Bill Gates Jr.
Bill Gates Jr.
Minnesota Democratic Governor nominee?
$459.8K
AUG 12, 2026
Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current rolePastor
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
LocationMinnesota
BackgroundPastor
Notable personal detailsBill E. Gates Jr. is a Democratic candidate for Governor of Minnesota in the 2026 election cycle. Minnesota campaign-finance records list his committee as “Gates Jr., Bill E Gov Committee” and identify Leah Harris as his running mate for lieutenant governor. His campaign materials describe him as a pastor and present him as a centrist Democratic candidate.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports a long-term plan to reduce and eventually eliminate state tax collection in Minnesota and emphasizes responsible revenue-generating strategies, stronger oversight of public spending, and reinvestment in priorities like housing, education, and infrastructure. The campaign frames these proposals as part of a centrist, outcomes-focused platform prioritizing fiscal responsibility and state self-sufficiency.
Healthcare
Supports affordable, reliable access to healthcare for all Minnesotans, expansion of mental health and addiction services, and making medical decisions between patients and doctors rather than via political mandates; emphasizes reducing costs and improving outcomes through transparency and competition rather than large-scale government takeover.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
The candidate has discussed immigration-related issues in campaign materials, noting concerns about "immigration costs and transparency," but has not published detailed policy proposals on border enforcement, asylum, or pathways to legal status. Public statements and the campaign platform emphasize centrist, outcomes-focused governance and reference immigration only briefly without concrete policy prescriptions. Available sources therefore show general attention to immigration but insufficient specificity to place the candidate on a progressive–conservative scale.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports abortion as a medical decision that should be made by an individual and their doctor rather than government. He opposes government bans on abortion and argues lawmakers should not prioritize a fetus over a pregnant person. He emphasizes protections for survivors of rape and against criminalizing providers who deliver necessary care.
Climate & Energy
Supports deployment of verified renewable generation (including solar) on state-owned buildings and pursuing energy self-sustainment, emphasizes grid reliability, redundancy, and climate resilience while prioritizing cost–benefit analysis and measurable returns for energy projects.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate affirms the Second Amendment as a constitutional right and emphasizes protecting lawful gun ownership while opposing government overreach. He frames gun violence primarily as a mental-health and systems problem, calls for expanded mental-health treatment and early intervention, and supports responsible gun ownership paired with accountability. His platform couples support for law enforcement and public safety reforms with protections for gun rights.
News
Recent news coverage focused on Minnesota’s social cohesion alongside controversies involving alleged welfare fraud tied to some Somali immigrant-linked schemes, including the Feeding Our Future case, with federal prosecutions beginning in 2022. The political fallout has been cited as influencing Governor Tim Walz’s decision not to seek a third term. Bill Gates Jr. is not directly mentioned in the reported developments.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising