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Tens of thousands of Minnesota voters will meet with their neighbors Tuesday night to pick their preferred candidates for governor and discuss what they view as top priorities for the state’s major political parties.

At precinct caucuses around the state, voters will cast straw poll ballots. Those could narrow the field of candidates running for governor. The preference ballot results aren’t binding, but they can help propel candidates to frontrunner status or shrink the pack in races with lots of hopefuls. 

While voters won’t be asked to weigh in on the up-for-grabs U.S. Senate seat, several candidates will have a noticeable presence as they try to win over prospective delegates to their party’s endorsing conventions later this spring.

Ahead of the community gatherings at thousands of sites around the state, candidates for statewide office announced key endorsements and made final pitches to voters about why they deserve support.

Republican governor candidate Lisa Demuth embarked on a multi-city tour Monday, along with her running mate Ryan Wilson, to encourage voters to caucus. 

“As Republicans are choosing the candidate they want best is the one that can actually run a great campaign, lead our state, proven leadership, and that will win in the November election,” Demuth said. 

Demuth, the current House speaker, is running in a crowded GOP field of candidates including fellow state Rep. Kristin Robbins, former Sen. Scott Jensen, businessmen Kendall Qualls, Mike Lindell and Patrick Knight, among others.

Demuth said at the trip’s outset in St. Paul that she would respect the Republican Party endorsement and touted her work at the Legislature leading a tied chamber. Some but not all of the GOP candidates have said they’d move on to a primary contest if they don’t get endorsed.

Qualls, who ran unsuccessfully for the GOP endorsement in the governor’s race in 2022, said his campaign has a handful of volunteers in each congressional district raising awareness about his bid ahead of the caucuses. And he said he’s confident he’s in a stronger position now that his campaign has built out infrastructure and boosted his name recognition.

“If anything, this will be the crescendo that I'm hoping for us to win it,” Qualls said. “Now, worst case scenario, we'll be No. 2. I'll be shocked and disappointed and weeping if we're No. 3, but we should have a good showing.”

 on the DFL side. She so far hasn’t had to compete with prominent candidates waging much of a public campaign against her. Gov. Tim Walz withdrew from the race in January.

Neither the DFL nor the GOP will list the race for U.S. Senate on straw poll ballots. But there will likely still be discussion about key issues in that race, as well as a presence from candidates in the running.

Ahead of the caucuses, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan got a significant endorsement in the U.S. Senate race. Sen. Tina Smith, who is stepping down at the end of her term, backed Flanagan Monday, noting Flanagan would be a “progressive fighter” for Minnesotans.

“Over the last year, I've had an opportunity to see the kind of campaign that Peggy has put together, the deep level of outreach that she's doing,” Smith said. “I've seen her campaign all over the state, and it seemed as if today, right before precinct caucuses, was the right time to let Minnesotans know that I think she is the best candidate. And I intend to work as hard as I can to support her in this election.”

Flanagan said she’s thrilled to have Smith’s support and has looked up to her for years.

“I think it's it's incredibly important, but I think also just demonstrates the momentum that we have in this race,” Flanagan said. “Democrats want someone who's not going to fight from a defensive crouch or go along to get along. I think folks want a progressive fighter, and that's what we've seen all across the state of Minnesota.”

Flanagan said her campaign trained 100 volunteers to deploy to precinct caucus meetings around the state. And she said she and her husband would try to get to several Tuesday night.

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, who is also vying for the DFL endorsement in the Senate race, said she also has an “army of volunteers” heading out across the state ahead of precinct caucuses.

“I’m campaigning the way I always have: going everywhere and talking to everyone. What I’m hearing from Minnesotans is that they want a fighter and someone who has shown the ability to get things done at the federal level,” she said. “People know that if we are going to stop Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, we need to win elections. And I know how to beat Republicans. I look forward to the caucus process.”

Late Monday, former U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, who left office after an unsuccessful bid for president, threw his support behind Craig.

“Tina Smith, Peggy Flanagan and Tim Walz publicly trashed me for advocating for a competitive Democratic primary in 2024 — helping pave the path for Trump’s return,” Phillips said in a social 

. “Judgment and courage matter to me, which is why I strongly support Angie Craig!”

On the Republican side, several candidates will also be making the pitch to caucus-goers. GOP candidates Royce White, David Hann, Adam Schwarze, Michele Tafoya, Tom Weiler and several others are vying for the party’s nod. That crowded field could get thinned out after Tuesday or as local conventions get held in the weeks ahead.

The caucuses convene at 7 p.m. Tuesday at locations around the state. You can find your local precinct through the 

 or through the political parties holding caucuses.

Because they are party-run functions, the major parties will usually list information on their web pages:

Any voter in Minnesota can attend a caucus of the party they align with politically. Minnesota doesn’t have party registration, but attendance forms do require people to attest that they generally share the principles of that party. In other words, people can only participate in one party’s caucus each year.

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Election 2026 

Dana Ferguson

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Tens of thousands of Minnesota voters are set to participate in precinct caucus meetings Tuesday night that could narrow the field of candidates in statewide races.

For some campaigns more than others, there’s a lot riding on Minnesota caucus night

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