Secretary of State of Minnesota · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in the Minnesota secretary of state race?
Steve Simon has the strongest record in the Minnesota secretary of state race. Steve Simon scores 70 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Tad Jude at 60, as of October 5, 2026. Steve Simon's highest marks are relevant experience and management. Tad Jude's highest marks are relevant experience and communication. Seth Kuhl-Stennes (5 of 15 criteria) and Chip Tangen (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Tad Jude
60 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 50
Green
Seth Kuhl-Stennes
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 63
- Performance
- NR
DFL · incumbent
Strongest record
Steve Simon
70 / 100
Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 85
- Performance
- 65
Libertarian
Chip Tangen
On the ballot as George "Chip" Tangen
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 63
- 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.
Tad Jude
- On the record2024-02
Told the Star Tribune in Feb. 2024 that he voted for Donald Trump twice, called Jan. 6, 2021 a very sad day, and said: Joe Biden is president, and I accept him as president.
Source: Star Tribune, Feb. 21, 2024
- On the record2011-01 to 2022-01
Elected a Tenth Judicial District judge in 2010 and served from Jan. 2011 to Jan. 2022; the Board on Judicial Standards' list of public reprimands since 1996 does not include him.
Sources: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Legislators Past and Present, Associated Press via KSTP, Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards, Board and Panel Public Reprimands
- On the record1992-12
Announced in Dec. 1992 that he was switching from the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party to the Independent Republican party after serving as a DFL legislator and Hennepin County commissioner.
Sources: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Legislators Past and Present, Sahan Journal, July 27, 2022
- On the record1972
Elected to the Minnesota House in 1972 at age 20, the youngest person elected to the Legislature, and served in the House 1973 to 1982 and the Senate 1983 to 1988.
Sources: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Legislators Past and Present, KSTP, Aug. 2026
- On the record1971 to 1977
Served six years in the United States Army Reserve, 1971 to 1977.
Sources: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Legislators Past and Present, Ballotpedia, Tad Jude
- Credit1973 to 1988
As a legislator he chaired the House Judiciary Committee, led a project converting abandoned Hennepin County railroads to trails and was a key player in creating a county waste-to-energy composting system.
Source: Sahan Journal, July 27, 2022
Seth Kuhl-Stennes
- On the record2026
Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey and the KAXE election guide questionnaire.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Seth Kuhl-Stennes, KAXE Secretary of State 2026 Election Guide, Sept. 28, 2026
- On the record2024-05
Joined the Land Stewardship Project as an operations specialist in May 2024 after 15 or more years in operations roles with Equal Exchange, Eastside Food Co-op, Home Depot and Second Harvest Heartland.
Steve Simon
- Mark against2023-06
In June 2023 the committee signed a second conciliation agreement for accepting $1,425.77 in special source contributions above the 2021 to 2022 limit and agreed to a civil penalty of $1,425.77, $1,075.77 of it stayed.
Sources: Campaign Finance Board conciliation agreement, June 24, 2023, Campaign Finance Board enforcement actions, respondent index
- Mark against2022-08
In Aug. 2022 his campaign committee signed a Campaign Finance Board conciliation agreement for accepting a $500 lobbyist contribution during the 2021 legislative session and agreed to a $500 civil penalty, $375 of it stayed.
Sources: Campaign Finance Board conciliation agreement, Aug. 29, 2022, Campaign Finance Board enforcement actions, respondent index
- On the record2025-01
Presided over the Minnesota House in Jan. 2025 during a DFL boycott; House Republicans petitioned the Supreme Court claiming he overstepped, and the court dismissed the case as moot after a Feb. 2025 power-sharing deal.
Where it stands: Dismissed as moot, Feb. 2025.
Sources: Forum News Service via InForum, Jan. 30, 2025, FOX 9, Feb. 10, 2025, KAAL ABC 6 News, Feb. 2025
- On the record2025-09
The U.S. Department of Justice sued him on Sept. 25, 2025 for declining to turn over the full statewide voter registration list; the U.S. District Court for Minnesota dismissed the suit in Aug. 2026.
Where it stands: Dismissed at district court Aug. 2026; appeal status to be checked.
Sources: MPR News, Sept. 25, 2025, KTTC, Aug. 17, 2026
- On the record2023-12
Served as a voting member of the State Emblems Redesign Commission that adopted the new state flag in Dec. 2023, and said a statewide vote on it would be unconstitutional.
Source: KTTC, Dec. 22, 2023
- On the record2017-06
On June 30, 2017 he announced Minnesota would refuse the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity's request for voter data.
