Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to face Republican Scott Jensen, physician and lockdown opponent

Race likely to focus on Walz's handling of the pandemic. Dr. Jensen calls governor's COVID-19 mandates a "unilateral power grab" that "has hurt people and not been based in science and the truth."

By Madeleine Hubbard

Published: August 10, 2022 8:38am

Updated: August 10, 2022 12:21pm

Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is set to face off against Republican challenger Dr. Scott Jensen this fall after both candidates easily won their primaries.

Business lawyer Jim Schultz won the Minnesota GOP primary for attorney general and will challenge Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison, who has been criticized for his liberal views despite rising crime rates in his state.

Schultz won his primary by 52.5% according to The Associated Press. Doug Wardlow, who lost by less than 4% to Ellison in 2018, came in second.

The gubernatorial election is likely to focus on Walz's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On his campaign website, Jensen called Walz's COVID mandates a "unilateral power grab" that "has hurt people and not been based in science and the truth."