Full profile
The race
Luke Gulbranson is running as a Democrat for the U.S. House in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
The MN-8 contest has nine candidates. Six are listed as DFL candidates, Luke Gulbranson is listed as a Democrat, and two candidates are listed as Republicans. Republican Peter Allen Stauber is the incumbent, meaning he currently holds the office.
The race is contested, so voters will have multiple candidates to consider. Each candidate’s party label is included in the field below exactly as it is listed for the election.
Candidates in the MN-8 contest
- Wendell Robert Smith is a DFL candidate for the U.S. House in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District. He is running in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
- Trina Swanson is a DFL candidate for the U.S. House in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District. She is running in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
- Emanuel Anastos is a DFL candidate for the U.S. House in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District. He is running in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
- Cyle Cramer is a DFL candidate for the U.S. House in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District. He is running in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
- Luke Gulbranson is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District. He is running in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
- Anthony David Mr. Hamilton is a Republican candidate for the U.S. House in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District. He is running in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
- John-paul 2183436597 Mcbride is a DFL candidate for the U.S. House in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District. He is running in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
- Chad Mckenna is a DFL candidate for the U.S. House in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District. He is running in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
- Peter Allen Stauber is the incumbent Republican candidate for the U.S. House in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District. He is running in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Party labels and incumbency
The candidate field uses three labels: DFL, Democrat and Republican. Wendell Robert Smith, Trina Swanson, Emanuel Anastos, Cyle Cramer, John-paul 2183436597 Mcbride and Chad Mckenna are listed as DFL candidates. Gulbranson is listed as a Democrat. Anthony David Mr. Hamilton and Stauber are listed as Republicans.
Stauber is the only candidate identified as an incumbent in this contest. Incumbency describes who currently holds the office; it does not determine the outcome of the election. All nine candidates are part of the same listed general-election contest for MN-8.
What voters should know
The election date is Nov. 3, 2026. Because this is a general election, the candidates listed across the three party labels are competing in the same congressional race.
Voters following the contest can watch for official updates to the candidate lineup, ballot certification, campaign finance filings and documented policy positions. Those records can add information about the candidates and their campaigns before voting begins. The election outcome will be determined by voters in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District.
