Republican Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth has picked former state auditor candidate Ryan Wilson as her running mate for her campaign for governor in the 2026 election.
Wilson, the founder and former chief executive of a clinical trials company who has worked as an attorney for Minnesota Republicans in election lawsuits, came closer in 2022 to defeating a Democratic-Farmer-Labor incumbent in a statewide race than any other GOP candidate.
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth. (Courtesy photo)
At a Monday Capitol news conference announcing his candidacy for lieutenant governor, Wilson said he “didn’t hesitate” to join Demuth because he agreed with her priorities, which include fighting fraud in state government, improving education outcomes, and taking a tougher stance on crime and public safety.
“Four years ago, I campaigned across this state meeting with Minnesotans of every walk of life,” he said. “I heard how they worked hard for their tax dollars, for their money, and they wanted to know that it was going to help families and not fraudsters. They wanted to know that their money was going to schools to make their classrooms better and not get lost on bureaucrats.”
2002 election
In the 2022 election, Wilson faced State Auditor Julie Blaha and received 47.13% of the vote to Blaha’s 47.47%. Just 8,435 votes separated the candidates in the closest statewide race. Blaha is not running for a third term in 2026.
“Ryan’s success in being the closest statewide race this last election when he ran for state auditor let us know that Minnesotans were looking for a change,” Demuth said. “We are building a strong team early on.”
Demuth and Wilson’s announcement comes ahead of a statewide tour this week to promote their vision for Minnesota. Demuth hasn’t shared any specific policy proposals yet, but on Monday she said to “stay tuned.”
Wilson lives in Maple Grove with his wife and four children. Earlier this year, he represented the Republicans in their efforts to secure power in the closely divided House, where voters delivered a 67-67 tie between the parties in the 2024 election.
A power struggle ensued when a Roseville candidate who won didn’t take his seat after Republicans successfully challenged his residency in court. Wilson was part of the team of attorneys who argued before the state Supreme Court.
Demuth, 58, represents a district to the south and west of St. Cloud. This year, she made Minnesota history as the state’s first Black House speaker and first female Republican to serve in that role. Members selected her as speaker as part of a power-sharing agreement between the GOP and DFL.
Demuth launched her gubernatorial campaign last week, becoming the fourth GOP candidate in the 2026 race. A primary election to pick the party’s nominee is scheduled for August. The Minnesota Republican Party also holds a convention to endorse a candidate before the primary. Demuth has said she would honor the endorsement.
Other Republicans running for governor in 2026 include 2022 gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen, a doctor who rose to prominence for his criticism of state COVID policy; state Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove; and 2022 Republican endorsement contender Kendall Qualls, a former congressional candidate.
Demuth and Wilson have said they would welcome an endorsement from President Donald Trump. Wilson backed Trump in past elections and said he continues to do so today.
“President Trump is our president and he’s delivering on a lot of promises,” Wilson told reporters. “We’re seeing, for example, the southern border being fixed, and that’s having effects here in Minnesota today. So, yes, we stand by the president, and I stand by my past support of him.”
Walz, who is seeking an unprecedented third consecutive four-year term as governor, has not named a running mate for 2026. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is running for a U.S. Senate seat to be vacated by Sen. Tina Smith next year and isn’t appearing on the ballot with Walz.
So far, Walz is the only DFLer running for governor in 2026.
No Republican has won a statewide election since 2006, when then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty won a second term. DFL Gov. Mark Dayton was elected in 2010 and served from 2011 to 2019. Walz followed.
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