The 2022 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Minnesota. Incumbent Democratic (DFL) Governor Tim Walz defeated the Republican nominee, physician and former state Senator Scott Jensen, winning a second term.
Jensen's advantage in rural Greater Minnesota could not overcome Walz's large lead in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Walz won the election by a comfortable 7.7% margin, narrowly larger than Biden's 7.1% margin in 2020 but smaller than his own previous record of 11.4%. With his win, Walz gave the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party its fourth consecutive gubernatorial victory, the most in the party's history. Furthermore, the DFL held the state house and flipped the state senate, gaining a trifecta for the first time since 2012.
Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary
Candidates
Nominee Tim Walz, incumbent governor and former U.S. representative for Minnesota's 1st congressional district (2007–2019) Peggy Flanagan, incumbent lieutenant governor
Eliminated in primary Ole Savior, perennial candidate Julia M. Parker
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee Scott Jensen, family medicine physician and former state senator Matt Birk, former professional football player with the Minnesota Vikings, businessman, and author
Eliminated in primary Bob "Again" Carney Jr., candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 Captain Jack Sparrow, perennial candidate Joyce Lynne Lacey Kent Edwards
Withdrawn Michelle Benson, state senator Thomas Evensted, activist Paul Gazelka, state senator and former majority leader of the Minnesota Senate Mike Marti, businessman Mike Murphy, mayor of Lexington Kendall Qualls, Army veteran, businessman, and nominee for Minnesota's 3rd congressional district in 2020 Neil Shah, physician and business owner Rich Stanek, former Hennepin County sheriff
Declined Rob Barrett, businessman, activist and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2020 Matt Birk, former Minnesota Vikings player (endorsed Jensen and became his running mate) Jennifer Carnahan, former chair of the Minnesota Republican Party (2017–2021) and widow of U.S. Representative Jim Hagedorn (unsuccessfully ran for Congress in a 2022 special election) Karin Housley, state senator and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2018 (ran for reelection) Mike Lindell, inventor of My Pillow, businessman Carla Nelson, state senator (ran for reelection) Pete Stauber, U.S. representative for Minnesota's 8th congressional district (ran for reelection)
Caucuses and conventions
Caucus The caucuses took place on February 1, 2022. A caucus is a local meeting where all who intend to vote for the Republican Party are able to select their precinct leadership, participate in a straw poll for governor, write and pass resolutions, and elect delegates to their local Basic Political Organizational Unit (BPOU). Those who were not elected BPOU delegates could become alternates and fill in for delegates who cannot attend the BPOU convention.
BPOU conventions A BPOU has boundaries based on the county or state senate district a voter resides in. The majority of these took place in March 2022. Elected delegates of each BPOU attended a convention relating to their district to vote on the resolutions passed at the caucus, complete party business, listen to candidates, and elect delegates to the state convention and their corresponding U.S. House District convention.
State convention The Republican State Convention was held on May 13–14, 2022, in Rochester. 2,200 delegates were elected statewide to decide the Minnesota Republican Party's endorsement in all statewide offices. The endorsed candidate receives the party's backing, including money and resources, ahead of the August 9 primary. Only one Republican, incumbent governor Arne Carlson in 1994, has won the primary without the party's endorsement. (Two Democrats, Mark Dayton and Tim Walz, won the Democratic primary against endorsed candidates.)
At the convention, Scott Jensen won the endorsement with 65% of the vote on the ninth ballot, defeating Kendall Qualls. Mike Murphy, Paul Gazelka, and Neil Shah were eliminated on earlier ballots. All the candidates who contested the endorsement pledged to forego the primary if not endorsed.
Qualls soon honored his pledge by announcing his plans to "return to private life." Rich Stanek, the only major candidate who did not compete for the endorsement, did not file for the primary, leaving Jensen without major opposition. He faced two minor candidates in the August primary.
