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Republican state Rep. Kristin Robbins announced Wednesday that she is running for Minnesota governor.

Robbins, of Maple Grove, was first elected to the Minnesota House in 2018. She chairs the recently formed Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee.

In her campaign announcement, Robbins focused on fraud and fiscal issues — criticizing two-term incumbent Democratic Gov. Tim Walz’s handling of both.

“We’ve seen Minnesota decline so much under Tim Walz, and it’s just time to turn it around,” Robbins told MPR News. “Minnesotans have been saddled with all of his policies, which led to higher taxes, huge debt, a billion dollars in fraud, probably more unsafe communities and education scores that have really shown that our kids are losing ground.”

Robbins joins an increasingly crowded Republican field for governor for the 2026 election — including 2022 GOP nominee 

, Phillip Parrish and Brad Kohler. Robbins, the former chair of Nikki Haley’s 2024 presidential campaign leadership team in Minnesota, could also bring a more moderate view to the race for the GOP endorsement.

Robbins said she plans to move to a Republican primary race if she doesn’t win the party’s endorsement next spring.

“I’m going to stay in this race as long as I think I’m the best one to win the general (election). We have to win the general, and so as long as I think I’m best positioned to do that, I’ll be in this race,” she said.

Walz has not said whether he’ll seek a third term next year. No Minnesota governor has served three consecutive terms in office. He’s said he plans to announce his next steps next month.

If elected, Robbins said she would prioritize getting the state’s budget in better shape and look to roll back some of the changes made while Democrats controlled the Legislature and the governor’s office in 2023 and 2024. She said she would also look to prevent improper use of state funds.

In a statement in response to Robbins’ candidacy, Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chair Richard Carlbom said Robbins has “spent the last year attempting to take meals away from students and paid leave away from their parents. She has a long-standing history of turning her back on those who need our support now more than ever.”

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Republican state Rep. Kristin Robbins of Maple Grove announced Wednesday that she is running for Minnesota governor. In her campaign announcement, Robbins focused on fraud and fiscal issues — criticizing incumbent Democratic Gov. Tim Walz’s handling of both.

Republican state Rep. Kristin Robbins announces run for Minnesota governor

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