Filing for Governor and Lieutenant Governor

The Governor is Minnesota’s chief executive, and the Lieutenant Governor assumes the Governor’s responsibilities if there is an absence or vacancy. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor appear on the ballot together every four years—the next time will be in 2026.

Qualifications

Candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor must:

• be eligible to vote in Minnesota
• have not filed for another office at the upcoming primary or general election
• be at least 25 years old upon assuming office
• be a resident of Minnesota for at least one year before the general election

How to File

Major political party candidates

Candidates of major political parties for Governor and Lieutenant Governor must both submit their own affidavit of candidacy and each pay the $300 filing fee. Candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor file together with the same filing officer from May 19, 2026 to June 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. If the candidates reside in different counties, they must file with the Secretary of State. If they both reside in the same county, they may file together either with the county auditor or with the Secretary of State.

• Major party candidates must have participated in that party's most recent precinct caucus or intend to vote for a majority of that party's candidates at the next general election (Minn. Stat. 204B.06, subd. 2)
• Instead of paying the filing fee, candidates may submit a Petition in Place of Filing Fee (Governor & Lt. Governor). The petition requires at least 2,000 signatures.

Non-major political party candidates

Candidates of minor political parties, other political parties, or independent candidates must each submit the affidavit of candidacy and together submit one nominating petition (see below) from May 19, 2026 to June 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM. Candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor file together with the same filing officer. If the candidates reside in different counties, they must file with the Secretary of State. If they both reside in the same county, they may file together either with the county auditor or with the Secretary of State.

• Most candidates use the Combined Nominating Petition and Petition in Place of Filing Fee (Governor & Lt. Governor). The petition requires at least 2,000 signatures. All signatures must be obtained during the filing period.
• Alternatively, candidates could submit the Nominating Petition (Governor & Lt. Governor) and each pay the $300 filing fee. The petition requires at least 2,000 signatures. All signatures must be obtained during the filing period.

Withdrawal

A candidate who has filed for office may remove their name from the ballot by filing an affidavit of withdrawal. Candidates may withdraw within the filing period, or by 5:00 p.m. within two days of the end of the filing period. The affidavit of withdrawal is filed with the same filing officer where the original affidavit of candidacy was filed. If a candidate for governor withdraws, both the governor candidate and the running mate for lieutenant governor are removed from the ballot. (Minn. Stat. 204B.12, subd. 2b)

Major party candidates may withdraw after this deadline in some cases for a catastrophic illness if:

• The candidate has been diagnosed with a catastrophic illness that will permanently and continuously incapacitate the candidate and prevent the candidate from performing the duties of the office; and
• The candidate or the candidate’s legal guardian files a certificate signed by at least 2 licensed physicians verifying that the illness meets the requirements. (Minn. Stat. 204B.13, subd. 1 (b))

Write-In Candidates

Write-in candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor must each file a written request for their votes to be counted. The two requests must be filed together with the Secretary of State not more than 84 days before the primary and no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 19th day before the general election.