Governor of Minnesota · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in the Minnesota governor's race?
Amy Klobuchar has the strongest record in the Minnesota governor's race. Amy Klobuchar scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Lisa Demuth at 67, as of October 5, 2026. Amy Klobuchar's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Lisa Demuth's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Steve Young (3 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Lisa Demuth
Running mate: Ryan Wilson
67 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 55
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 67
DFL
Strongest record
Amy Klobuchar
Running mate: Ben Schierer
68 / 100
Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 75
Green
Steve Young
Running mate: Jane Kirby
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 3 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Lisa Demuth
- On the record2025-01
On Jan. 14, 2025 House Republicans elected her speaker with 67 members present after the secretary of state adjourned for lack of quorum; on Jan. 24 the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled 68 were required.
Sources: St. Cloud Times, Jan. 24, 2025, as published by Yahoo News, St. Cloud Times, Feb. 6, 2025, as published by Yahoo News, CBS News Minnesota, Jan. 21, 2025
- On the record2025-01
In January 2025 said on a podcast that House Republicans should not seat Rep. Brad Tabke, who won by 14 votes, regardless of a judge's ruling; no such vote was taken and Tabke was seated.
Sources: Minnesota Reformer, Jan. 8, 2025, as published by States Newsroom, St. Cloud Times, Feb. 6, 2025, as published by Yahoo News, CBS News Minnesota, Jan. 21, 2025
- On the record2025-12 to 2026-01
Said in January 2026 that her staff assisted in compiling public information used in Nick Shirley's viral December 2025 video on child care fraud; the state agency said the centers shown were operating as expected.
Sources: Fox 9, Jan. 2, 2026, MinnPost, Oct. 1, 2026
- Credit2026-09-24
On Sept. 24, 2026 called for an end to the Iran war, a public break with President Trump, after declining to take a position two weeks earlier.
Sources: Pioneer Press, Sept. 25, 2026, MPR News, Sept. 24, 2026
- Credit2025-02-06
Elected Speaker of the Minnesota House on Feb. 6, 2025, 67 to 65, the first Black person and first female Republican to hold the post, per the Legislative Reference Library.
Sources: Legislative Reference Library, Lisa Demuth, Ballotpedia, Lisa Demuth
- Credit2025-06-10
As speaker of a tied House, presided over passage of a $67 billion 2026-27 budget and $700 million bonding package in a June 2025 special session, avoiding a shutdown.
Sources: Forum News Service, as published by Inforum, June 10, 2025, MPR News, June 4, 2025
- Credit2025-06-16
After the June 14, 2025 killing of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, urged House Republicans to share only verified information and to show compassion, per MinnPost.
Source: MinnPost, June 16, 2025
- Credit2023 to 2024
Scored Above expectations on the Center for Effective Lawmaking's State Legislative Effectiveness Score for 2023 to 2024 (0.41, rank 71 of 134, 7th among 65 House Republicans) while in the minority.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
- Credit2007 to 2018
Served on the ROCORI school board from 2007 to Dec. 31, 2018, first elected as a write-in candidate, and on the Paynesville Human Rights Commission from 1995.
Sources: Legislative Reference Library, Lisa Demuth, Echo Press (Forum Communications), Sept. 25, 2026
Amy Klobuchar
- On the record2026
Backed a congressional request of about $1 million for the Minneapolis nonprofit Generation Hope, then withdrew it in 2026 after scrutiny; the money was never awarded and the nonprofit has not been charged.
Source: Minnesota Star Tribune ad check, Sept. 30, 2026, as published by MSN
- On the record2019-03-17
PolitiFact rated False her March 17, 2019 CNN statement that during her tenure as county attorney there was a 65 percent decrease in incarceration of African-Americans.
Sources: PolitiFact, fact-checks of Amy Klobuchar, PolitiFact, Amy Klobuchar scorecard
- On the record2019-02
In 2019 CNN reported a LegiStorm figure of 36 percent annual staff turnover in her Senate office, the highest in the Senate from 2001 to 2016; she said she holds high standards for her staff.
