Updated 04/23/2026: Francis Shen has dropped from the race and endorsed Anders Folk, see his statement here…
Minneapolis Times is keeping tabs on all of the candidates in the race for Hennepin County Attorney taking place in 2026.
The nonpartisan primary for county attorney will take place next August 11, with the top two finishers moving on to the general election on November 3.
Current officeholder Mary Moriarty’s last day in office is January 4, 2027.
Anders Folk
Anders Folk is currently a Partner with Jones Day and an Adjunct Professor with the U
Prosecutorial Experience: 10 Years
Acting U.S. Attorney, First Assistant U.S. Attorney
Public Defender Experience: None
Notable Quotes: The County Attorney’s Office “is not a classroom where we’re going to go and test theories and see what happens.” Source: Star Tribune
“Just to be clear,” Folk said. “Day one, for me, the Mary Moriarty era ends and we’re going in a new direction.” Source: Star Tribune
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andersfolk/
Campaign Website: https://www.andersfolk.com/
Hao Nguyen
Hao Nguyen is currently serving as Director Trials Division, Ramsey County Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutorial Experience: 15 Years
Director Trials Division
Ramsey County Attorney’s Office
Public Defender Experience: None
Notable Quotes: “I am an experienced prosecutor who believes in justice and fairness for everyone in our Hennepin County community. I will hold violent offenders accountable for their actions, while uplifting the voices of victims.” Source: CBS News
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hao-nguyen-787332290/
Campaign Website: https://hao4hennepin.com/
Diane Krenz
Krenz currently serves as a special assistant attorney in Hubbard County.
Prosecutorial Experience: 40 years of service in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office
Public Defender Experience: None
Notable Quotes: “A lifetime of service to Hennepin County has shaped me. Now I’m ready to lead this office forward. Together, we can restore trust, deliver common-sense justice, and make every neighborhood safer.” Source: Candidate press release
LinkedIn profile: NA
Campaign Website: https://www.dianekrenz.com/
Francis Shen (Ended Campaign)
Read the statement from Shen, ending his campaign and endorsing Anders Folk…
Matt Pelikan
Matt Pelikan is currently a Partner with
Prosecutorial Experience: None
Public Defender Experience: None
Notable Quotes: “Progressive leadership means picking the fights that need fighting and sticking it out until the end,” Source: MPR News
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-pelikan/
Campaign Website: https://mattpelikan.com/
Cedrick Frazier
Cedrick Frazier is currently a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and serves as an attorney with Education Minnesota.
Prosecutorial Experience: None
Public Defender Experience: 1 year
Notable Quotes: “After law school, I worked as a public defender here in Hennepin County — making sure people without money still had access to their constitutional rights.” Source: Candidate website
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cedrickfrazier/
Campaign Website: https://www.cedrickfrazier.org/
###
Related: March 31 Candidate Forum
Update: Shen Endorses Folk, Ends Campaign for Hennepin County Attorney
https://minneapolistimes.com/shen-endorses-folk-ends-campaign-for-hennepin-county-attorney/
I just rec’d this text…
Hello,
It’s Francis Shen, UMN law professor. I have ended my campaign for Hennepin County Attorney to back Anders Folk, and I want to tell you why.
I’ve spent my career as a criminal justice innovator. Anders gets it. He’s a Marine, the federal prosecutor who signed the Chauvin civil rights indictment, and served as Acting U.S. Attorney. In the aftermath of Operation Metro Surge, he has what it takes to lead this office forward.
Join me today: anders-folk.org/donation?t=C7Qvvc
Paid for by Folk for Hennepin.
How can I watch the video? The “link” seems to be only a picture.
The DFL caucus night is February 3, 2026 if you want to show up for a particular candidate.
Added website for Anders Folk http://andersfolk.com/
Added candidate Francis Shen
Anders is my guy for sure. He oozes competence
Thank you for this summary. If possible, please provide updates on the Hennepin County commissioner election for 2026, too.
I do think people should start to PAY ATTENTION to the Hennepin County Board. To get more work done on public safety for Mpls, we need a strong candidate to run against Angela Conley…at least. Maybe some candidates, that we would have liked to see get onto the Mpls City Council, like in Wards 2, 9, 10, and 12, could consider a run for the County Board.
* Commissioner Conley endorsed and tried to assist a number of DSA aligned candidates in these Mpls elections, like Chavez in W 9, and she was even seen, in photos, door knocking for Fateh, handing out flyers with the “DFL endorsement” for him long after it was determined that the DFL endorsement for Fateh was withdrawn. So, for a County Commisioner to do that?!
This is in the works
Two on this list so far have zero prosecutorial experience. As far as I’m concerned, they can be eliminated immediately from anyone’s list of people to vote for.
Thanks for laying it out this way