Steve Simon (D)
Steve Simon, Minnesota’s Secretary of State, is driven by his deep roots in the state and his family’s values of hard work and community service. His grandfather, a Jewish immigrant from Lithuania, instilled a strong commitment to the freedom to vote, which Steve carries forward today.
After serving in the Minnesota House and as an Assistant Attorney General, Steve authored key voter access laws, including “No-Excuses” absentee voting and online registration, helping Minnesota lead the nation in voter turnout. As Secretary of State, he continues to defend democracy, combat disinformation, and protect vulnerable communities, all while working across party lines to strengthen voting rights and improve services for all Minnesotans.
Tad Jude (R)
Tad Jude, a longtime Republican politician and former judge, is running for Minnesota Secretary of State in 2026, framing himself as a “protector” of election integrity. His campaign mirrors nationwide efforts to cast doubt on legitimate elections, despite no evidence of widespread fraud, and signals support for restrictive voting measures that could limit access to the ballot.
Jude’s political career, including terms as a state representative, senator, and district court judge, shows a pattern of using his positions of power to advance partisan goals rather than safeguard impartial democracy. By portraying elections as insecure, he is setting the stage to concentrate authority in officials loyal to his party.
Wendy Phillips (R) 
Wendy Phillips, a Minnesota GOP party official, is running for Secretary of State while presenting herself as an outsider focused on “restoring trust” in elections. Her campaign leans on familiar rhetoric about accountability and transparency that mirrors nationwide efforts to cast doubt on legitimate election systems, despite no evidence of widespread problems in Minnesota’s elections.
Phillips’ role on the Minnesota GOP State Executive Committee underscores her deep ties to partisan politics, raising concerns about whether she would act as a neutral steward of democracy. By framing elections as broken and positioning herself as the solution, Phillips risks using the Secretary of State’s office to advance party-driven narratives rather than protect free and fair elections for all Minnesotans.