Republican Rep. Kristin Robbins announces run for Minnesota governor originally appeared on Bring Me The News.
Republican state representative Kristin Robbins is entering the 2026 race to become Minnesota’s next governor.
First elected in 2018, Robbins is a 4th-term legislator from Maple Grove and chairs the House Fraud Prevention Committee. She also serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and Taxes & Higher Education Committees.
In her campaign announcement, she cited fighting fraud and lowering taxes as key campaign promises.
“Under (Walz’s) mismanagement and leadership failures, our state has been heading in the wrong direction," Robbins said, criticizing the "massive fraud" that has been identified in several government departments in recent years.
This includes the Feeding Our Future COVID fraud scheme, and the ongoing investigation into Medicaid fraud from providers enrolled in Minnesota's Housing Stabilization Services program.
She also said Walz "burned through an $18 billion budget surplus," a reference the spending by Democrats in recent years to provide programs such as universal free school meals and paid family leave.
Robbins is the third Republican to enter the race for governor, joining Kendall Qualls and Scott Jensen.
Democratic Governor Tim Walz has not publicly announced whether he will run for a third term in 2026, but has said he plans to reveal his plans for the future after the State Fair.
In response to her candidacy, the Walz campaign criticized Robbins for voting against paid family leave, free school lunches and protecting reproductive rights during her time in the House.
Related: Legislature meets deadline to pass $66 billion two-year budget
This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
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