Donald Trump has weighed in on Minnesota’s governor race, and the endorsement matters more than usual.
The race pits Amy Klobuchar against House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who beat Mike Lindell in the Republican primary. It is historic either way: Minnesota is guaranteed its first female governor, and Demuth would be the state’s first Black governor.
The backdrop is the $9 billion fraud scandal that has shaken Minnesota politics. Federal prosecutors allege massive theft from state programmes, and the fallout has defined the race. Trump’s endorsement lands in a contest already shaped by scandal.
Why the endorsement matters
Minnesota has not elected a Republican governor since 2006. But the fraud scandal has given Republicans an opening, and Trump’s backing signals the national party sees a real opportunity. The sanctions fight shows Trump’s influence; here it is deployed in a governor’s race.
For Demuth, the endorsement is a double-edged sword. It energises the base but ties her to Trump in a state he lost. For Klobuchar, it is a foil: run against Trump, not just Demuth.
The calculus
The race is a test of whether scandal can overcome partisanship. National coverage is tracking the polling, and the answer will say much about 2026.
Minnesota’s choice is historic. Trump’s bet is that scandal beats habit.