Source: Ballotpedia, Steve Simon (Minnesota), Noteworthy events
- Credit2026-07
The Office of the Legislative Auditor's July 8, 2026 evaluation found his office had largely established adequate procedures for processing and maintaining voter registration records, while some counties did not update records accurately.
Sources: Office of the Legislative Auditor, Voter Registration evaluation, July 8, 2026, MPR News via Austin Daily Herald, July 8, 2026
- Credit2024-07
Chosen by his peers as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State on July 12, 2024, serving through the 2025 summer conference.
Sources: National Association of Secretaries of State, July 12, 2024, U.S. House Committee on House Administration witness biography, April 16, 2026
- Credit2024
KAXE's editor's note in its 2026 election guide states Minnesota ranked No. 1 in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Elections Performance Index for 2024.
Source: KAXE Secretary of State 2026 Election Guide, Sept. 28, 2026
- Credit2013
As chair of the House Elections Committee he was chief author of HF 894, enacted as Laws 2013 Chapter 131, the omnibus elections law that created no-excuse absentee voting.
Sources: Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, HF 894 (2013) status, U.S. House Committee on House Administration witness biography, April 16, 2026
Chip Tangen
- On the record2022 to 2023
Attempted to petition onto the 2022 ballot for Secretary of State and, as chair of the Libertarian Party of Minnesota's Second District affiliate, submitted written testimony to the Senate Elections Committee in Feb. 2023.
- On the record2016
A former legislative counsel to U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad, he left the Republican Party for the Libertarian Party in 2016.
Sources: Eden Prairie Local News, Sept. 23, 2026, KTTC, Aug. 13, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Tad Jude. Principal campaign committee registered with the Campaign Finance Board. The Board's enforcement index lists no action against him or his committees, and the FEC administrative fines search for his name returns no documents.
Sources: Campaign Finance Board candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, "Tad Jude"
Seth Kuhl-Stennes. Principal campaign committee registered with the Campaign Finance Board. No Board enforcement action found.
Steve Simon. His campaign committee signed Campaign Finance Board conciliation agreements in Aug. 2022 ($500 civil penalty, lobbyist contribution during the 2021 session) and June 2023 ($1,425.77 penalty, special source limit exceeded). Both were first violations; most of each penalty was stayed.
Sources: Campaign Finance Board conciliation agreement, Aug. 29, 2022, Campaign Finance Board conciliation agreement, June 24, 2023, Campaign Finance Board enforcement actions, respondent index
Chip Tangen. Principal campaign committee registered with the Campaign Finance Board. No Board enforcement action found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Tad Jude. No public record found.
Seth Kuhl-Stennes. No public record found.
Steve Simon. No public record found.
Chip Tangen. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Tad Jude. Took part in the only 2024 Third District debate on TPT Almanac (Oct. 25, 2024) and gave KTTC a one-on-one interview in July 2026. No 2026 general election debate had been scheduled as of Sept. 30, 2026.
Sources: TPT Almanac, Oct. 25, 2024, KTTC, July 24, 2026, Pioneer Press via Yahoo News, Sept. 30, 2026
Seth Kuhl-Stennes. No public record found.
Steve Simon. Holds open public question sessions on a recurring 87-county tour, the tenth such tour in Aug. 2026. Testified before the House Fraud Committee in Oct. 2025. No 2026 general election debate had been scheduled as of Sept. 30, 2026.
Sources: WKBT News 8000, Aug. 20, 2026, KTTC, Oct. 14, 2025, Pioneer Press via Yahoo News, Sept. 30, 2026
Chip Tangen. Took part in the Sept. 8, 2026 Independent Candidate Forum in Eden Prairie and gave KTTC a one-on-one interview in Aug. 2026.
Sources: Eden Prairie Local News, Sept. 23, 2026, KTTC, Aug. 13, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Tad Jude. Served as a Tenth Judicial District judge from January 2011 to January 2022 and 16 years in the Legislature. The Board on Judicial Standards' list of public reprimands issued since 1996 does not include him.
Sources: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Legislators Past and Present, Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards, Board and Panel Public Reprimands
Seth Kuhl-Stennes. No public record found.
Steve Simon. Secretary of State since 2015 and a House member from 2005 to 2015. No censure, reprimand or formal conduct finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Steve Simon (Minnesota), MPR News, Dec. 9, 2025
Chip Tangen. 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.
Tad Jude. Sworn service in the Army Reserve, Legislature, county board and district court; no misuse-of-office finding and no recorded action to reject certified results. In Feb. 2024 he said: Joe Biden is president, and I accept him as president.
Sources: Star Tribune, Feb. 21, 2024, Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Legislators Past and Present
Seth Kuhl-Stennes. No public record found.