Endorsements
Results
Independents and others
Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis primary
Candidates
Nominee Steve Patterson, anti-lockdown activist Matt Huff
Eliminated in primary Darrell Paulsen, business consultant, nominee for lieutenant governor in 1998 Edwin Engelmann, nominee for lieutenant governor in 2010
Results
Legal Marijuana Now primary
Candidates
Nominee James McCaskel, community organizer and BLM activist David Sandbeck, activist and candidate for Minnesota's 4th congressional district in 2020
Eliminated in primary Chris Wright, perennial candidate L.C. Lawrence Converse
Results
Other parties Gabrielle M. Prosser, restaurant worker (Socialist Workers) Kevin A. Dwire, perennial candidate Hugh McTavish, scientist, entrepreneur and author (Independence-Alliance Party) Mike Winter, commercial driver, podcast host, Teamster Union steward and candidate for mayor of Minneapolis in 2021
Withdrew Cory Hepola, former WCCO Radio host (Forward Party) Tamara Uselman, school administrator Brandon Millholland-Corcoran
Declined Tom Bakk, state senator and DFL candidate for governor in 2010 Christopher Chamberlin, candidate for governor, senate, and house in 2018 Richard Painter, University of Minnesota Law School professor, former chief White House ethics lawyer, and DFL candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018 (ran for Congress)
Endorsements
General election
Campaign
The election's central issues were the economy, rising crime, Walz's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, education, and abortion access following the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
Walz campaigned on his first-term accomplishments, such as middle-class tax cuts, while making abortion rights a prominent focus of the campaign and attacking Jensen on abortion and his COVID-19 skepticism. Jensen attacked Walz over his COVID-19 policies, crime in the Twin Cities, inflation and gas prices, and education performance.
Jensen was criticized for promoting the hoax that schools provided litter boxes to students who identify as furries.
Debates + 2022 Minnesota gubernatorial election debates Date Host Moderator Link Republican DFLKey: Participant Absent Non-invitee Invitee Withdrawn Scott Jensen Tim Walz 1 August 3, 2022 Minnesota Farmfest Blois Olson 2 October 18, 2022 KTTC/Gray Television Caitlin Alexander, Justin Betti, Stacy Steinhagen, Dan Wolfe 3 October 23, 2022 KSTP/Hubbard Broadcasting Lindsey Brown, Tom Hauser, Laura Lee, Peter Callaghan A 4 October 28, 2022 Minnesota Public Radio Mike Mulcahy 5 November 4, 2022 Twin Cities PBS - Almanac Eric Eskola, Cathy Wurzer A
Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report March 4, 2022Inside Elections November 3, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 12, 2022PoliticoApril 1, 2022 RCPJune 10, 2022Fox News May 12, 2022538October 17, 2022Elections DailyNovember 7, 2022
Endorsements
Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated TimWalz (DFL) ScottJensen (R) OtherMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsOct. 10–30, 2022Nov. 1, 202248.0%43.7%8.3%Walz +4.3FiveThirtyEightFiveThirtyEightSep. 24 – Oct. 30, 2022Nov. 4, 202249.7%40.9%9.4%Walz +8.8Average48.9%42.3%8.8%Walz +6.6 Graphical summary
