Lisa Demuth
What this job does: Runs the state's executive branch. The governor appoints department heads and fills empty judge seats, can sign or veto bills passed by the Legislature, calls special sessions, and commands the National Guard. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected together as one ticket, for four-year terms. The lieutenant governor fills in when the governor is away or unable to serve.
- Current office
- Speaker of the Minnesota House (since February 2025); State Representative, District 13A (since 2019)
- Occupation
- State legislator; co-owner of a commercial property business
- Lives in
- Cold Spring
Background
- Born in 1967 in Paynesville, Minnesota. Graduated from Bloomington Kennedy High School. source: en.wikipedia.org
- Served on the Rocori school board, first elected as a write-in candidate in 2007. Co-owns and manages commercial property. source: en.wikipedia.org
- Elected to the Minnesota House in 2018; became House Republican leader in 2022 and Speaker in February 2025, under a power-sharing deal in a tied House. source: en.wikipedia.org
- Won the Aug. 11, 2026 Republican primary with 43.4% of the vote, ahead of Mike Lindell (32.5%) and Kendall Qualls (21.4%). source: en.wikipedia.org
- Running mate: Ryan Wilson, a Maple Grove attorney and the 2022 Republican nominee for state auditor. source: en.wikipedia.org
In their own words
What the candidate says they will work on, from their campaign site or their answers to news-outlet questionnaires. We list it as stated and do not rate it.
- Make Minnesota an easier place to run a business, compared with neighboring states like North Dakota. source: inforum.com
- Education. source: inforum.com
- Fraud in state programs. source: inforum.com
- "I believe Minnesota can be stronger and better than where we find ourselves today." source: inforum.com
Look them up yourself
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Something wrong or missing? This profile was compiled from public sources on October 15, 2026. Every fact links to where it came from.