Minnesota gubernatorial race and women in US politics

The 2026 midterm elections in Minnesota and Tennessee present opportunities for both states to elect their first female governors. In Minnesota, Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar and Republican State House Speaker Lisa Demuth are competing for the office. In Tennessee, Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn faces Democrat Jerri Green.

Data from the Center for American Women and Politics indicates that 17 states have never had a woman governor. Additionally, 15 states have never had a woman senator.

In Minnesota, Republican state senators Michael Kreun and Mark Koran have accused Governor Tim Walz of attempting to undermine the newly created Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The OIG was established to investigate state welfare fraud schemes and is intended to have independent authority. Republican lawmakers claim the administration is attempting to post high-level job openings for the office before an inspector general is appointed, which they characterize as an overreach intended to compromise the office's independence.