Dr. Scott Jensen drops out of Minnesota governor race, begins campaign for State Auditor

Republican candidate says he'll work to combat fraud in state government as State Auditor

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Dr. Scott Jensen, the 2022 Republican nominee for Minnesota governor, has announced he is withdrawing from the governor's race and will instead run for State Auditor. Jensen said he wants to "declare war on waste, fraud, and abuse" and "protect your paycheck" as the state's top financial watchdog.

Why it matters

Jensen's decision to shift his political ambitions from governor to State Auditor reflects a broader trend of Republican candidates focusing on issues of government accountability and transparency. As State Auditor, Jensen would have significant oversight powers to investigate potential misuse of taxpayer funds.

The details

In a video announcement, Jensen said 'We need a watchdog. We need someone who is absolutely going to look out for the welfare of Minnesotans. We need someone that's going to heal our businesses. We need to heal our brokenness.' Jensen cited his experience as a doctor, as chairman of the audit section of a billion-dollar bank, and as a state senator focused on healthcare as qualifications for the Auditor role.

  • On February 9, 2026, Jensen announced he is withdrawing from the Minnesota governor's race.
  • Jensen received 6.4% of the vote in the recent Republican Party of Minnesota's gubernatorial straw poll, finishing fourth.

The players

Dr. Scott Jensen

The 2022 Republican nominee for Minnesota governor who is now running for State Auditor, pledging to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in state government.

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What they’re saying

“We need a watchdog. We need someone who is absolutely going to look out for the welfare of Minnesotans. We need someone that's going to heal our businesses. We need to heal our brokenness.”

— Dr. Scott Jensen (Twitter)

“I am ready and determined to be the person who opens up the hood and looks at what the engine of our government is doing and not doing and fix it.”

— Dr. Scott Jensen (am1100theflag.com)

What’s next

Jensen will need to gather the required number of signatures to get on the ballot for the State Auditor race. The winner of the Republican primary will face the Democratic incumbent in the November 2026 general election.

The takeaway

Jensen's shift from the governor's race to the State Auditor campaign reflects a strategic move to focus on government accountability and transparency, which has become a key priority for many Republican voters. As State Auditor, Jensen would have significant powers to investigate potential misuse of taxpayer funds, which could make him a powerful watchdog over state government.