State Sen. Eric Pratt holds a commanding lead in the Minnesota 2nd Congressional District Republican primary after Tyler Kistner withdrew in mid-April 2026 citing a Marine Corps Reserve deployment. Pratt secured the party endorsement with 65 percent of delegate votes at the May 2 convention, and late entrant Jeremy Westby subsequently dropped out and endorsed him ahead of the August 11 primary. Kistner’s exit removed the only prior three-time nominee, leaving Pratt as the sole major candidate with established fundraising and unified support from state and federal Republican figures. A new entrant filing by the June 2 deadline or an unforeseen campaign development could still alter the race before ballots are cast.