For years, Minnesota politics has felt like reruns of the same old show—high taxes, high talk, and low accountability. But this week brought a plot twist that might finally give voters something new to root for. Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth officially entered the Minnesota governor race, and suddenly Gov. Tim Walz’s third-term plans don’t look quite so inevitable.
Walz has held the governor’s office long enough to know which camera angles he likes best, but even his press team can’t frame away growing fatigue with his policies. The man who promised “One Minnesota” has presided over deeper divides between the metro elite and the folks who keep the rest of the state running. After two terms of spending sprees and virtue signals, voters are asking a fair question: Who’s really being served?
Lisa Demuth is betting that answer can change—and fast.
She’s not a made-for-TV politician. She’s a mom, grandmother, and small-town Minnesotan who worked her way from a local school board to the Speaker’s gavel. She talks more about budgets than buzzwords and seems genuinely interested in making government boring again—in the best possible way.
When she announced her run, she didn’t lead with identity talking points or focus-grouped slogans. She talked about business owners trying to survive rising costs, parents worried about classroom priorities, and families who just want Minnesota to feel affordable again. That’s the kind of conversation the state hasn’t heard in a while.
Even Democrats admit Demuth has credibility. She negotiated bipartisan budgets and kept a divided House from grinding to a halt. That takes skill, patience, and a sense of humor—three things state politics has been short on lately.
Meanwhile, Walz has spent more time on the national stage than the State Fair grandstand. After two terms and a stint as a vice-presidential running mate, his priorities look more Washington than Winona. Minnesotans are used to leaders who show up in muck boots, not motorcades.
It’s not that Walz is out of ideas; it’s that most of them come with a price tag that keeps landing on the same people. He’s turned “investment” into a synonym for “tax increase.” Families are still waiting for promised relief while agencies grow faster than corn in July. Every new program seems to start with a press release and end with a higher bill.
That’s where Demuth draws her contrast. She talks about cutting waste instead of writing wish lists, about measuring success by outcomes instead of headlines. She even dares to suggest that government should live within its means—an idea so radical in St. Paul it might actually work.
Critics call her too cautious. Supporters call her the adult in the room. Either way, she represents something Walz doesn’t: change.
Her campaign launch video hit a note many Minnesotans have been feeling for a while. It pointed to division, frustration, and fatigue—then offered optimism instead of outrage. Demuth promised to lead with respect while still holding the powerful accountable. That’s a tough balance, and it’s one Walz has struggled to maintain as his rhetoric shifted from unifier to partisan warrior.
If Democrats underestimate her, they’ll be making the same mistake national pundits made with other pragmatic conservatives who turned local credibility into statewide momentum. Minnesota hasn’t elected a Republican governor since Tim Pawlenty, but that drought says more about party unity than voter appetite. Demuth is running to fix both.
Her pitch to voters is simple: stop managing decline and start expecting results. She talks about creating an environment where businesses stay, schools focus on learning, and taxpayers see value for their money. It’s not flashy, but after years of ideological grandstanding, boring competence might be the boldest idea on the ballot.
Walz still has advantages—money, media attention, and incumbency. But incumbency cuts both ways. The longer you sit in the chair, the more people remember what’s gone wrong. Crime spikes, education slides, and pandemic-era overreach left marks that no speech can polish away.
And then there’s tone. Minnesotans pride themselves on “nice,” but they’re also allergic to arrogance. Walz’s tendency to lecture rather than listen has worn thin in both parties. Demuth’s approach—measured, collaborative, but firm—offers a contrast that could resonate well beyond the GOP base.
Of course, she still has to win her party’s nomination, and that field is crowded. Former candidate Scott Jensen, veteran Kendall Qualls, and Rep. Kristin Robbins all bring credentials and followings of their own. But Demuth’s tenure as Speaker gives her something they don’t: proof she can govern in divided times.
She’s already promised to seek President Trump’s endorsement, but she frames it smartly—respectful to the base, independent in leadership. That balance could help her bridge the gap between grassroots enthusiasm and moderate appeal, a mix Republicans have struggled to achieve statewide.
If she pulls it off, the 2026 race could turn into one of the most competitive in the country. A clear contrast, a fresh face, and a state that’s quietly tired of blue-state sameness.
Minnesotans tend to vote like they shovel: steady, careful, and only after they’ve sized up the storm. Lisa Demuth knows that. Her campaign isn’t built on outrage but on patience and persistence. She’s playing the long game—something the current governor might not be ready for.
Tim Walz has made history by staying in power. Lisa Demuth might make history by ending that streak.
Minnesota deserves a real race again. This time, it just might get one.
Editor’s Note: This article reflects the opinion of the author.
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Even though I live in Florida, here’s hoping that Ms Demuth can unseat Tampon Timmy! But my limited knowledge of Minnesota politics is that it is heavily democrat leaning! Ms Demuth being a republican might limit her prospects of becoming the governor? But there’s always hope! Walz is a dufus!! Minnesotans need to kick him to the curb!