Minnesota Republican Governor nominee?
$168.1K
AUG 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleAttorney
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age40 years old (Nov 5, 1985)
GenderMale
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LocationMinnesota
BackgroundAttorney
Notable personal detailsJim Schultz is a Minnesota attorney and Republican candidate who was the GOP nominee for Minnesota Attorney General in 2022, losing narrowly to incumbent Keith Ellison. He has since led the Minnesota Private Business Council, a conservative-leaning business advocacy organization launched in 2023. Schultz has been publicly mentioned as a potential Republican candidate for Minnesota governor in 2026.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports fiscal restraint and opposes recent state tax increases and new sales taxes, framing higher taxes as burdens on small businesses and Minnesotans. Positions emphasize defending small businesses from what he describes as overreach by the attorney general’s office and reducing tax/financial burdens on the state’s economy.
Healthcare
The candidate has not articulated a clear, specific healthcare agenda; public reporting found limited recent comment on health policy. He has said he would defend existing state laws (including Minnesota’s insulin affordability law) and would enforce laws passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor regardless of his personal views.
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Immigration & Border
Opposes sanctuary-state policies and expanded state benefits for undocumented immigrants, argues such policies encourage illegal immigration and strain public resources, and supports cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities to reduce illegal immigration.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate identifies as pro‑life and has served on the board of an anti‑abortion organization. He has said he supports limits on abortion (including a ban after about 20 weeks) while also stating he would enforce existing Minnesota law and not make the attorney general’s office the primary vehicle to push broader abortion policy changes.
Climate & Energy
Supports energy production and opposes using the attorney general’s office to pursue aggressive climate litigation or business-targeting suits; frames such lawsuits as politically motivated and harmful to energy costs for families. Says the office should focus on traditional law-enforcement priorities rather than what he calls ‘business harassment’ of fossil fuel companies.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports tougher criminal penalties and increased prosecution for violent and gun-involved crimes rather than new gun restrictions; emphasizes backing law enforcement and holding prosecutors accountable for not pursuing violent crime. Has not called for tougher gun laws and frames the response to gun violence around enforcement and sentencing.
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We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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