Minnesota 2026 Primary: Live Results & Real-Time Counts
Minnesota 2026 Primary Elections: A Beginner’s Guide to What’s Happening
What Is This All About?
Minnesota voters headed to the polls on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 (or voted early) to choose their party’s candidates for the big general election in November. Think of a primary like a semi-final round — each political party picks their best player to compete in the championship game later.
Important Point: This page is like a table of contents or dashboard for all the different races happening in Minnesota. It doesn’t show the actual vote counts — it helps you jump to the specific race you care about!
The Big Races Everyone’s Watching
Governor’s Race
This is the race for the state’s top job — the Governor of Minnesota (like the "principal" of the whole state).
On the Democratic side:
- Senator Amy Klobuchar — She’s been a U.S. Senator for Minnesota since 2007 and is very well-known
On the Republican side (three main contenders):
- Lisa Demuth — Current Minnesota House Minority Leader
- Mike Lindell — Businessman known for MyPillow
- Kendall Qualls — Former congressional candidate and veteran
U.S. Senate Race
Minnesota gets two U.S. Senators in Washington D.C. This race is for one of those seats.
Two major Democratic candidates competing:
- Peggy Flanagan — Current Lieutenant Governor (the Governor’s right-hand person)
- Angie Craig — Current U.S. Representative (represents Minnesota in the House)
Important Point: This is rare! Two current office-holders from the same party running against each other. The winner will face the Republican candidate in November.
All the Other Races on the Ballot
The primary covers many more positions — here’s your cheat sheet:
| Category | What It Is | How Many |
|---|---|---|
| Congressional Districts 1–8 | U.S. House Representatives (Minnesota has 8 districts) | 8 races |
| Secretary of State | Keeps official state records, runs elections | 1 race |
| Attorney General | State’s top lawyer | 1 race |
| State Auditor | Checks how state money is spent | 1 race |
| State Senate | State-level senators (like mini-U.S. Senators) | Multiple districts |
| State House | State-level representatives | Many districts |
| Hennepin County Attorney | Top prosecutor for Minnesota’s biggest county | 1 race |
| Judicial | Judges for various courts | Multiple seats |
How to Follow the Results Live
Watch Live Coverage
- When: Starting at 9:00 PM on election night
- Where:
- CBS News Minnesota (TV/streaming)
- WCCO’s YouTube page → youtube.com/watch?v=dovy2mO5cnw
Jump Straight to Any Race
Use these links to go directly to results for each category:
- Governor
- U.S. Senate
- Congressional Districts 1–8
- Secretary of State
- Attorney General
- State Auditor
- State Senate
- State House
- Hennepin County Attorney
- Judicial Races
Important Point: The actual vote counts will appear on separate pages for each race. This page is just your navigation hub!
Wisconsin Results Too?
If you’re also curious about neighboring Wisconsin, there’s a separate results page:
→ Wisconsin August 2026 Primary Results
Quick Summary
| What You Need to Know | |
|---|---|
| What happened | Minnesota 2026 Primary Election (August 11, 2026) |
| Why it matters | Picks candidates for November general election |
| Biggest races | Governor (Klobuchar vs. 3 Republicans) & U.S. Senate (Flanagan vs. Craig) |
| How to watch | Live at 9 PM on CBS News Minnesota or WCCO YouTube |
| This page | A menu to jump to each race’s detailed results |
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
What’s the difference between a primary and the general election?
A primary is where each party (Democrats, Republicans, etc.) chooses their candidate. The general election in November is when all voters choose between the party winners (plus any independents).
Can I vote in the primary if I’m not registered with a party?
Minnesota has open primaries — you don’t need to register with a party beforehand. You choose which party’s ballot you want when you show up (but you can only pick one party’s ballot).
Why are two Democrats running against each other for U.S. Senate?
Because only one person can be the nominee. Even though Flanagan and Craig are on the same "team," they have different experience and ideas. Primary voters decide who they think is the stronger candidate for November.
What does the Lieutenant Governor actually do?
Think of the Lt. Governor as the Vice Governor — they step in if the Governor can’t serve, lead special projects, and often preside over the State Senate. It’s a common stepping stone to run for Governor or Senator.
When will we know the final results?
Some races may be called election night, but close races with lots of mail-in ballots can take days to finalize. The official certification happens weeks later.
What’s Next?
- Watch the live coverage at 9 PM for real-time analysis
- Click the race links above to see detailed results as they come in
- Mark your calendar — the General Election is November 3, 2026
- Stay informed — the winners of these primaries will be on your November ballot!
Remember: Voting in the primary is like helping pick the starting lineup. Voting in November is picking who wins the game. Both matter!