Sources: HuffPost, Feb. 6, 2019, CNN report, as published by WRAL, March 15, 2019
- On the record2018 to 2026
Pledged in a 2018 MPR debate to serve a full Senate term, then ran for president in 2019 while serving; said Sept. 9, 2026 she will not seek the presidency if elected governor.
Source: Minnesota Star Tribune, Sept. 11, 2026, as published by MSN
- Credit2026-10-01
Completed her 2026 visit to all 87 Minnesota counties on Oct. 1, 2026 in Freeborn County, fulfilling a standing pledge to visit every county each year.
Sources: KTTC, Oct. 2, 2026, Minnesota Star Tribune, Oct. 4, 2026, as published by MSN
- Credit2026
In 2026 voted for the Ratepayer Protection Act as one of four Democratic senators after Senate Democrats moved to block the bill, which fell short of 60 votes.
Source: KTTC, Oct. 2, 2026
- Credit2023 to 2024
Six bills she sponsored became law in the 118th Congress, including S. 2901, the Stop Campus Hazing Act, per GovTrack's automated count.
- Credit2023
Ranked 15th of 98 senators on the Lugar Center Bipartisan Index for the first session of the 118th Congress, with a score of 0.98294.
Source: Lugar Center, Senate Bipartisan Index, 118th Congress First Session (2023)
- Credit2021 to 2022
GovTrack counted 23 of her bills enacted, including by incorporation, in the 117th Congress, the third most of any senator.
- Credit2021-01-06
Voted Nay on both objections to counting the Arizona and Pennsylvania electoral votes on Jan. 6 and 7, 2021 (Senate votes 1 and 2, 117th Congress).
Sources: GovTrack, Senate Vote 1, Jan. 6, 2021, GovTrack, Senate Vote 2, Jan. 7, 2021
Steve Young
- On the record2026
Registered a governor campaign committee with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board as Steve Young with Jane Kirby as lieutenant governor candidate; appears on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot as Steven Young.
Sources: Minnesota Campaign Finance Board, candidate 19491, Ballotpedia, Steven Young (Minnesota)
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Lisa Demuth. Governor committee registered with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board (candidate 19287). No ethics, court or campaign finance finding found in the sources opened. No PolitiFact file exists for her.
Amy Klobuchar. Governor committee registered with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board (candidate 19369). PolitiFact rates 21 statements, one False and one Mostly False. No ethics, court or campaign finance finding found in the sources opened.
Sources: Minnesota Campaign Finance Board, candidate 19369, PolitiFact, Amy Klobuchar scorecard
Steve Young. Governor committee registered with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board (candidate 19491) with running mate Jane Kirby. No ethics, court or campaign finance finding found in the sources opened.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Lisa Demuth. On Sept. 24, 2026 called for an end to the Iran war, a public break with the Republican president, per the Pioneer Press and MPR News.
Sources: Pioneer Press, Sept. 25, 2026, MPR News, Sept. 24, 2026
Amy Klobuchar. In 2026 voted for the Ratepayer Protection Act as one of four Democratic senators after Senate Democrats moved to block it, per KTTC.
Source: KTTC, Oct. 2, 2026
Steve Young. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Lisa Demuth. Accepted five general election debate invitations, including the Oct. 19 Minnesota Chamber debate, Fox 9 on Oct. 21 and TPT's Almanac; did not accept the MPR debate. Appeared at the Economic Club of Minnesota forum Oct. 5, 2026.
Sources: Pioneer Press, Sept. 30, 2026, CBS News Minnesota, Oct. 5, 2026
Amy Klobuchar. Agreed to the Oct. 19, 2026 Minnesota Chamber debate, the Oct. 21 Fox 9 debate and an MPR debate; appeared at the Economic Club of Minnesota forum Oct. 5, 2026.
Sources: Pioneer Press, Sept. 30, 2026, CBS News Minnesota, Oct. 5, 2026
Steve Young. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Lisa Demuth. No formal conduct finding found. Presided over a tied House through the 2025 budget, which the DFL governor called a bipartisan achievement; after the June 2025 killing of Speaker Emerita Hortman urged colleagues to share only verified information.
