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Republican

Scott Jensen

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Republican

Scott Jensen

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Minnesota Republican Governor nominee?

$123.0K

AUG 12, 2026

Primary Election

Party selects its nominee.

Overview

Current roleFormer State Senator

PartyRepublican

Political ideologyConservative Republican

Age71 years old (Nov 19, 1954)

GenderMale

LocationMinnesota

BackgroundPhysician

Notable personal detailsScott M. Jensen is an American physician and Republican politician in Minnesota. He served in the Minnesota Senate (2017–2021) and previously served on the Waconia School Board. Jensen was the Republican nominee for governor of Minnesota in 2022. In 2026, he withdrew from a bid for governor and announced a run for Minnesota state auditor.

SourcesShow

lrl.mn.gov en.wikipedia.org mn.electionarchives.lib.umn.edu drscottjensen.com axios.com mn.onair.cc minnesotareformer.com dfl.org wisconsinhistory.org bop.nppa.org federationforchildren.org sengov.com news.va.gov cbsnews.com startribune.com stateside.com alphanews.org sahanjournal.com newsmax.com ivoterguide.com apnews.com duluthnewstribune.com guides.vote gunowners.mn kttc.com es.wikipedia.org apps.startribune.com wikidata.org senate.gov

Positions

LiberalConservative

Economy & Taxes

The candidate advocates phasing out Minnesota’s individual income tax over several years and favors lower taxes, reduced government spending, and deregulation to grow the private-sector economy. He has proposed using budget surplus, cutting government waste, and other measures to offset revenue loss while considering shifts toward sales or other taxes. These proposals prioritize major tax reductions and smaller government role in providing services.

Healthcare

Supports market-based approaches to make care affordable, including increased competition, pricing transparency, expanded consumer choice, and reduced government red tape; opposes single-payer/Medicare for All. Emphasizes holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for high prices and expanding treatment options while empowering patients and parents in care decisions.

Immigration & Border

Prioritizes legal immigration and enforcement of immigration laws, opposes sanctuary city policies, and supports stronger border security and enforcement actions while expressing openness to solutions for long-term residents and Dreamers. Emphasizes that refugee resettlement should be limited by local capacity and that violations of immigration laws should face fair but firm enforcement.

Abortion & Reproductive Rights

The candidate has said he would try to ban abortion in Minnesota and has expressed support for a ban that excludes exceptions for rape and incest, allowing exceptions only when the mother’s life is at risk. He later issued statements softening his language and acknowledging some exceptions and the limits of gubernatorial power, but his central position during the 2022 campaign was to pursue pro-life legislation.

Climate & Energy

Supports expanding diverse energy sources including nuclear, hydro, wind and solar while opposing California-style vehicle emissions mandates and some aggressive climate regulations; favors lowering energy costs and rolling back the state’s Clean Car rule. Describes climate change as gradual and emphasizes infrastructure and reliability over strict emissions mandates. Proposes lifting Minnesota’s nuclear moratorium and re-evaluating closure of coal plants to ensure grid reliability.

Public Safety & Guns

The candidate now expresses strong support for Second Amendment rights, backing Stand Your Ground-style legal protections and lower-age/permitless carry while opposing universal background checks he previously co-sponsored. He has proposed tougher penalties for violent crimes and pledged to sign pro-gun legislation as governor.

News

AINews Summary

Last updatedMay 19, 2026

Scott Jensen is in the news because he has withdrawn from the Minnesota Republican gubernatorial primary, reshaping the GOP field. His exit leaves Kristin Robbins and Phillip Parrish as the leading candidates. Separately, Minnesota is facing renewed scrutiny over Medicaid fraud concerns after the Trump administration paused federal funding, but the summaries do not show Jensen directly involved in that dispute.

lrl.mn.gov+28

Articles

WEWashington Examiner3 months ago