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The latest: Minnesota primary election
MPR News Staff

Lisa Demuth wins Republican nomination for governor

Two women hug in the middle of a crowd.
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth embraces her mother, Karlene Gayle, during an election watch party at Burger Moe’s in St. Paul on Tuesday.
Tom Baker for MPR News

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Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth overcame a pair of weighty endorsements of her rivals to win the Republican nomination for governor Tuesday.

Demuth, who was preferred by more-mainstream Republicans and major party donors, defeated Kendall Qualls and Mike Lindell in a competitive primary. Qualls came in with the GOP’s convention endorsement and Lindell had the backing of President Donald Trump.

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A man and woman hug in a crowd.
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth embraces her husband, Nick, after it was announced that she is in the lead for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in the primary election during an election watch party at Burger Moe’s in St. Paul on Tuesday.
Tom Baker for MPR News
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A woman in white and a man in a red tie stand in the middle of a dark crowd.
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth shakes hands with her running mate Ryan Wilson after it was announced that she is in the lead for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in the primary election during an election watch party at Burger Moe’s in St. Paul on Tuesday.
Tom Baker for MPR News
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Political supporters take photos and clap at a watch party.
Supporters and family menders cheer after it is announced that Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth and her running mate Ryan Wilson are in the lead for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in the primary election during an election watch party at Burger Moe’s in St. Paul on Tuesday.
Tom Baker for MPR News

Demuth is the first Republican in decades to defeat a party-endorsed candidate in a governor’s primary and will now face U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar in November. Klobuchar breezed to the DFL nomination.

Barring something unforeseen, Minnesota will have its first woman as governor. If Demuth prevails, she would be the first person of color to be governor as well.