Tad Jude Wins Republican Primary for Minnesota Secretary of State

Tad Jude won the Republican primary for Minnesota Secretary of State on August 11, 2026, securing 60.3% of the vote. A former judge and legislator, Jude defeated Wendy Phillips, who received approximately 39.7% to 39.8% of the vote.

Jude campaigned with the GOP endorsement on a platform focused on implementing stricter voting requirements, including proof of citizenship and photo identification. He also advocated for cleaning up voter rolls and restoring the former state flag.

Jude will advance to the general election on November 3, where he will challenge the three-term incumbent, Steve Simon. Simon secured the Democratic-Farmer-Labor nomination after running unopposed in his party's primary.