Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Edges Out All Potential GOP Challengers: Poll

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz holds a slim lead over all six Republicans challengers in the 2022 gubernatorial election, according to a poll released on Wednesday. But the survey found that the Democrat's lead has slimmed since Minnesotans were asked about hypothetical matchups in December.

The KSTP/SurveyUSA survey poll comes as Walz has faced backlash for the state's COVID-19 response. In addition, he has been criticized by members of his own party for not blocking a copper-nickel mine that critics warned could contaminate a wilderness area. The Biden administration has since canceled the mining leases.

Crime has also become a hot topic in the lead-up to November's elections, as Republicans and Democrats spar over police accountability measures in the wake of the killings of George Floyd and Daunte Wright.

A hypothetical matchup against former state Senator Scott Jensen finds Walz with a slim lead, 43 percent to 40 percent.

Jensen can be seen closing the gap when the current survey is compared to December's poll from KTSP, which is an ABC-affiliated television station in Saint Paul. When Minnesota adults were given a choice between the two in December, Walz enjoyed a 12-point advantage, 48 percent to 36 percent.

State Senator Paul Gazelka, who stepped down from his position as majority leader for his gubernatorial run, also moved closer to Walz. He is currently five points behind, 37 percent to Walz's 42 percent, though he was behind 13 points in the last survey.

Another member of the Minnesota Senate, Michelle Benson, hopes to secure the GOP nomination to face Walz. The KSTP poll found her behind Walz, 45 percent to 37 percent, while former congressional candidate Kendal Qualls had a similar range at 43 percent to 35 percent.

Lexington Mayor Mike Murphy and Dr. Neil Shah, a physician running on a campaign that's highly critical of the government's response to COVID-19, are farther back in the hypothetical races. Walz bested Murphy in the poll 44 percent to 35 percent while leading Shah 45 percent to 34 percent.

Carleton College political analyst Steven Schier told KTSP that there are still "a lot of undecideds" in the state.

"The governor is not close to 50 percent against any of the Republican candidates, and so if the Republican Party can raise enough money and run a good campaign, they have a serious chance of being highly competitive against the governor," Schier said.