Steve Simon. Chairs the State Canvassing Board, which certified the 2024 general election on Nov. 21, 2024. Followed the Jan. 24, 2025 Supreme Court quorum ruling while presiding over the House. In 2022 he publicly called claims of 2020 vote fraud false.
Sources: Session Daily, Minnesota House, Nov. 21, 2024, Forum News Service via InForum, Jan. 30, 2025, KAXE, Jan. 14, 2022
Chip Tangen. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Tad Jude. Minnesota House 1973 to 1982 and Senate 1983 to 1988, Hennepin County commissioner from 1989, and elected Tenth Judicial District judge serving January 2011 to January 2022.
Sources: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Legislators Past and Present, Associated Press via KSTP
Seth Kuhl-Stennes. Operations specialist at the Land Stewardship Project since May 2024 after 15 or more years in operations roles, with board service at Eastside Food Co-op, Gardening Matters and the Green Party of Minnesota. No government service.
Sources: Land Stewardship Project staff page, KAXE Secretary of State 2026 Election Guide, Sept. 28, 2026
Steve Simon. Secretary of State since Jan. 5, 2015, now in a third term. Minnesota House member from 2005 to 2015, chairing the Elections Committee in 2013 and 2014.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Steve Simon (Minnesota), U.S. House Committee on House Administration witness biography, April 16, 2026
Chip Tangen. Former legislative counsel to U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad, now a business relationship manager at Enterprise Minnesota, with political science and law degrees. Chaired the Libertarian Party of Minnesota's Second District affiliate in 2023. No elected office.
Sources: Eden Prairie Local News, Sept. 23, 2026, Enterprise Minnesota staff page, Written testimony to the Minnesota Senate Elections Committee, Feb. 28, 2023 (Legislative Reference Library)
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Tad Jude. Published a five-point plan: photo ID, citizenship checks, voter roll cleanup with federal partners, a public vote on the state flag and fraud prevention. KAXE's editor's note states that changes to the state flag are made by the Legislature.
Sources: KAXE Secretary of State 2026 Election Guide, Sept. 28, 2026, Ballotpedia, Tad Jude, 2026 Candidate Connection survey
Seth Kuhl-Stennes. Published positions in general terms: proportional representation, ranked choice voting, ballot access and paper ballots. KAXE's editor's note states the Secretary of State does not directly manage state investments.
Sources: KAXE Secretary of State 2026 Election Guide, Sept. 28, 2026, KTTC, Aug. 18, 2026
Steve Simon. Chaired the House Elections Committee in 2013 and 2014, chief author of the 2013 omnibus elections law (Chapter 131), and NASS president 2024 to 2025. 2026 positions are published in general terms.
Sources: Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, HF 894 (2013) status, U.S. House Committee on House Administration witness biography, April 16, 2026, KAXE Secretary of State 2026 Election Guide, Sept. 28, 2026
Chip Tangen. Published positions in general terms: ballot access reform, provisional ballots and a nonpartisan office. Some proposals, such as the Minor Party Ballot Access bill, require the Legislature.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Chip Tangen, 2026 Candidate Connection survey, KTTC, Aug. 13, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Tad Jude. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026 and 2024, answered the KAXE election guide, publishes campaign issue pages and debated on TPT Almanac in 2024.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Tad Jude, KAXE Secretary of State 2026 Election Guide, Sept. 28, 2026, TPT Almanac, Oct. 25, 2024
Seth Kuhl-Stennes. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, answered the KAXE election guide, gave a KTTC interview and publishes campaign issue pages.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Seth Kuhl-Stennes, KAXE Secretary of State 2026 Election Guide, Sept. 28, 2026, KTTC, Aug. 18, 2026
Steve Simon. Answered the KAXE election guide questionnaire, publishes campaign issue pages, debated on MPR and WCCO radio in 2022, and fields questions at county tour stops. Did not complete the Ballotpedia 2026 survey.
Sources: KAXE Secretary of State 2026 Election Guide, Sept. 28, 2026, Pioneer Press via Yahoo News, Sept. 30, 2026, Ballotpedia, Steve Simon (Minnesota)
Chip Tangen. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, answered the KAXE election guide, took part in a Sept. 2026 forum and gave a KTTC interview.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Chip Tangen, KAXE Secretary of State 2026 Election Guide, Sept. 28, 2026, Eden Prairie Local News, Sept. 23, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Tad Jude. Born in St. Cloud, lived in Mound when first elected in 1972, and lives in Maple Grove. In-state share of contributions not retrievable from the Board viewer.
