DramaDramaA political earthquake just shook Minnesota. Businessman and Army veteran Kendall Qualls pulled off a stunning upset this weekend, securing the Republican Party's coveted endorsement for governor over the sitting Minnesota House Speaker, Lisa Demuth. The unexpected victory came after a grueling ten-ballot marathon at the state convention, reshaping the landscape of the 2026 gubernatorial race.
The dramatic contest unfolded in Duluth, Minnesota, spanning May 29-30, 2026. Speaker Demuth, widely seen as the clear frontrunner heading into the convention, ultimately fell short of the 60 percent threshold required for endorsement. Qualls, a conservative outsider, clinched the party's official backing on the tenth ballot, accumulating 60.4 percent of the vote. This hard-fought win positions him as the likely GOP nominee, as primary voters for the party in Minnesota reportedly tend to follow the convention's recommendation.
The multi-day event saw a crowded field of Republican hopefuls, including MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, former CEO Patrick Knight, State Representative Peggy Bennett, former Navy intelligence officer Phillip Parrish, and Minister John Krhin. Demuth initially held a narrow lead through the early rounds. By the second ballot, she had 35.5 percent of the vote compared to Qualls' 33.7 percent. The field thinned significantly after the fourth ballot, with party rules stipulating that only the top two vote-getters would proceed, leading to Lindell's elimination. Qualls then seized the momentum, taking the lead on the fifth ballot with 49.9 percent to Demuth's 46 percent, though neither had reached the required 60 percent at that point. The lengthy process was not without its challenges, with reports indicating "glitches" affecting the voting devices during what was described as a "10-ballot marathon."
Kendall Qualls brings a diverse background to his political aspirations. An Army veteran, he commissioned as a Second Lieutenant at just 19 years old, serving in the U.S. Army Reserves while working full-time to pay for his education. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Cameron University, a Master of Arts from the University of Oklahoma, and an MBA from the University of Michigan. Professionally, Qualls spent 27 years in the healthcare industry, leading sales and marketing teams for Fortune 100 giants like Johnson & Johnson, Roche Labs, and Medtronic. He is also the founder and president of TakeCharge MN, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the idea that the American Dream is attainable for everyone, regardless of their background. Qualls himself grew up in poverty, living in public housing projects in Harlem, New York, and later in a trailer park in rural Oklahoma, becoming the first in his family to graduate college. This wasn't his first foray into Minnesota politics; he previously ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Minnesota's 3rd District in 2020, losing to incumbent Dean Phillips, and also sought the Republican nomination for governor in 2022, where he lost to Scott Jensen. He is married to Sheila Qualls, and they have five children.
Lisa Demuth's political journey has been equally notable. As the incumbent Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 13A in central Minnesota, she made history in February 2025 by becoming the first Black person and the first Republican woman to hold the speakership. Before that, she served as the Minority Leader of the Minnesota House Republican caucus from 2023 to 2025. Her political career began earlier, with her election to the Rocori school board as a write-in candidate in 2007, serving until 2018, before winning her seat in the Minnesota House in 2018. Demuth, who is biracial with a Black father and white mother, has publicly shared experiences of racism during her childhood. She co-owns and manages commercial property with her husband, Nick, and they have four children. She has been characterized as a more collaborative and calmer leader than her predecessor, Kurt Daudt, and her voting record, according to the American Conservative Union's scorecard, is reportedly less conservative than the average Republican legislator.
During her gubernatorial campaign, Demuth highlighted her legislative successes as Speaker of a tied House, stating she had successfully blocked gun restrictions and limited state spending. She pitched her campaign as a way to "de-Walz" the state, a clear reference to the policies of Democratic Governor Tim Walz. She also emphasized her electability, noting, "Last election under my leadership, we held every single one of our Republican-held seats and then gained three more that got us to that tie [including] flipping a seat in the Iron Range that Democrats held for 96 years." Demuth had made a public pledge to withdraw from the governor's race if she did not receive the party's endorsement, though it remains unclear if she will honor that commitment and not run in the August primary.
Upon securing the endorsement, Kendall Qualls expressed his gratitude and vision. He stated he was "deeply honored and humbled" by the support. "This endorsement is a victory for every Minnesotan who believes our state can be better," Qualls declared, signaling his intent to appeal to a broad base. Meanwhile, Mike Lindell, who was also a candidate in the convention, had previously indicated his intention to run in the primary regardless of the endorsement outcome, suggesting the Republican field may not be entirely settled.
This upset comes at a critical juncture for Minnesota Republicans, who have faced a statewide losing streak, failing to win a statewide office since Tim Pawlenty's gubernatorial re-election in 2006. The convention's outcome reflects ongoing internal party dynamics, particularly the debate between nominating candidates who are closely aligned with former President Donald Trump and those perceived as more moderate. Qualls has consistently presented himself as a conservative outsider, contrasting with Demuth's image as an insider with a proven track record at the Capitol. The 2026 gubernatorial election is now considered wide open, especially after incumbent Democratic Governor Tim Walz unexpectedly ended his re-election campaign amid intense scrutiny over a state fraud scandal. Democrats, however, have suggested that Demuth could also be tied to the fraud scandal given her role as House Speaker during the period it occurred, adding another layer of complexity to the political landscape.
The endorsement of Kendall Qualls by the Minnesota Republican Party marks a significant turning point, potentially signaling a shift in the party's preferred direction for the upcoming election cycle. With the primary now on the horizon, all eyes will be on whether the party unites behind its endorsed candidate or if other contenders, like Mike Lindell, decide to challenge the convention's decision, setting the stage for a potentially contentious and closely watched race to the general election.