Dr. Scott Jensen announces run for MN governor in 2026

Scott Jensen FOX 9 exclusive following election

Following his candidacy for governor, and ultimate loss to Tim Walz, Dr. Scott Jensen sat down with FOX 9?s Theo Keith to discuss his views on the future of the Republican party, and if he plans to run again.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Dr. Scott Jensen announced another run for governor of Minnesota.

Dr. Scott Jensen running for governor again

Big picture view:

Dr. Jensen spoke about the rising cost of living in Minnesota and said he aims to lower prices while promoting law and order in a campaign announcement video posted Thursday morning, 

Gov. Walz beat Dr. Jensen by about 193,000 votes, 7.7 points, in 2022. 

Jensen served a single term in the Minnesota Senate before he ran for governor. 

Walz-Jensen debate: Minnesota gubernatorial candidates in their own words

Gov. Tim Walz and challenger Scott Jensen squared off in a debate Tuesday night in Rochester, marking the first general election gubernatorial debate between the two candidates.

Jensen on the issues

Dig deeper:

The campaign website shows Dr. Jensen's "priorities reflect a commitment to law and order, patient-centered healthcare, and a future where families and communities thrive."

Dr. Jensen's previous campaign also focused on rising crime rates, inflation and education.

He previously said he planned to appoint judges who hand down longer sentences to stop the "catch and release" of violent criminals. 

In his campaign announcement video, Dr. Jensen said he is running for Governor "to bring our Minnesota back." 

"Two decades of liberal policies have made Minnesota too expensive, too dangerous, and thrown our culture out of whack," Dr. Jensen said in the campaign announcement video. "Tim Walz made it worse. A leader must take responsibility. Tim Walz didn't."

After losing the 2022 race, Dr. Jensen, said the GOP must "change its stance" on the abortion issue in order to win Minnesota statewide elections.  

Speaking to FOX 9 from his family medical practice in Watertown, Dr. Jensen said, "The hardline position on abortion isn’t going to win. So, if that’s where a group of people say that’s where we have to stay, and we have to do everything we can to ban abortions legally, completely, I think that there’s no way we win."

While trying to win the GOP endorsement, Jensen said he would try to ban abortion. He later shifted his stance, but Democrats spent millions of dollars on television attack ads using his previous comments.

Jensen claims 'political machine' behind medical board investigation

He says the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice is investigating him for alleged COVID-19 disinformation, and he’s taking everything public because he suspects other forces are behind it.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Jensen was widely criticized for comparing lockdowns and vaccine restrictions to the rise of Hitler. He was also investigated by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice over claims of spreading misinformation about COVID-19. 

The other side:

There are three other GOP candidates who announced they are running for governor: Kendall Qualls, Brad Kohler and Phillip Parrish.

Gov. Walz has not yet announced if he will run again.