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The MN-8 race
Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District has a contested U.S. House race in the 2026 election. Nine candidates are in the field: Wendell Robert Smith, Trina Swanson, Emanuel Anastos, Cyle Cramer, Luke Gulbranson, Anthony David Mr. Hamilton, John-paul 2183436597 Mcbride, Chad Mckenna and Peter Allen Stauber.
Six candidates are running with the DFL label, one is listed as a Democrat and two are running as Republicans. Stauber is the incumbent, meaning he currently holds the office being contested. The other eight candidates are challenging for the same U.S. House seat.
The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. The large field makes the identity of the candidates who compete for the district’s seat a central part of the race.
The candidates
Each of the nine candidates is seeking the U.S. House seat for Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District:
- Wendell Robert Smith — DFL. Smith is running in the MN-8 contest with the DFL label.
- Trina Swanson — DFL. Swanson is running in the MN-8 contest with the DFL label.
- Emanuel Anastos — DFL. Anastos is running in the MN-8 contest with the DFL label.
- Cyle Cramer — DFL. Cramer is running in the MN-8 contest with the DFL label.
- Luke Gulbranson — Democrat. Gulbranson is running in the MN-8 contest with the Democrat label.
- Anthony David Mr. Hamilton — Republican. Hamilton is running in the MN-8 contest with the Republican label.
- John-paul 2183436597 Mcbride — DFL. Mcbride is running in the MN-8 contest with the DFL label.
- Chad Mckenna — DFL. Mckenna is running in the MN-8 contest with the DFL label.
- Peter Allen Stauber — Republican. Stauber, the incumbent, is running in the MN-8 contest with the Republican label.
What makes the race contested
The seat is contested because more than one candidate is seeking it. The field also contains multiple candidates using the same party label: six are listed as DFL candidates, while two are listed as Republicans. Gulbranson is listed separately as a Democrat.
That means the field is broader than a contest between one DFL candidate and one Republican candidate. It includes competition among candidates carrying the DFL label, competition between two candidates carrying the Republican label and a candidate carrying the Democrat label.
The candidate list alone does not decide which names will appear on the general-election ballot. The process leading to Nov. 3 will determine the final choices presented to MN-8 voters.
What voters should track
The first question is how the nine-person field changes as the election moves toward Nov. 3. Candidate filings and the steps that determine the final ballot will establish which candidates remain in the general-election contest.
Party labels are another point to follow. The field uses three listed designations: DFL, Democrat and Republican. Voters can also watch for candidates to state their priorities for the district and explain how they would approach service in the U.S. House.
The final general-election ballot will give voters the names from which they can choose Minnesota’s next representative for the 8th District. Election results will determine who holds the seat after the 2026 contest.
