LIVE: Minnesota 2026 Primary Results & Vote Counts
Minnesota 2026 Primary Election: Your Simple Guide to What’s Happening
What Is This All About?
Imagine you and your friends are picking a team captain. Before the big game against another school, you first have to decide who from your own school will be the captain. That’s exactly what a primary election is!
On Tuesday, people in Minnesota went to voting places (or mailed in their ballots early) to choose which candidates will represent their political party in the big general election this November.
Important Point: A primary is like a "pre-game" — voters pick their party’s favorite candidate. The winners then face off against the other party’s winners in November.
The Big Races Everyone Is Watching
Governor’s Race
This is like picking the "principal" for the whole state of Minnesota.
On the Democratic side:
- Senator Amy Klobuchar — She’s been a U.S. Senator for a long time and is very well-known.
On the Republican side: Three people are competing for the spot:
- Lisa Demuth — A leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives
- Mike Lindell — A businessman you might know from TV pillow commercials
- Kendall Qualls — A former Army officer and business leader
Think of it like this: Amy Klobuchar is waiting in the championship game. The three Republicans are playing semi-finals right now — only one gets to face her in November.
U.S. Senate Race
Minnesota gets to send two people to the U.S. Senate in Washington D.C. This seat is open, and two Democrats are in a tight race:
- Peggy Flanagan — Currently the Lieutenant Governor (like the "vice principal")
- Angie Craig — Currently a U.S. Representative (she works in the House, not the Senate yet)
They’re both from the same party, so they’re competing against each other now. The winner will face the Republican candidate in November.
Congressional Districts 1 through 8
Minnesota is divided into 8 puzzle pieces called districts. Each district picks one person to go to the U.S. House of Representatives. All 8 districts have primaries happening!
Constitutional Officers (Statewide Jobs)
These are like the "cabinet members" for the state government:
- Secretary of State — Keeps track of elections and business records
- Attorney General — The state’s top lawyer
- Auditor — Checks that state money is spent correctly
State Legislature (Making State Laws)
- State Senate — 67 districts, each picks one senator
- State House — 134 districts, each picks one representative
These people write laws just for Minnesota — things like school funding, road repairs, and state taxes.
Local Important Races
- Hennepin County Attorney — The top prosecutor for Minnesota’s biggest county (where Minneapolis is)
- Judicial Races — Voters decide which judges get to keep their jobs or get new ones
How to Follow the Results
| What You Want | Where to Go |
|---|---|
| Live Minnesota results | This CBS News Minnesota page (updates as votes are counted) |
| Wisconsin results | CBS News Wisconsin page |
| Watch live on TV | CBS News Minnesota starting at 9:00 PM |
| Watch on YouTube | WCCO’s YouTube channel |
Pro Tip: Results come in waves! Early votes are often counted first, then Election Day votes. Don’t panic if your candidate is behind at 9:15 PM — it can flip!
Quick Summary
- Today was Primary Day in Minnesota (August 2026)
- Voters picked party nominees for November’s general election
- Biggest storylines:
- Amy Klobuchar (D) vs. TBD Republican for Governor
- Peggy Flanagan vs. Angie Craig (both D) for U.S. Senate
- All 8 Congressional seats + state legislature + local offices
- Results are streaming live on CBS News Minnesota and YouTube at 9 PM
- Winners move on to November — that’s when everyone votes, regardless of party
FAQ: Questions You Might Have
What’s the difference between a primary and the general election?
A primary is like tryouts for a team — only Democrats vote for Democrats, Republicans for Republicans. The general election in November is the championship — everyone votes, and the winner gets the job.
Can I vote in a primary if I’m not registered with a party?
In Minnesota — yes! Minnesota has "open primaries." You don’t have to be a registered Democrat or Republican. You just pick one party’s ballot when you show up.
Why are Flanagan and Craig running against each other if they’re in the same party?
Because only one Democrat can be on the ballot in November. They’re competing now to see who the Democratic voters prefer. The winner faces the Republican nominee later.
When will we know the final results?
Some races might be called tonight. Close races could take days if there are many mail-in ballots to count. Minnesota counts carefully!
What happens after the primary?
The winners from each party become the official nominees. They’ll campaign all summer and fall. Then on November 3, 2026, all Minnesota voters choose the final winners.
Bottom Line: Today was Round 1. The winners advance to the Main Event in November. Stay tuned — democracy is a marathon, not a sprint!