Minnesota · Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3

Minnesota ballot guide 2026

Every statewide and congressional race on the Minnesota ballot, how to vote, and the key dates. Neutral, sourced, no endorsements.

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Free. Races called only when AP and another major outlet call them.

Updated Oct. 13, 2026. Candidates are the general-election nominees listed on county ballot proofs and by Minnesota news outlets; your own ballot may also include write-in lines and local races. Check your exact ballot with the Secretary of State link below.

How and when to vote

Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; if you are in line by 8 p.m., you can vote. Some towns under 500 people open as late as 10 a.m.
Not registered? The pre-registration deadline was Oct. 13. You can still register at your polling place or an early-voting site with proof of residence (Minnesota has same-day registration).
Vote early in person: absentee voting has been open since Sept. 18. Early voting, where your ballot goes straight into the counter, runs Oct. 16 to Nov. 2.
Vote by mail: the Secretary of State suggests applying by Oct. 20; ballots must arrive by Election Day.

Sources: MN Secretary of State elections calendar · voting hours

Statewide races

U.S. Senate

Open seat: Sen. Tina Smith (DFL) is not running.

Peggy Flanagan · DFL
Michele Tafoya · Republican
Rebecca Whiting · Libertarian
Marisa Simonetti · Independent

Sources: KAXE guide · Axios Twin Cities · Blue Earth County ballot proof

Governor / Lieutenant Governor

Open seat: Gov. Tim Walz (DFL) ended his bid for a third term in January.

Amy Klobuchar / Ben Schierer · DFL
Lisa Demuth / Ryan Wilson · Republican
Steven Young / Jane Kirby · Green

Sources: Axios Twin Cities · KSTP · Blue Earth County ballot proof

Attorney General

Incumbent Keith Ellison (DFL) is running for a third term.

Keith Ellison · DFL
Ron Schutz · Republican

Sources: KTTC · MPR News

Secretary of State

Incumbent Steve Simon (DFL) is running for a fourth term.

Steve Simon · DFL
Tad Jude · Republican
Seth Kuhl-Stennes · Green
George "Chip" Tangen · Libertarian

Sources: MPR News · KSTP

State Auditor

Open seat: Auditor Julie Blaha (DFL) is not running.

Zack Filipovich · DFL
Scott Jensen · Republican
Jay Reeves · Forward Independence

Sources: Axios Twin Cities · KSTP

U.S. House (all 8 districts)

Not sure of your district? Your sample ballot shows it.

District 1

Incumbent Brad Finstad (R) is running.

Jake Johnson · DFL
Brad Finstad · Republican

District 2

Open seat: Rep. Angie Craig (DFL) ran for Senate.

Matt Little · DFL
Eric Pratt · Republican

District 3

Incumbent Kelly Morrison (DFL) is running.

Kelly Morrison · DFL
Tyler Bass · Republican

District 4

Incumbent Betty McCollum (DFL) is running.

Betty McCollum · DFL
Paul Wikstrom · Republican

District 5

Incumbent Ilhan Omar (DFL) is running.

Ilhan Omar · DFL
John Nagel · Republican

District 6

Incumbent Tom Emmer (R) is running.

Doug Chapin · DFL
Tom Emmer · Republican

District 7

Incumbent Michelle Fischbach (R) is running.

Erik Osberg · DFL
Michelle Fischbach · Republican

District 8

Incumbent Pete Stauber (R) is running.

Trina Swanson · DFL
Pete Stauber · Republican

Sources: MPR News: who is running in each district · Wikipedia summary

Also on the ballot

Constitutional amendment: school funding

"Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to increase the funding going to all school districts from the permanent school fund ... without raising individual income or property taxes, effective July 1, 2027?"

The permanent school fund now pays districts about 2.5% a year; the amendment would raise that to 4.5%. In Minnesota, leaving an amendment question blank counts as a "no" vote.

Sources: MN Secretary of State · KTTC

Minnesota Supreme Court and Court of Appeals

Two Supreme Court seats (Justices Sarah Hennesy and Paul Thissen) and five Court of Appeals seats are on the ballot; all are incumbents running unopposed. Judicial races are nonpartisan.

Minnesota Legislature

All 67 state Senate seats and all 134 state House seats are up. The Senate is now 34 DFL, 33 Republican; the House was tied 67-67 after 2024. Your candidates depend on your district: see your sample ballot.

Election night

We will not report a result until AP and at least one other major outlet have called the race. Our 6 AM edition on Wednesday, Nov. 4 leads with the calls made overnight, then Minnesota.

While You Were Out is independent and nonpartisan; we do not endorse candidates. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will fix it and log it on our corrections page.