Minnesota’s 2026 election season kicks off Tuesday with the Democratic-Farmer-Labor and Republican precinct caucuses, local-level party events where participants select convention delegates and consider changes to party platforms.

Besides delegate elections and policy priority discussions, caucus-goers also vote for who they’d like the party to support for governor in a non-binding straw poll, giving an early look at who party organizers might endorse at their conventions this spring.

For the DFL, that might not reveal much — U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is the only major candidate running for the party’s nomination after Gov. Tim Walz dropped his bid for a third term in January.

Still, there is a competitive Senate nomination contest between Congresswoman Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who are vying for the DFL nod to run for the seat U.S. Sen. Tina Smith is vacating. And with President Donald Trump’s recent immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities, DFL Chair Richard Carlbom said he expects “massive” turnout.

“We’re in the midst of an unprecedented retribution campaign being waged on us by the President of the United States,” he said. People are alarmed at his behavior and his activity in the state, and I think that they’re ultimately understanding that the only way we change course here is by putting a check on him.”

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Republican Party has a crowded field with around a dozen gubernatorial candidates. Walz’s perceived vulnerability on widespread fraud in state government programs drew a large field of GOP candidates. It could also attract wider interest in caucuses than the last gubernatorial election in 2022, said Minnesota GOP Chairman Alex Plechash.

“The amount of fraud that has been uncovered and continues to be uncovered — which affects every Minnesotan — it’s real. It’s in their pockets. That is driving people,” he said.

Republicans running for governor in 2026 include House Speaker Lisa Demuth, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, 2022 gubernatorial candidate Dr. Scott Jensen, a doctor who rose to prominence for his criticism of state COVID policy; state Rep. Kristin Robbins; 2022 Republican endorsement contender Kendall Qualls, a former congressional candidate; and businessman Patrick Knight.

Plechash acknowledged that the federal immigration crackdown and resulting protests have taken some steam out of the fraud issue, but called it a temporary setback.

“I’m sure the Democrats are going to pound that drum as hard as they can for as long as they can — it is to their advantage to do that,” he said. “But that really is not talking about things that matter to Minnesotans, that come out of their pocketbooks, in their day-to-day lives.”

There are also several candidates seeking the GOP nomination in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race this year. Former Minnesota GOP chairman and Senate Minority Leader David Hann, ex-Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze, former NFL sideline reporter Michelle Tafoya and former NBA player Royce White, have all announced their candidacy.

Besides the U.S. Senate and governor races, all 67 state Senate seats and 134 House seats are on the ballot, as are attorney general, secretary of state and state auditor. Primary elections are on Aug. 11. Election Day is Nov. 3.

How it works

Caucuses for both parties begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The minimum age to participate is 16, though you must be eligible to vote in the November general election to be elected as a delegate.

Minnesota doesn’t have party registration, but the parties ask those who attend their local caucuses to stand with the party’s values. You’re only allowed to participate in one party’s caucuses each year.

Caucuses are typically held at locations like community centers, churches or town halls.

Location details can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website: caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us. There are many individual events scheduled statewide, and more information can be found on party websites.

DFL: dfl.org/caucus/

GOP: mngop.com/

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Today is Tuesday, Feb. 3, the 34th day of 2026. There are 331 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Feb. 3, 2015, a Metro-North Railroad commuter train slammed into an SUV stuck on the tracks at a suburban rail crossing 20 miles north of New York City, killing five train passengers and the SUV driver and injuring about 30 others.

Also on this date:

In 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting Black American men the right to vote, was ratified.

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In 1913, the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, providing for a federal income tax, was ratified.

In 1917, the United States broke off diplomatic relations with Germany, the same day an American cargo ship, the SS Housatonic, was sunk by a U-boat off Britain (after the crew was allowed to board lifeboats).

In 1943, during World War II, the U.S. transport ship SS Dorchester, which was carrying troops to Greenland, sank after being hit by a German torpedo in the Labrador Sea; only some 230 of the 900 aboard survived.

In 1959, which would become known as “the day the music died,” rock ‘n roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson died in a small plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa.

In 1966, the Soviet probe Luna 9 became the first man-made object to make a soft landing on the moon.

In 1998, a U.S. Marine jet sliced through the cable of a ski gondola near Cavalese, Italy, causing the car to plunge hundreds of feet, killing all 20 people inside.

In 2006, an Egyptian passenger ferry sank in the Red Sea during bad weather, killing more than 1,000 people.

In 2007, a truck bomb exploded in a busy street market in Baghdad, killing more than 100 people in one of the deadliest single attacks in the Iraqi capital.

In 2023, more than three dozen freight cars of a train carrying hazardous materials derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, close to the Pennsylvania line. The derailment prompted an immediate evacuation and the intentional burning of toxic vinyl chloride three days later that sent flames and acrid smoke in the air.

Today’s birthdays:

Football Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton is 86.
Actor Blythe Danner is 83.
Football Hall of Famer Bob Griese is 81.
Singer-guitarist Dave Davies (The Kinks) is 79.
Actor Morgan Fairchild is 76.
Actor Nathan Lane is 70.
Actor Maura Tierney is 61.
Basketball Hall of Famer Vlade Divac is 58.
Golf Hall of Famer Retief Goosen is 57.
Actor Warwick Davis is 56.
Actor Isla Fisher is 50.
Reggaeton singer Daddy Yankee is 49.
Actor Aimee Lou Wood is 32.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 30 points, Ty Jerome added 19 and Memphis built a 20-point lead in the second half and held on for a 137-128 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) shoots against Memphis Grizzlies center Jock Landale (31) and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (8) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis maintained a double-digit advantage through much of the fourth quarter. Minnesota, behind Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards, seemed poised to overtake Memphis, but the Grizzlies never let the Timberwolves within nine points and snapped a six-game losing streak.

