Primary Elections
Minnesota Primary Elections 2026
Primary date, filing deadlines, key contested races, and what to watch in Minnesota ahead of the 2026 general election.
August 11, 2026
Primary Date
None
Runoff / RCV
May 2026
Filing Deadline
Very High — Senate open seat i
Competitiveness
Key 2026 Primary Races
| U.S. Senate | Open seat (Tina Smith retiring) — major race |
| Governor | Tim Walz (D) — if VP, then different picture; actually Walz ran for VP, returns to MN |
| U.S. House | MN-2 and MN-3 competitive |
2026 Primary Overview
Minnesota is a key Senate battleground. Tina Smith is retiring, creating an open seat. Republican and Democratic primaries will feature competitive fields. The governor situation depends on whether Walz (who ran for VP in 2024) is the incumbent.