Minnesota Campaign Finance Reports Reveal $55 Million Total
New filings detail record-high spending across key gubernatorial and attorney general races in the state.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Elections
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Campaign finance reports filed with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board show $55 million in funding for state governor and attorney general races. Outside interest groups have outspent candidate campaigns, significantly driving up the overall cost of the 2026 election cycle.
Why it matters
State law requires these disclosures to be released one week before Election Day to provide transparency. The high level of outside spending reflects the intense competition for statewide offices this year.
Outside groups have poured over $18 million into the governor's race and $12 million into the attorney general's race. Amy Klobuchar raised over $18 million, while Lisa Demuth received $1.3 million in public subsidies.
The players
Amy Klobuchar
She is a U.S. Senator who has opted not to abide by state spending limits in her campaign.
Lisa Demuth
She is a gubernatorial candidate who received $1.3 million in public subsidies for her campaign.
Keith Ellison
He is the incumbent attorney general whose campaign spent nearly $4.5 million during this reporting period.
Ron Schutz
He is a candidate for attorney general whose campaign spent nearly $1.3 million.
Restore Sanity
This is an outside political group that spent more than $9 million to support the candidacy of Lisa Demuth.
The details
Restore Sanity alone spent over $9 million to support Lisa Demuth, while groups supporting her campaign spent $5 million compared to $3 million from opposing groups. Keith Ellison's campaign spent nearly $4.5 million, while Ron Schutz's campaign spent nearly $1.3 million.
Timeline
2022: Governor's race spending totaled $36 million.
October 19, 2026: Campaign finance reporting period concludes.
October 27, 2026: Campaign finance reports are officially released.
November 3, 2026: Election Day.
Political Context
Opposition to current spending levels often cites the influence of outside groups, which are not bound by the same contribution limits as candidate committees. Critics argue that this dynamic shifts power away from local candidates and toward independent political organizations.
Voters will see a higher volume of political advertisements and mailers due to the record-setting expenditures by outside groups. These financial figures are likely to influence the final days of the campaign as candidates use their remaining funds to mobilize supporters.
The takeaway
The surge in outside spending indicates that independent interest groups are now major players in statewide elections. Voters should be aware that the political messaging they receive in the final week is likely funded by these non-candidate entities.
Further reading
For more background on state contests, visit our Elections coverage.
Live Poll
Do you believe heavy outside spending by special interest groups undermines the fairness of elections?
