Minnesota Nurses Association, one of the state’s most visible labor organizations.
Murphy ran for governor in 2018, defeating Walz for DFL endorsement, but lost to Walz in the primary.