





Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Current roleRetired professional mixed martial arts fighter
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
GenderMale
LocationMinnesota
BackgroundRetired professional mixed martial arts fighter
Notable personal detailsBrad Kohler is a Minnesota political candidate and retired professional mixed martial arts fighter. He has run for office previously, including as a Republican candidate for U.S. House in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District in 2024, and has been campaigning as a candidate for governor of Minnesota in the 2026 cycle.
Brad Kohler’s campaign calls for eliminating the state personal and business income taxes, reducing property taxes, and cutting vehicle registration (car tabs) to $99. He also advocates reducing regulations, cutting government waste, and prioritizing reduced government spending and fiscal transparency. Kohler frames these policies as measures to make Minnesota more affordable and to spur business growth.
The candidate emphasizes enforcing the rule of law and says Minnesota should be a place where "legal and responsible residents" are respected and protected; his campaign also prioritizes strengthening law enforcement. Public materials focus on law-and-order framing rather than expanded legal pathways or protections for asylum seekers.
Opposes abortion in nearly all circumstances and seeks to stop new abortion clinics; supports defunding Planned Parenthood and says emergency decisions to save the baby or mother’s life should be handled on a case-by-case basis.
The candidate says he will strengthen law enforcement to reduce violent crime while upholding Second Amendment rights. Public statements and campaign materials emphasize support for law enforcement and protecting gun rights rather than proposing new gun restrictions.
Brad Kohler is listed among Republican candidates seeking the GOP nomination for Minnesota governor in 2026. A new poll shows Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar leading Kohler and other Republican rivals by double digits. Kohler and other GOP candidates have expressed skepticism about the poll’s results.






Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
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