Minnesota Republicans will meet in Duluth on Friday and Saturday to endorse a candidate for governor as fraud in taxpayer-funded programs continues to shape the state’s 2026 race.
The Republican Party of Minnesota’s state convention is scheduled for May 29 and May 30 at the Duluth Entertainment Center. The party says one purpose of the convention is endorsing gubernatorial and lieutenant governor candidates.
The endorsement does not determine the final nominee for the November election, but it can give a candidate key party support ahead of Minnesota’s August 11 primary.
The governor’s race could draw national attention after Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minnesota) announced in January that he would not seek a third term.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Walz abandoned his re-election campaign while citing intensifying criticism of his administration’s handling of alleged fraud in state programs as a key factor in his decision.
The MN GOP lists Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) and Ryan Wilson, Kendall Qualls, and Patrick Knight among the gubernatorial candidates who have agreed to abide by the party endorsement.
Demuth entered the convention with earlier grassroots momentum after finishing first in the Minnesota GOP’s February precinct caucus straw poll. Kendall Qualls finished second, while Mike Lindell finished third.
Fraud oversight has become a central issue in Minnesota politics.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, federal officials recently charged 15 people in connection with more than $90 million in alleged fraud involving Minnesota programs, including Medicaid-related services, housing stabilization, child care, and autism services.
Federal prosecutors said participants in the Feeding Our Future scandal stole hundreds of millions of dollars intended for child nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minnesota lawmakers approved legislation this month creating a statewide Office of the Inspector General. The office will oversee current agency-based inspectors general and investigate credible allegations of fraud or misuse in state-administered programs.
Under the law, the governor must appoint an inspector general by February 1, 2027, and the Office of the Inspector General must be fully operational by September 1, 2027.
The issue will likely remain a major theme in the governor’s race as candidates debate government spending, accountability, and taxpayer protections.
Minnesota will hold its primary election on August 11 and its general election on November 3.
