Walz, Jensen set to square off in Minnesota gubernatorial election
From left: Gov. Tim Walz and GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen. (KSTP)
DFL Gov. Tim Walz and Republican former Sen. Scott Jensen were projected to lock in their nominations for Minnesota governor following Tuesday’s primary election.
Each candidate had more than 90% of their parties’ vote with just over 20% of precincts reporting statewide when the Associated Press projected the result.
Walz, the incumbent, is seeking to secure a second term as Minnesota’s governor alongside Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, while Jensen is looking to become the state’s first Republican governor since Tim Pawlenty’s second term expired in 2011. Jensen has chosen former Minnesota Viking Matt Birk as his running mate.
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Jensen rose to prominence in the GOP through his criticism of Walz’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and has harped on Minnesota’s rise in violent crime through Walz’s tenure.
Meanwhile, Walz’s campaign has called Jensen’s position on abortion “extreme” and has raised fears that his opponent would chip away at abortion access in Minnesota.