Sources: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Legislators Past and Present, Forum News Service via InForum, Sept. 12, 2025
Seth Kuhl-Stennes. Born and raised in Baudette, in the Twin Cities since 2006 and a South Minneapolis homeowner since Dec. 2010.
Steve Simon. Born in Minneapolis, graduated from Hopkins High School, lived in St. Louis Park when first elected to the House in 2004, and lists Hopkins as his community in 2026. In-state share of contributions not retrievable from the Board viewer.
Sources: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Legislators Past and Present, KAXE Secretary of State 2026 Election Guide, Sept. 28, 2026
Chip Tangen. Raised in Eden Prairie and lives in Inver Grove Heights.
Sources: Eden Prairie Local News, Sept. 23, 2026, KAXE Secretary of State 2026 Election Guide, Sept. 28, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Tad Jude. Campaign committee registered with the state board and no FEC administrative fine on record for his 2024 federal committee. Describes himself as a small business owner.
Sources: FEC administrative fines search, "Tad Jude", Ballotpedia, Tad Jude
Seth Kuhl-Stennes. No public record found.
Steve Simon. Heads an office with $62.7 million in expenditures from 2020 through 2022. OLA's 2026 evaluation found its voter registration procedures largely adequate, and KAXE noted Minnesota ranked No. 1 in MIT's 2024 Elections Performance Index.
Sources: Office of the Legislative Auditor, Performance Audit of the Office of the Secretary of State, Nov. 2023, Office of the Legislative Auditor, Voter Registration evaluation, July 8, 2026, KAXE Secretary of State 2026 Election Guide, Sept. 28, 2026
Chip Tangen. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Tad Jude. As a legislator he chaired the House Judiciary Committee, led a project converting abandoned Hennepin County railroads to trails and helped create a county waste-to-energy composting system, per Sahan Journal.
Source: Sahan Journal, July 27, 2022
Seth Kuhl-Stennes. No public record found.
Steve Simon. Chief author of the 2013 omnibus elections law, Chapter 131, which created no-excuse absentee voting. Minnesota ranked No. 1 in MIT's 2024 Elections Performance Index per KAXE, and OLA's 2026 evaluation found the office's registration procedures largely adequate.
Sources: Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, HF 894 (2013) status, KAXE Secretary of State 2026 Election Guide, Sept. 28, 2026, MPR News via Austin Daily Herald, July 8, 2026
Chip Tangen. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Tad Jude. No public record found.
Seth Kuhl-Stennes. No public record found.
Steve Simon. Performed statutory duties on record: convened and chaired the State Canvassing Board on Nov. 21, 2024, and oversaw the mandatory post-election review in every county in Nov. 2024.
Sources: Session Daily, Minnesota House, Nov. 21, 2024, FOX 9, Nov. 18, 2024
Chip Tangen. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Tad Jude. No public record found.
Seth Kuhl-Stennes. No public record found.
Steve Simon. Documented regular outreach: a recurring 87-county tour, the tenth in 2026, with public question sessions on voting and election administration.
Source: WKBT News 8000, Aug. 20, 2026
Chip Tangen. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Tad Jude. No public record found.
Seth Kuhl-Stennes. No public record found.
Steve Simon. Chosen by the bipartisan National Association of Secretaries of State as its president for 2024 to 2025. A Forum Communications editorial board wrote in Sept. 2026 that he has the respect of leaders from both sides of the aisle.
Sources: National Association of Secretaries of State, July 12, 2024, FCC Editorial Advisory Board via InForum, Sept. 30, 2026 (opinion)
Chip Tangen. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Tad Jude. No public record found.
Seth Kuhl-Stennes. No public record found.
Steve Simon. The Legislative Auditor's November 2023 audit of the office he heads found it generally complied with finance-related legal requirements and generally had adequate internal controls.
Chip Tangen. 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 secretary of state race?
Steve Simon has the strongest record in the Minnesota secretary of state race. Steve Simon scores 70 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Tad Jude at 60, as of October 5, 2026. Steve Simon's highest marks are relevant experience and management. Tad Jude's highest marks are relevant experience and communication. Seth Kuhl-Stennes (5 of 15 criteria) and Chip Tangen (6 of 15 criteria) have 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 secretary of state race in 2026?
Tad Jude (Republican), Seth Kuhl-Stennes (Green), Steve Simon (DFL, incumbent), George "Chip" Tangen (Libertarian). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Tad Jude a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Tad Jude scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Seth Kuhl-Stennes a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Seth Kuhl-Stennes has public evidence on 5 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.
Is Steve Simon a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Steve Simon scores 70 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 85 of 100, performance 65 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Chip Tangen a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Chip Tangen has public evidence on 6 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.