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimWalz (DFL) ScottJensen (R) HughMcTavish (I-A) Other UndecidedSurveyUSASurveyUSAOct. 26–30, 2022836 (LV)± 3.9%51%43%–2%4%St. Cloud State UniversitySt. Cloud State UniversityOct. 10–30, 2022235 (A)± 8%56%40%–4%–Trafalgar Group (R)Trafalgar Group (R)Oct. 17–19, 20221,091 (LV)± 2.9%45.8%46.3%1.4%2.5%3.9%Embold ResearchEmbold ResearchOct. 10–14, 20221,585 (LV)± 2.6%47.0%42.4%1.3%3.3%6.0%SurveyUSASurveyUSASep. 30 – Oct. 3, 2022604 (LV)± 4.4%50%40%–4%7%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R)Sep. 24–26, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%47.6%44.2%0.4%3.0%4.8%Trafalgar Group (R)Trafalgar Group (R)Sep. 14, 20221,079 (LV)± 2.9%47.7%45.0%0.8%1.7%4.9%Mason-DixonMason-DixonSep. 12–14, 2022800 (LV)± 3.5%48.0%41.0%–0.8%10.3%SurveyUSASurveyUSAAug. 30 – Sep. 4, 2022562 (LV)± 4.9%51%33%–4%12%Gravis Marketing (I-A)Gravis Marketing (I-A)Aug. 17–19, 2022510 (LV)± 4.3%53%36%6%5%–Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R)Jul. 18–19, 2022500 (LV)± 4.3%49.8%45.6%––4.7%Change ResearchChange ResearchJun. 3–8, 20221,551 (LV)± 2.6%41.8%39.8%2.7%6.6%9.0%SurveyUSASurveyUSAMay 5–10, 2022513 (LV)± 4.9%44%39%–4%13%SurveyUSASurveyUSAJan. 25–30, 2022501 (LV)± 5.7%43%40%–4%13%SurveyUSASurveyUSADec. 2–6, 2021506 (LV)± 5.1%48%36%–5%11%
Tim Walz vs. Michelle Benson Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimWalz (DFL) MichelleBenson (R) Other UndecidedSurveyUSAJanuary 25–30, 2022501 (LV)± 5.7%45%37%8%10%SurveyUSADecember 2–6, 2021506 (LV)± 5.1%47%35%4%14% Tim Walz vs. Paul Gazelka Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimWalz (DFL) PaulGazelka (R) Other UndecidedSurveyUSAMay 5–10, 2022513 (LV)± 4.9%43%36%7%15%SurveyUSAJanuary 25–30, 2022501 (LV)± 5.7%42%37%6%15%SurveyUSADecember 2–6, 2021506 (LV)± 5.1%47%34%5%14% Tim Walz vs. Mike Marti Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimWalz (DFL) MikeMarti (R) Other UndecidedSurveyUSADecember 2–6, 2021506 (LV)± 5.1%47%34%3%15% Tim Walz vs. Mike Murphy Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimWalz (DFL) MikeMurphy (R) Other UndecidedSurveyUSAMay 5–10, 2022513 (LV)± 4.9%45%35%4%15%SurveyUSAJanuary 25–30, 2022501 (LV)± 5.7%44%35%7%14%SurveyUSADecember 2–6, 2021506 (LV)± 5.1%47%36%5%12% Tim Walz vs. Kendall Qualls Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimWalz (DFL) KendallQualls (R) Other UndecidedSurveyUSAMay 5–10, 2022513 (LV)± 4.9%46%34%4%15%SurveyUSAJanuary 25–30, 2022501 (LV)± 5.7%43%35%6%16% Tim Walz vs. Neil Shah Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimWalz (DFL) NeilShah (R) Other UndecidedSurveyUSAMay 5–10, 2022513 (LV)± 4.9%44%34%6%16%SurveyUSAJanuary 25–30, 2022501 (LV)± 5.7%45%34%7%14%SurveyUSADecember 2–6, 2021506 (LV)± 5.1%48%31%5%16% Tim Walz vs. Rich Stanek Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimWalz (DFL) RichStanek (R) Other UndecidedSurveyUSAMay 5–10, 2022513 (LV)± 4.9%47%37%5%11% Tim Walz vs. generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimWalz (DFL) GenericRepublican UndecidedChange ResearchChange ResearchAugust 28–31, 20211,945 (RV)± 2.5%46%44%10%
Results
By county
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" ! rowspan="2" |County ! colspan="2" |Tim WalzDFL ! colspan="2" |Scott JensenGOP ! colspan="2" |James McCaskelLMN ! colspan="2" |Steve PattersonGLC ! colspan="2" |Hugh McTavishI-A ! colspan="2" |Gabrielle M. ProsserSWP ! colspan="2" |Write-in ! colspan="2" |Margin ! rowspan="2" |Total votes |- !data-sort-type="number" |% !data-sort-type="number" |# !data-sort-type="number" |% !data-sort-type="number" |# !data-sort-type="number" |% !data-sort-type="number" |# !data-sort-type="number" |% !data-sort-type="number" |# !data-sort-type="number" |% !data-sort-type="number" |# !data-sort-type="number" |% !data-sort-type="number" |# !data-sort-type="number" |% !data-sort-type="number" |# !data-sort-type="number" |% !data-sort-type="number" |# |- style="text-align:center;" | |Aitkin | 35.93% |3,030 |60.59% |5,110 | 1.42% |120 | 1.06% |89 | 0.78% |66 | 0.23% |19 | 0.00% |0 | |−24.66% | |−2,080 |8,434 |- style="text-align:center;" | |Anoka | 47.65% |74,515 |48.97% |76,587 | 1.27% |1,985 | 1.02%' |1,600 | 0.76% |1,188 | 0.23%