The GOP primary field for the 2026 election already includes Scott Jensen​ — who lost to Gov. Tim Walz by 8 percentage points in 2022 — and Kendall Qualls. Walz has yet to announce whether he'll run for a third term.

Robbins joins a GOP gubernatorial field that includes Scott Jensen and Kendall Qualls, both of whom ran for governor in 2022. Former U.S. Naval intelligence officer Phillip Parrish and retired mixed martial arts fighter Brad Kohler are also running.

Rep. Kristin Robbins is chair of the House Fraud Prevention committee and plans to make financial waste and mismanagement a cornerstone of her campaign.