Jaylen Wells scored 18 points for Memphis, while Cam Spencer and Vince Williams Jr. added 16 points apiece.

Edwards led Minnesota with 39 points and seven rebounds. Jaden McDaniels scored 29 points and DiVincenzo finished with 21, including 13 in the fourth. Minnesota had its four-game win streak halted.

The Timberwolves defeated Memphis 131-114 on Saturday in the first of consecutive games between the teams. In that one, Edwards scored 33 and Julius Randle added 27, and Minnesota had four players with at least 20 points.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies center Jock Landale (31) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

On Saturday, Memphis made one of its first 18 3-point attempts. On Monday, the Grizzlies used long-range shooting to build a double-digit lead in the first half. Memphis was 8 of 15 from beyond the arc, and the lead reached 14 points. The Grizzlies were ahead 66-58 at the half.

Memphis led 98-86 after three quarters and extended its advantage to 109-89 by making its first four shots of the fourth, including three 3-pointers.

With the loss, Minnesota dropped to 31-20 overall, 14-12 away from Target Center. Next up, the Wolves travel north of the border to take on the Toronto Raptors at 6:30 Wednesday night. The game will be televised on FDSN.

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There are a few sure things Minnesota Wild fans can count on. Two of them are pretty assists by Quinn Hughes, and home wins over the Montreal Canadiens.

They got to see both on Monday.

Hughes set up three goals, tying a franchise record in the process, and the Wild rallied, beating Montreal 4-3 in overtime for their 12th straight home win versus the Habs.

Trailing 3-2 with 13 minutes left in regulation, Minnesota got an equalizing goal from Brock Faber and the overtime clincher from Kirill Kaprizov to win their only February home game.

“Finding ways to win. That’s what you’ve got to do,” said Faber.

Kaprizov was hooked on an overtime rush to the net, giving the Wild a 4-on-3 power play in the extra session, and setting up the dramatic overtime winner. Hughes assisted on the goal, giving him three assists in the game.

The team record for a defenseman having three assists in a game was five, held by Ryan Suter. It took Suter nine seasons in a Wild uniform to hit that mark. On Monday, Hughes tied Suter’s record, and has done it in 25 games.

In the post-game locker room, Kaprizov joked that he has to repeat himself when asked about Hughes following win after win after win.

“I tell you already so many times, after every game,” Kaprizov said, with an exasperated smile. “He’s absolutely a special player and he’s fun to play with. So fun.”

Filip Gustavsson had 17 saves for Minnesota, which next plays at home on March 1, after the NHL’s extended break for the Winter Olympics.

Fans were still buzzing from a pre-game introduction of the Wild’s many Olympians when Joel Eriksson Ek ripped a rising shot just inside the far post to give Minnesota the lead just 38 seconds into the game.

Hughes set up Kaprizov’s team-leading 31st goal of the season to double the Wild’s lead later in the first. It was the ninth consecutive game with an assist for Hughes, tying Kaprizov’s franchise record. But Montreal responded before the period was over, scoring in the final minute to cut Minnesota’s lead to 2-1 after one.

Both teams had chances in the middle frame. But it was Montreal connecting in the final minute of the period, again, tying the game with 17 seconds left in the second on a pretty cross-ice passing play. The visitors needed just a dozen seconds in the third period to take their first lead, when Kirby Dach tipped a blind pass between Gustavsson’s blocker and the post.

But Faber scored on a rush to the net for his career-best 13th of the season to tie the game again.

“I liked the response. We just got right back to the game that we thought would give us the best chance to win,” Wild coach John Hynes said. “We stayed with it and obviously Fabes got the nice goal for us. So it was good to see the response after some adversity where we had a couple letdowns.”

The Wild’s defensive corps got a little healthier before the game, when veteran Zach Bogosian returned to the lineup after missing 12 games over the previous month with a lower body injury. But the good health on the blue line was short-lived, as Daemon Hunt left the game before the first period was half done, after taking a Canadiens shot to the neck. He did not return.

“I think Hunter should be fine. Should be good. I talked to him,” Hynes said, noting that Hunt was held out of the game as a precaution. “I don’t anticipate him missing time. Just let things settle down and make sure…I’m anticipating him being good to go.”

Jakub Dobes had 20 saves for the Canadiens, who beat the Wild on a last-minute goal last month in Montreal.

The Wild close the pre-Olympic portion of their schedule on Wednesday night with their first trip to Nashville in 2025-26.

Briefly

A bug making its way through the Wild locker room caused further lineup juggling on Monday. Nico Sturm, who missed the Saturday game in Edmonton, returned to the lineup, but the Wild were without forward Marcus Foligno and goalie Jesper Wallstedt, both of whom were scratched due to illness. Minnesota recalled goalie Cal Petersen from Iowa under emergency conditions to back up Gustavsson, and Tyler Pitlick skated on the fourth line in place of Foligno.

Hynes said they would wait until Tuesday to determine whether Foligno or Wallstedt would travel to Nashville.

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