Klobuchar wins Minnesota governorship with 55.5% of vote

Amy Klobuchar has won the governor's race in Minnesota, becoming the first woman to hold the office in the state's history.

The election marked the first open gubernatorial contest in Minnesota since 2018, a gap created when former Governor Tim Walz chose not to seek a third term. Klobuchar ran on the Democratic ticket with Ben Schierer, challenging Republican Lisa Demuth, who currently serves as the state House Speaker. Final tallies show Klobuchar capturing 55.5% of the total vote, while Demuth received 42.6%.

County-level data reveals a stark geographic divide in the results. Klobuchar carried the state's most populous urban areas, including Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, St. Louis, and Olmsted counties. In contrast, Demuth secured victories in numerous smaller and rural districts, such as Aitkin, Crow Wing, Morrison, Otter Tail, Stearns, and Wright counties. County election officials have reported 99% of their results as of the morning after the election, with only a small number of ballots remaining for final certification.

In her victory speech on Tuesday night, Governor-Elect Klobuchar outlined key economic and social priorities for her upcoming administration. She stated she intends to lower the cost of healthcare premiums and prescription drugs. The governor-elect also pledged to collaborate with private sector developers to construct 100,000 new residential units, ranging from apartments to single-family homes. On the education front, she promised to increase student achievement metrics while reducing the amount of time students spend on screens in the classroom.

Klobuchar also addressed the ongoing issue of gun safety, noting that Tuesday, Nov. 3, would have been the 10th birthday of Harper Moyski, a child killed in the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and school. She declared, "We will get that gun safety vote and I will sign that bill into law."

The new administration will begin taking shape in the coming weeks as Klobuchar transitions from the U.S. Senate to the Minnesota State Capitol. Final official certification of the election results is expected shortly, after which the incoming governor will begin selecting members for her cabinet.