Catholics Can Make a Difference in the Upcoming Primary Elections

While the majority of American media is focused on national and global politics, it is easy to overlook what’s happening in our own backyard. 2026 is a big election year in Minnesota. Every U.S. House seat is up for election, as is one U.S. Senate seat. At the state level, Minnesotans will also elect a new governor, and every seat in the Minnesota House and Senate is on the ballot.

The reality is that some of the most important issues affecting our daily lives are decided right here in St. Paul. That raises an important question: If we are not in contact with our elected officials, how can we expect them to make good decisions?

One way to change this reality is to participate in the primary elections on Aug. 11. Primary elections are the process by which voters choose which candidates will represent their respective parties and appear on the November ballot. Because primaries usually have lower voter turnout, they are a great way for you, as a voter, to help pick the candidates. And because Minnesota is an open primary state, any registered voter can participate in either party’s primary election.

While the official primary election is Aug. 11, early voting started on June 26 and continues through Aug. 10.

First, form your conscience

When voting, it is essential to reflect through the lens of Catholic social teaching. It is often the case that no candidate or political party perfectly embodies the fullness of the Church’s teachings. But by prioritizing issues that most directly affect human dignity and the common good, we can allow Gospel principles to inform our vote.

Catholic social teaching is a valuable resource that offers a framework for building a just society that promotes human flourishing. Grounded in Scripture, the Church’s tradition, and social encyclicals, it is not a set of ready-made policy prescriptions. Rather, it is a mental model for seeing and discerning with the mind of the Church. Understanding this framework can help us move beyond ideological or party-line thinking.

Next, inform yourself

After forming our conscience, it is important to understand the issues at stake and where the candidates seeking your vote stand. This is a chance to talk to candidates and gain a better sense of the values and priorities they hope to bring to St. Paul. You can ask them real questions about their stance on issues such as physician-assisted suicide, whether Minnesota should opt into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, or how they will protect the right to life.

Candidates are often surprisingly accessible during the summer months at parades, coffee gatherings, and town halls, and their positions can usually be found on their websites and social media accounts.

Minnesota Catholic Conference aims to equip you for these conversations. We have prepared a candidate questionnaire, available at mncatholic.org/election2026, with thoughtful questions to ask each candidate in person, by email, or by phone. This resource is designed to help you discern which candidates will earn your vote in both the Aug. 11 primary and the general election in November.

Finally, transform our state by showing up

Last, but not least, show up to vote. Whether you cast your ballot at your local polling station or by mail, participating in the election fulfills an important part of your civic duty. When we form our conscience and inform ourselves about the issues and the candidates, we can cast our ballots with confidence.

Sometimes, it can be easy to fall into a nihilistic mindset, thinking, “My vote doesn’t really matter,” or “Politics is messy, and I’d rather stay out of it.” But as the late Pope Francis so beautifully reminded us, “Politics is one of the highest forms of charity because it seeks the common good.”

For helpful resources on Catholic social teaching, polling locations, and everything else you need to vote in the upcoming primaries and the general election in November, visit mncatholic.org/election2026.

Inside the Capitol is a legislative update from Minnesota Catholic Conference staff.