Demuth names Ryan Wilson running mate in 2026 governor bid
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth named former state auditor candidate Ryan Wilson as her running mate in her 2026 gubernatorial bid; Wilson is an attorney, founder and former CEO of a clinical‑trials company who narrowly lost the 2022 auditor race. The Demuth‑Wilson ticket — the first prominent GOP campaign this cycle to announce a lieutenant governor pick — will begin a statewide tour and frames its priorities around fighting government fraud, education and public safety amid a GOP primary that includes Scott Jensen, Kristin Robbins and Kendall Qualls.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- Lisa Demuth, 58, the Minnesota House Speaker from Cold Spring (selected under a bipartisan power‑sharing agreement after the tied 2024 House), has launched a campaign for governor and frames herself as the only GOP candidate who directly negotiated with Gov. Tim Walz during the 2025 tie session.
- Demuth credits her leadership for helping reduce projected spending in the 2025 session by roughly $5–6 billion (state biennial spending cited at about $66B versus roughly $72B previously) and for backing a law that revoked undocumented adults’ access to MinnesotaCare.
- Demuth formally announced with a campaign website and launch video (which featured a shotgun and the line “I’ll never bow to the radical mob… Let’s fire Tim Walz and take our state back.”) and emphasized priorities including fighting fraud, tougher immigration/border policies, improved education outcomes and public safety.
- Demuth named former state auditor candidate Ryan Wilson as her lieutenant governor running mate; the ticket plans a statewide tour this week and a Monday press conference to unveil their agenda.
- Ryan Wilson is an attorney at CrossCastle, a former small‑business owner and founder/CEO of Symbios Clinical (a clinical‑trials/medical‑device firm), was the 2022 Republican nominee for state auditor (narrowly losing to Julie Blaha, 47.13% to 47.47%, about an 8,435‑vote margin), and lives in Maple Grove with his family.
- Wilson has been active in pro‑Trump legal and political efforts: he worked on election litigation for Minnesota Republicans (including the tied House dispute and efforts to keep Trump on Minnesota’s ballot), volunteered as a 2020 Election Day poll watcher with Lawyers for Trump, served as president of the Freedom Club and chair of American First Policy Institute–Minnesota, and endorsed Donald Trump in 2024.
- Demuth is the first prominent GOP gubernatorial candidate this cycle to announce a running mate; other GOP contenders (including Scott Jensen, Rep. Kristin Robbins, Kendall Qualls, Jeff Johnson, Phillip Parish and Brad Kohler) have not yet named picks. The campaign says it will honor the party endorsement and the GOP primary is in August.
- The Demuth‑Wilson ticket signals openness to a Trump endorsement, reiterates a campaign focus on fraud and immigration, and positions Demuth as having “stood up to Walz.” Gov. Tim Walz, seeking a third term, also needs a new running mate because Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is running for U.S. Senate.
đź“° Sources (8)
MN governor’s race: Lisa Demuth names Ryan Wilson as her running mate
New information:
- Wilson’s 2022 auditor race specifics: 47.13% vs. Julie Blaha’s 47.47% (8,435‑vote margin); Blaha is not running in 2026.
- Wilson background: founder/former CEO of a clinical trials company; attorney for Minnesota Republicans in election lawsuits; part of the legal team in the MN Supreme Court fight over the tied House seat.
- Policy priorities emphasized: fighting state‑government fraud, improving education outcomes, tougher stance on crime/public safety; Demuth says specific proposals are forthcoming.
- Demuth’s profile: 58; first Black House speaker and first female Republican in the role, selected under a bipartisan power‑sharing agreement.
- Trump angle: Demuth and Wilson would welcome a Trump endorsement; Wilson reaffirmed his support for Trump and cited border policy impacts.
- Personal detail: Wilson lives in Maple Grove with his wife and four children.
- Process notes: Demuth will honor the party endorsement; GOP primary is in August; other GOP candidates include Scott Jensen, Kristin Robbins, and Kendall Qualls.
House Speaker Lisa Demuth picks Ryan Wilson as running mate in campaign for governor
New information:
- Ryan Wilson is an attorney at CrossCastle, which represented House Republicans in a chamber‑control lawsuit; House GOP floor leader Harry Niska also works there.
- Wilson previously founded and served as CEO of Symbios Clinical, a Blaine‑based medical device firm.
