Minnesota State Auditor Julie Blaha says she won’t seek reelection in 2026; others launch bids

At least one of Minnesota’s constitutional officers plans to leave office at the end of their term.

State Auditor Julie Blaha, a Democrat, announced Thursday morning that she won’t seek reelection in 2026.

She was first elected to the role in 2018 and narrowly won reelection in 2022.

The Office of the State Auditor (OSA) is a “watchdog,” overseeing around $60 billion in local spending and focusing on how that money is being spent. The state auditor also serves on several state boards and councils, including ones that oversee state pensions and investments.

“The OSA right now is at a high level of effectiveness. … The OSA is well positioned for a transition, so I don’t plan to run for reelection next year,” Blaha said in her announcement.

She touted modernizations, increased oversights and strengthened local connections made during her time as state auditor, adding that the office was facing threats of being eliminated when she was first elected and that’s no longer the case.

However, critics have questioned the office’s job in the wake of the Feeding Our Future cases and other fraud allegations.

Ryan Wilson, a Republican who challenged Blaha in 2022 and received roughly 10,000 fewer votes — around 6% of the total vote — than the incumbent in the race, raised many of those questions during his campaign. Those are sure to continue leading up to the 2026 election.

Within a few hours of Blaha’s announcement, Rep. Dan Wolgamott (DFL-St. Cloud), who is currently serving his fourth term in the Minnesota House of Representatives, announced his intention to run for state auditor. A short time later, former Fergus Falls mayor Ben Schierer announced his bid.

Blaha may not be the last of Minnesota’s constitutional officers — the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and secretary of state are the others — to not seek reelection. Gov. Tim Walz hasn’t yet announced his intentions but Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has already announced plans to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Tina Smith, who said she won’t run for another term.

Still more than a year out, the 2026 election is already shaping up to be a big one.

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