Sources: Forum News Service, as published by Inforum, June 10, 2025, MinnPost, June 16, 2025, MinnPost, Sept. 30, 2026
Amy Klobuchar. Four Senate terms and eight years as Hennepin County Attorney with no formal conduct finding found. In 2019 CNN reported a LegiStorm figure of 36 percent annual staff turnover in her Senate office, 2001 to 2016.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Amy Klobuchar, CNN report, as published by WRAL, March 15, 2019
Steve Young. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Lisa Demuth. Sworn into the Minnesota House four times, most recently Jan. 14, 2025. Her Jan. 14, 2025 speaker election without a quorum was voided by the Minnesota Supreme Court; elected speaker Feb. 6, 2025 under a power-sharing deal. No misuse-of-office finding.
Sources: Legislative Reference Library, Lisa Demuth, St. Cloud Times, Jan. 24, 2025, as published by Yahoo News, St. Cloud Times, Feb. 6, 2025, as published by Yahoo News
Amy Klobuchar. Voted Nay on both Jan. 6 and 7, 2021 objections to the Arizona and Pennsylvania electors (Senate votes 1 and 2, 117th Congress). No official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: GovTrack, Senate Vote 1, Jan. 6, 2021 (Arizona objection), GovTrack, Senate Vote 2, Jan. 7, 2021 (Pennsylvania objection)
Steve Young. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Lisa Demuth. Minnesota House member since January 2019, four terms, 2,829 days served as of the LRL record; Speaker of the House 2025 to 2026, Minority Leader 2023 to 2024. ROCORI school board 2007 to 2018.
Sources: Legislative Reference Library, Lisa Demuth, Ballotpedia, Lisa Demuth
Amy Klobuchar. U.S. senator since January 2007, four terms. Hennepin County Attorney 1999 to 2006, elected 1998 and re-elected 2002.
Sources: GovTrack, Amy Klobuchar, Ballotpedia, Amy Klobuchar
Steve Young. Campaign site describes him as a former attorney, former neighborhood grocery store owner and former U.S. Marine. No elected office found. Not independently confirmed.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Lisa Demuth. Speaker of the Minnesota House (counts as a chair under E5). Campaign publishes a fraud prevention plan, affordability agenda, education plan and public safety plan with specific steps.
Sources: Legislative Reference Library, Lisa Demuth, Lisa Demuth for Governor, Fraud Prevention Plan, Lisa Demuth for Governor, Priorities
Amy Klobuchar. Ranking member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee in the 119th Congress. Has stated specific proposals, including a permit deadline with fee refund and added fraud prosecutors. Campaign site could not be opened.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Amy Klobuchar, committee assignments 2025-2026, KTTC, Oct. 2, 2026, CBS News Minnesota, Oct. 5, 2026
Steve Young. Campaign site lists key issues in general terms, including a sanctuary state policy, and acknowledges limits of the governor's power on federal immigration enforcement.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Lisa Demuth. Two channels documented: general election debates accepted and plain-language issue pages on her campaign site. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Pioneer Press, Sept. 30, 2026, Lisa Demuth for Governor, Priorities, Ballotpedia, Lisa Demuth
Amy Klobuchar. Two channels documented: general election debates accepted and issue explanations given at public forums. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Pioneer Press, Sept. 30, 2026, CBS News Minnesota, Oct. 5, 2026, Ballotpedia, Amy Klobuchar
Steve Young. No public record found.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Lisa Demuth. Born in Paynesville, Minnesota; resident of Cold Spring since 1998; served on the Paynesville Human Rights Commission and the ROCORI school board. In-state share of contributions not available from the sources opened.