- Wilson volunteered as a 2020 Election Day poll watcher with Lawyers for Trump.
- Demuth and Wilson will begin a statewide campaign tour later this week and plan a Monday press conference.
- Gov. Tim Walz has not yet named a lieutenant governor running mate; Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is running for U.S. Senate.
- Wilson lives in Maple Grove and has four children.
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth picks Ryan Wilson to be her running mate in bid for governor
New information:
- Demuth named former state auditor candidate Ryan Wilson as her lieutenant governor running mate.
- Wilson nearly defeated DFL State Auditor Julie Blaha in 2022, losing by about 0.5 percentage points.
- Wilson is an attorney and former small‑business owner who lives in Maple Grove with his wife and five children.
- Demuth/Wilson plan to begin a statewide tour this week to share their campaign agenda.
- Demuth is the first prominent GOP gubernatorial candidate this cycle to announce a running mate; other GOP contenders (Scott Jensen, Rep. Kristin Robbins, Kendall Qualls) have not yet named picks.
- Context update: Gov. Tim Walz, seeking a third term, also needs a new running mate with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan running for U.S. Senate.
Lisa Demuth selects former state auditor candidate Ryan Wilson as running mate
New information:
- Wilson recently served as president of the Freedom Club and chair of American First Policy Institute–Minnesota.
- He endorsed Donald Trump in 2024 and co‑hosted a high‑dollar fundraiser in Minnesota.
- Wilson was part of the legal team that kept Trump on Minnesota’s ballot and represented the Minnesota GOP in litigation over Hennepin County absentee ballot boards and a special‑election timing dispute.
- Wilson represented Demuth and House Republicans in a quorum dispute with Democrats (which Democrats ultimately won).
- Demuth’s and Wilson’s new quotes framing the ticket as targeting fraud and positioning Demuth as the only candidate who has 'stood up to Walz, stared him down, and won.'
- Personal details: Wilson lives in Maple Grove with his family and previously founded a clinical‑trials company serving the medical device industry.
MN Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth announces bid for governor
New information:
- Demuth, 58, of Cold Spring, formally announced her run and framed her pitch as the only GOP candidate who has directly negotiated with Gov. Tim Walz during the 2025 tie session.
- She highlights a claimed $5 billion reduction in spending in the 2025 session and the repeal of MinnesotaCare for undocumented adult immigrants as accomplishments.
- Biographical and career details: started in public office as a 2007 ROCORI school board write-in, elected to the House in 2018, became minority leader in 2022, and was elected Speaker in 2025.
- Positions herself as potentially Minnesota’s first female governor and first Black woman/person of color to hold the office, while stressing that historic firsts are not her motivation.
- Cites the 2024 House tie as a voter signal against one-party control and references a cooperative "team House" relationship with former Speaker Melissa Hortman.
- Names current GOP field as including Rep. Kristin Robbins, Scott Jensen, and Kendall Qualls.
GOP Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth launches campaign for governor
New information:
- Demuth’s campaign website is live and she plans a Monday morning news conference to formally announce.
- Her launch video features a shotgun and the quote: “I’ll never bow to the radical mob… Let’s fire Tim Walz and take our state back.”
- Policy record details: she agreed to raise the state cannabis tax from 10% to 15% and backed repealing the electricity sales tax exemption for data centers.
- Context on GOP field and dynamics: rivals include Rep. Kristin Robbins (who chaired Nikki Haley’s 2024 MN campaign), Scott Jensen and Kendall Qualls; party endorsement by activists will be pivotal.
- Expanded background on 2025 tied House session and speakership dispute that led to Demuth serving as speaker for the two-year term.
BREAKING: House Speaker Lisa Demuth announces campaign for Minnesota governor
New information:
- Demuth’s campaign describes her as the first Black legislator and first Republican woman to serve as Minnesota House Speaker.
- Alpha News highlights 2025 budget figures: about $66B for the current biennium versus roughly $72B previously, and says the deal reduced a $6B deficit.
- Demuth claims credit for a new law revoking undocumented immigrants’ access to MinnesotaCare.
- Adds GOP field names beyond earlier reports: Jeff Johnson, Phillip Parish, and Brad Kohler.
- Direct quotes outlining her platform priorities (spending, fraud, immigration policy, education/test scores).