The Minnesota Republican Party’s endorsement race for governor reached a key moment after the results of the seventh ballot were released, showing a clear front-runner but no winner under the party’s rules. The process remains tense because the endorsement requires a candidate to reach at least 60% of the vote to secure the party’s backing.
On this seventh ballot, Kendall Qualls emerged as the top vote-getter with 57.2% of the vote, totaling 1,059 votes. That figure placed Qualls ahead of her closest rival by a noticeable margin, but it still fell short of the 60% threshold needed to win the endorsement outright. Although the lead suggests growing support, the rules mean the race is not resolved and additional balloting will be required.
Lisa Demuth came in second with 39.7% of the vote, corresponding to 735 votes. While Demuth’s total is significantly lower than Qualls’s, it represents a substantial base of support within the party. Her percentage indicates that her supporters remain firmly engaged rather than fragmented, setting up the possibility that the remaining votes could shift in future ballots depending on negotiations, persuasion efforts, and strategic alignment among party delegates.
In addition to the two named candidates, the results also included 56 votes for “No endorsement.” This category reflects delegates who preferred not to give their support to any of the candidates presented at this stage. Although the number is relatively small compared with the totals for the leading candidates, it is still a noteworthy signal of dissatisfaction or hesitation within the broader voting bloc.
There were also 3 votes for “No preference.” This indicates a very small group of delegates who did not want to choose among the options currently available. While the impact of this category on the overall outcome is minimal given its low vote count, it further illustrates that not all delegates are aligned behind a single choice.
The crucial fact driving continued suspense is the endorsement rule itself: a candidate needs 60% of the vote to win. After the seventh ballot, Qualls did not reach that required level, even with a strong plurality and the highest vote total so far. As a result, the endorsement process will continue, and party delegates will likely proceed to another round of voting in hopes that one candidate can cross the 60% threshold.
This seventh ballot result also highlights the arithmetic of the race. Qualls’s 57.2% suggests she is very close to the winning mark, but not close enough for a final endorsement. If even a small portion of delegates who voted for other options—such as “No endorsement”—or who supported Demuth were to switch in a subsequent ballot, Qualls could potentially move above the 60% requirement. Conversely, if Demuth consolidates support or if additional strategic voting occurs among delegates who are undecided, the momentum could change.
At the same time, the presence of “No endorsement” votes indicates there is still a segment of the electorate within the party that may be waiting for more compelling alignment or that is reluctant to choose any candidate. Their eventual decision in future ballots could be pivotal, especially because the difference between Qualls’s current standing and the 60% threshold is not enormous.
Overall, the seventh ballot outcome leaves the Minnesota GOP governor endorsement race unresolved. Kendall Qualls leads with 57.2% (1,059 votes), Lisa Demuth follows with 39.7% (735 votes), and votes for “No endorsement” (56) and “No preference” (3) show that not all delegates are yet committed to a final choice. With the 60% requirement still unmet, the party must hold another round of voting to determine who will ultimately receive the endorsement.
Source: Source
Luke Sprinkel: BREAKING: Results from the seventh ballot of the Minnesota Republican Party’s endorsement for governor. 1. Kendall Qualls: 57.2% (1059 votes) 2. Lisa Demuth: 39.7% (735 votes) 3. No endorsement: 56 votes 4. No preference: 3 votes A candidate needs 60% of the vote to win the. #breaking
— @LukeSprinkel May 1, 2026
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