Minnesota
Amy Klobuchar’s campaign raises $4.8M for Minnesota governor bid
Amy Klobuchar launches run for Minnesota Governor
The four term Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar is launching her run for governor of Minnesota, emphasizing the need for leaders to find common ground.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar has raised $4.8 million for her campaign since she launched her bid for Minnesota governor at the end of January, her campaign announced Wednesday.
Klobuchar’s total, amassed in just 62 days, suggests she’ll have a staggering cash advantage from now until November, compounded by outside spending by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and well-funded allies like Alliance for a Better Minnesota.
Over 90% of donors have given Klobuchar’s governor campaign less than $100, which means she can keep asking them for more as the contest heats up, and she has $3.4 million cash on hand. Klobuchar’s campaign said her haul is the most raised by any candidate for governor in its first two months. In 2022, Gov. Tim Walz raised just over $1 million in the first quarter of that year, according to Minnesota campaign finance data.
“(Klobuchar’s) grassroots donor base knows that she fights for people no matter the odds, and they stepped up the moment she announced her campaign for governor,” said Joe Radosevich, her campaign manager, in a statement.
Klobuchar, Minnesota’s senior senator and the state’s most accomplished vote-getter, has raised over six times as much as GOP House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who is a leading GOP candidate for governor. Demuth has raised over $730,000 since she launched her campaign in November, Demuth’s campaign said. Demuth raised about $226,000 in the first quarter.
Kendall Qualls, an army veteran and former health care executive, has raised $700,000 since he launched his campaign for governor last summer, Qualls’ campaign said. In the first quarter of 2026, Qualls raised about $123,000, according to his campaign.
Since launching her campaign on Jan. 29, Klobuchar has held no campaign rallies and has largely refrained from campaigning on social media, unlike her Republican opponents.
Klobuchar hopped into the race after Walz ended his campaign for a third term after intensifying scrutiny of fraud in safety net programs. Walz reportedly met with Klobuchar and urged her to run.
Other Democrats have stayed out of the race since then, no doubt deterred by Klobuchar’s electoral record, top-flight political operation and fundraising prowess.
Klobuchar is a heavy favorite to win in November against a field of Republicans who are unknown to most Minnesotans, aside from MyPillow mogul Mike Lindell. Republican candidates include Demuth, Qualls, and state Rep. Kristin Robbins.
The DFL Party and the Republican Party of Minnesota will hold their endorsing conventions next month.
Klobuchar has spent two decades in the U.S. Senate, where lawmakers primarily send out press releases, take lots of votes and manage constituent services.
The governor of Minnesota oversees an enterprise with more than 36,000 employees, an annual general fund budget of $33 billion and billions more in Medicaid and other federal dollars now under considerable scrutiny following the discovery of hundreds of millions in fraud in recent years.
As the Republican Party of Minnesota has noted, since she launched her campaign, Klobuchar’s campaign website lists no priorities, top issues or even a description of her. She also hasn’t conducted any interviews with Minnesota media outlets.
Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Summer warmth will hang on in the Twin Cities Wednesday, with some storms possible later in the day.
Highs will be in the upper 80s to near 90. Isolated thunderstorms are possible in the afternoon and evening, mainly across southern Minnesota.
Thursday will be dry, warm and less humid, though highs will stay well above normal.
Friday will bring pleasant late-May weather with sunshine and highs mainly in the 80s.
The weekend looks to be quiet and comfortable as dry conditions continue.
School was not in session over the holiday weekend, but a four-legged friend still managed to pay a visit to a Zimmerman, Minnesota, Montessori school.
The entire incident lasted less than 10 minutes, but left Prairie Hill Montessori with a shattered door and quite the story to tell.
“We got a call, we were up at our cabin… I was more concerned about the deer, which is just the way I am,” said Katherine Curtis, the school’s owner and instructor.
Curtis says the entire moment was caught on CCTV. It shows the deer break through a tempered glass door before tearing through the building, knocking items off shelves and attempting to exit through another door.
Eventually, a local sheriff’s deputy responded and was able to shoo the deer out the door.
“We were all like amazed at how fast it all happened. Actually, how fast the sheriff was able to get here,” Curtis said.
On Tuesday, Curtis was using the incident as a teaching moment. The school had painted a life-size deer on the boarded-up door, and students were coloring deer photos.
“All of the children came in this morning and reported to me what happened,” she said. “It’s unique. It’s something we can remember for years and we’ll have the video. The kids can remember it as something unique and special that happened to us at Prairie Hill.”
The section softball playoffs are reaching their apex this week throughout Central Minnesota. Here’s a look at some of the local teams’ matchups.
SECTION 6AA
The #1 seeded Cathedral Crusaders (21-4) will take on #2 seed Kimball in the winner’s bracket at the College of St. Benedict. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m..
The Crusaders beat Milaca 10-0 in a quarterfinal matchup on May 18th and topped Pequot Lakes 5-0 in the semifinal. On the other side of the bracket, the Cubs beat Royalton 12-1 in the quarterfinals and defeated Eden Valley-Watkins 14-4 in the semis.
ELIMINATION BRACKET
Melrose will play against Holdingford in the day’s first elimination game, which is scheduled to be played at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the College of St. Benedict. That game will be followed by Foley battling against Pierz at 1 p.m., with the winners meeting up at 3 p.m. Tuesday at CSB.
SECTION 8AAA
The top two seeds in the Section 8AAA Tournament will battle it out on Tuesday, with top-seeded Sartell (18-4) set to host second seed ROCORI (15-6). First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m..
The Sabres and Spartans met once during the regular season, with Sartell winning 4-3 in extra innings in Cold Spring on April 22nd.
Sartell beat Fergus Falls 21-0 in their quarterfinal matchup, then beat Willmar 7-0 in the semifinals. ROCORI blanked Detroit Lakes 10-0 in the quarterfinals before beating Sauk Rapids-Rice 2-0 in the semis.
ELIMINATION BRACKET
#3 seed Sauk Rapids-Rice will try to battle its way out of the elimination bracket when they host Hutchinson at 12 p.m. on Tuesday. The other half of the elimination bracket sees #6 Little Falls take on #5 Willmar at 2 p.m. on Tuesday
SECTION 8AAAA
The St. Cloud Crush is set for an elimination bracket semifinal matchup with St. Michael-Albertville in Monticello on Tuesday at 4 p.m.. The other half of the elimination bracket in 8AAAA sees Monticello match up with Moorhead.
The winners will meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday in Monticello.
How Many St. Cloud State University Buildings Can You Name Without Cheating?
Gallery Credit: PHOTOS: Dave Overlund
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