Sources: Legislative Reference Library, Lisa Demuth, Echo Press (Forum Communications), Sept. 25, 2026
Amy Klobuchar. Born in 1960 and raised in Plymouth, Minnesota. Pledges to visit all 87 Minnesota counties every year. In-state share of contributions not available from the sources opened.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Star Tribune, Oct. 4, 2026, as published by MSN
Steve Young. No public record found.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Lisa Demuth. Has led the 134-member Minnesota House as speaker since Feb. 6, 2025 and the House Republican caucus since 2023. Under her speakership the Legislature passed a $67 billion 2026-27 budget and a $700 million bonding package in June 2025.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Lisa Demuth, Forum News Service, as published by Inforum, June 10, 2025
Amy Klobuchar. Headed the Hennepin County Attorney's Office for eight years, 1999 to 2006, which she describes as the largest prosecutor's office in Minnesota. Senate office of four terms.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Amy Klobuchar, CBS News Minnesota, Oct. 5, 2026 (Klobuchar's own description)
Steve Young. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Lisa Demuth. State Legislative Effectiveness Score 2023 to 2024: 0.41, rank 71 of 134, Above expectations. Chief author of 27 bills in 2023 to 2024 and 4 in 2025 to 2026. Budget and bonding enacted June 2025 as speaker.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file (sles_all_50_states_202609.csv), Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, 2023 to 2024 session, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, 2025 to 2026 session, Forum News Service, as published by Inforum, June 10, 2025
Amy Klobuchar. Center for Effective Lawmaking, 118th Congress: LES 2.0 of 1.52 against a 1.52 benchmark, ratio 1.44, Meets expectations (classic LES 2.59, Above). GovTrack counts 6 sponsored bills enacted in the 118th Congress, including S. 2901, Stop Campus Hazing Act.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking data download (Senate file CELSenate93to118.xls), GovTrack 2024 report card, Amy Klobuchar
Steve Young. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Lisa Demuth. No public record found.
Amy Klobuchar. GovTrack lifetime missed votes: 276 of 6,860 roll call votes, 4.0%, January 2007 to September 2026. In the 118th Congress she missed 11 of 680 votes, 1.6%.
Sources: GovTrack, Amy Klobuchar, GovTrack 2024 report card, Amy Klobuchar
Steve Young. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Lisa Demuth. No public record found.
Amy Klobuchar. Pledges to visit all 87 Minnesota counties every year and completed the 2026 tour in Freeborn County on Oct. 1, 2026. Senate office locations could not be opened (senate.gov blocked).
Sources: Minnesota Star Tribune, Oct. 4, 2026, as published by MSN, KTTC, Oct. 2, 2026
Steve Young. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Lisa Demuth. Negotiated the Feb. 6, 2025 power-sharing agreement with House DFL leader Hortman in a 67 to 67 chamber, then a bipartisan budget and bonding package enacted June 2025 with a DFL Senate and governor.
Sources: St. Cloud Times, Feb. 6, 2025, as published by Yahoo News, Forum News Service, as published by Inforum, June 10, 2025, MPR News, June 4, 2025
Amy Klobuchar. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index, 118th Congress first session (2023): score 0.98294, rank 15 of 98 senators scored, top quarter. GovTrack lists 6 enacted bills in the 118th Congress.
Source: Lugar Center, Senate Bipartisan Index, 118th Congress First Session (2023)
Steve Young. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Lisa Demuth. As speaker, the 2026-27 budget was enacted in a June 9 to 10, 2025 special session, before the July 1 start of the biennium, after the regular session adjourned in May with less than 10 percent of the budget adopted.
Sources: Forum News Service, as published by Inforum, June 10, 2025, MPR News, June 4, 2025
Amy Klobuchar. No public record found.
Steve Young. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 5, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Minnesota governor's race?
Amy Klobuchar has the strongest record in the Minnesota governor's race. Amy Klobuchar scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Lisa Demuth at 67, as of October 5, 2026. Amy Klobuchar's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Lisa Demuth's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Steve Young (3 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Minnesota governor's race in 2026?
Lisa Demuth (Republican), Amy Klobuchar (DFL), Steven Young (Green). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Lisa Demuth a good candidate for Governor?
Lisa Demuth scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 55 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 67 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Amy Klobuchar a good candidate for Governor?
Amy Klobuchar scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Steve Young a good candidate for Governor?
Steve Young has public evidence on 3 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Minnesota race scored, and the Minnesota 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.