What Happened To Minnesota’s 2026 MNDOT Name A Snowplow Contest?

One of Minnesota's goofy annual winter traditions has seemingly quietly vanished, at least temporarily. What gives?

Over a month ago, I shared details about the 2025-2026 edition of MNDOT's annual Name A Snowplow voting contest.

In that information, which came directly from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the timeline for this winter's contest saw name submissions being collected through December 19, with voting to get underway in January after the team at MNDOT went through the submissions to narrow the field.

Today, with just a couple of days left in January, the voting for this contest has not started. The agency's social media has not provided any updates.

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The MNDOT website for the contest just recently, quietly, changed the verbiage from saying voting will begin in January to now say "Voting on the list of finalists will begin in February 2026."

I mean, the good news for fans of this quirky annual happening is that they still plan on completing the contest. Just later than originally planned. So, what's the deal?

MNDOT hasn't yet provided any public comment on the quiet change from January to February for voting, but I've heard speculation. Again, while it is just speculation, the most common guess I've heard is that, in light of the recent news events in the Twin Cities that have happened since the announcement of this winter's contest, MNDOT decided to postpone voting for this silly public spectacle.

I could see that making sense, but we really don't know for sure what the actual reason is. When they do, eventually, roll out the finalists and kick off voting, we'll be sure to share that with you!

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In the meantime, here's a look back at last year's winners.