The Minnesota Republican Party’s endorsement for governor continues to hinge on ballot thresholds after results were released from the ninth ballot. The latest round shows Kendall Qualls leading the field, but with a result that is not quite high enough to secure the endorsement under the party’s rules.
According to the ninth-ballot tally, Kendall Qualls received 59.5% of the vote, totaling 1,057 votes. This places Qualls in first position among the candidates on the ballot, giving her the strongest showing in the voting so far. However, the endorsement outcome remains unresolved because party rules require a candidate to achieve at least 60% of the vote to win the endorsement.
Lisa Demuth followed in second place with 37.8% of the vote, or 672 votes. While Demuth remains clearly behind Qualls, the gap is significant but not necessarily large enough to guarantee that the endorsement decision is effectively settled by the ninth ballot alone. Instead, the vote distribution suggests that delegates are still divided enough that further ballots could change the balance between candidates.
In addition to the named candidates, the ninth ballot included votes cast for no endorsement and no preference. There were 42 votes listed under “No endorsement,” reflecting delegates who chose not to back any candidate for the GOP governor endorsement at this stage. There were also 5 votes under “No preference,” indicating a smaller group of delegates who were not committing to a specific candidate.
These “no endorsement” and “no preference” figures are important in interpreting why the endorsement could remain open. Since winning requires a candidate to reach the 60% threshold, even a modest share of delegates choosing not to endorse or not to express a candidate preference can keep the leading candidate from crossing the line. With Qualls at 59.5%, she is extremely close—yet just short—of the required majority threshold.
Because Qualls did not reach the 60% mark, the endorsement process must continue beyond the ninth ballot. The results underscore that the political standing within the party is still in flux and that delegate preferences remain unsettled. Qualls’ narrow shortfall likely increases pressure for subsequent rounds, as supporters may look to consolidate behind her in order to secure the endorsement.
At the same time, Demuth’s 37.8% suggests that her supporters have not fully moved, and the presence of delegates voting “No endorsement” means there may be ongoing strategic considerations or concerns about whether delegates want to commit yet. The endorsement framework effectively forces the party to keep voting until a candidate reaches the required level of support, so these voting blocs can continue to influence outcomes even when one candidate is leading.
Overall, the ninth-ballot results highlight a near-win scenario for Kendall Qualls and a still-competitive situation for Lisa Demuth and other delegate blocs. With Qualls at 59.5%, a shift of even a small number of delegate votes could theoretically push her over 60% in a later ballot. However, the current distribution also illustrates that delegate unity has not been achieved, keeping the endorsement race open for further voting rounds.
The news item focuses strictly on the vote percentages and totals from the ninth ballot, making clear what is currently at stake: the endorsement cannot be awarded unless one candidate clears the 60% requirement. The ninth-ballot numbers therefore serve as a snapshot of the party’s internal decision-making at this stage, with the next ballot set to determine whether the leading contender can finally secure the endorsement or whether the race remains contested. Source: Luke Sprinkel.
Luke Sprinkel: BREAKING: Results from the ninth ballot of the Minnesota Republican Party’s endorsement for governor. 1. Kendall Qualls: 59.5% (1057 votes) 2. Lisa Demuth: 37.8% (672 votes) 3. No endorsement: 42 votes 4. No preference: 5 votes A candidate needs 60% of the vote to win the. #breaking
— @LukeSprinkel May 1, 2026
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