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Republican

Brad Kohler

Republican candidate for Governor in Minnesota

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Republican

Brad Kohler

Republican candidate for Governor in Minnesota

Website

Minnesota Republican Governor nominee?

$1.3M

AUG 18, 2026

Primary Election

Party selects its nominee.

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Live Odds — Minnesota Republican Governor nominee?

Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.

0%chance to win

$1.3M

AUG 18, 2026

Candidate Overview

Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.

Current roleRetired mixed martial arts fighter

PartyRepublican

Political ideologyConservative Republican

Age62 years old (May 26, 1964)

GenderMale

LocationMinnesota

BackgroundRetired mixed martial arts fighter

Notable personal detailsBrad Kohler is a Minnesota Republican candidate who has run for state and local office and has also campaigned for governor. He is a retired mixed martial arts fighter and has been described as a businessman/entrepreneur and gym owner, with past involvement in event promotion and restaurant management. He previously ran for Minnesota State Senate District 38 in 2022 and later ran for Hennepin County Board. He has been profiled in Minnesota media regarding his background and candidacies.

SourcesShow

mn.electionarchives.lib.umn.edu bradkohler.com startribune.com kttc.com en.wikipedia.org transparencyusa.org nga.org sherdog.com cbsnews.com electiondesk.org axios.com ivoterguide.com keyc.com minnesotareformer.com apnews.com bhfs.com sawyercounty.gov reddit.com bemidjipioneer.com dl-online.com crowdfund.umn.edu cfb.mn.gov congress.gov health.state.mn.us mprnews.org tabkeformn.com signalhire.com idcrawl.com osobnosti.cz veripages.com martialbot.com ballotready.org finstad.house.gov instagram.com facebook.com kstp.com ballotpedia.org newsweek.com stcloudlive.com inforum.com mshale.com predictionedge.com themidtermproject.org news.ballotpedia.org cdn.ballotpedia.org fec.gov developer.ballotpedia.org govinfo.gov

Political Positions

LiberalConservative

Economy & Taxes

Brad Kohler’s campaign calls for eliminating the state personal and business income taxes, reducing property taxes, and cutting vehicle registration (car tabs) to $99. He also advocates reducing regulations, cutting government waste, and prioritizing reduced government spending and fiscal transparency. Kohler frames these policies as measures to make Minnesota more affordable and to spur business growth.

Immigration & Border

The candidate emphasizes enforcing the rule of law and says Minnesota should be a place where "legal and responsible residents" are respected and protected; his campaign also prioritizes strengthening law enforcement. Public materials focus on law-and-order framing rather than expanded legal pathways or protections for asylum seekers.

Abortion & Reproductive Rights

Opposes abortion in nearly all circumstances and seeks to stop new abortion clinics; supports defunding Planned Parenthood and says emergency decisions to save the baby or mother’s life should be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Public Safety & Guns

The candidate says he will strengthen law enforcement to reduce violent crime while upholding Second Amendment rights. Public statements and campaign materials emphasize support for law enforcement and protecting gun rights rather than proposing new gun restrictions.

Latest News

AINews Summary

Last updatedSep 2, 2026

Brad Kohler is being covered as part of the Minnesota 2026 lieutenant governor race, with profiles of the candidates running alongside the main gubernatorial tickets. The reporting gives broader context on the race, including campaign pairings, endorsements, and candidate backgrounds. There are no major standalone developments about Kohler in the provided summaries, so the coverage appears to be mostly contextual rather than event-driven.

mn.electionarchives.lib.umn.edu+47

Articles

NNewsweek7 months ago