Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen speaks at a news conference outside the State Capitol in St. Paul on Thursday, June 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)

Dr. Scott Jensen (R) won the Republican primary in Minnesota’s gubernatorial race on Tuesday.

The Associated Press called the race in Jensen’s favor at 8:31 p.m. CST, just 31 minutes after the polls closed. As of 9:00 p.m., Jensen holds over 91% of the vote.

Jensen previously served in Minnesota’s state senate for one four-year term from 2017-2021. During this time, the physician became known for promoting questionable information and policies regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. In one instance, Jensen called on American citizens to participate in civil disobedience in response to President Joe Biden’s COVID response. Jensen, a family physician, has centered much of his campaign around COVID-19 disinformation and anti-vaccine sentiment.

Recently, Jensen has publicly stated his intention to push for an abortion ban in Minnesota if he gets elected. Minnesota and Illinois are the only two states in the Midwest where the right to an abortion is protected.

Jensen’s running mate, Matt Birk, is former football player and Minnesota Viking. Birk drew controversy last month when a speech he made at a National Right to Life conference surfaced, with him saying that women “always want to go to the rape card” when defending abortion rights. He also opposes same sex marriage and refused to visit the White House in 2013 with the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens because of then-President Barack Obama’s pro-abortion views.

Jensen will face incumbent Democrat Tim Walz in November, who is currently finishing his first term as governor.