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Minnesota State Senate elections, 2020
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| 2020 Minnesota Senate Elections | |
|---|---|
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| General | November 3, 2020 |
| Primary | August 11, 2020 |
| Past Election Results |
| 2016・2012・2010 |
| 2020 Elections | |
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| Choose a chamber below: | |
Minnesota Republicans lost seats but kept their majority in the 2020 Senate elections. All 67 Senate seats were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Republicans had a 35-30 majority with two seats held by third party or independent legislators. Republicans lost one seat and Democrats gained three seats, narrowing the Republican majority to 34-33.
Following the 2020 elections, the Republican majority elected a Democratic senator as Senate President, while two Democratic senators left the Democratic caucus to form their own independent caucus. To read more about these events, click here.
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia identified 18 of the state Senate races as battlegrounds, 12 of which were Democrat-held districts while the other six were Republican-held districts.
Heading into the election, Minnesota had been under a divided government since 2014 when Republicans took control of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Republicans took control of the state Senate in the 2016 elections and the Democrats took back control of the state House in the 2018 elections.
Democrats needed to flip two of the battleground seats to take control of the state Senate, while Republicans needed to prevent one of these two battleground seats from flipping to keep control of the state Senate.
The Minnesota State Senate was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections. All 67 seats in the Minnesota State Senate were up for election in 2016.
Minnesota's 2020 state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In Minnesota, the state legislature is responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. District plans are subject to gubernatorial veto.
Click here for more information on redistricting procedures in Minnesota.
Heading into the 2020 general election, Republicans controlled 59 out of 99 state legislative chambers in the U.S., while Democrats controlled 39 chambers. The Alaska House was the sole chamber in which there was a power-sharing agreement between the parties. Minnesota was one of 14 states that had a divided government heading into the 2020 general election. A state has a divided government when no party controls both the governorship and majorities in each state legislative chamber.
Aftermath of elections
Republicans elect Democratic president, pair of Democrats leave party caucus
On November 12, 2020, the Senate voted 63-4 to make Sen. David Tomassoni (DFL) the Senate President. Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, (R) told Minnesota Public Radio that the appointment was made in case President-elect Joe Biden (D) was to appoint U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) to his cabinet. If Klobuchar were to leave the Senate, state political observers expect Gov. Tim Walz (D) to nominate Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D). Following Flanagan's appointment, the Senate President would automatically assume the office of lieutenant governor.[1]
Republicans won a one-seat majority in the 2020 elections. In a normal scenario where the majority party selects one of its members to be Senate President, the above chain of succession would produce a deadlock in the chamber and the potential for a Democratic candidate to win the seat in a special election, flipping the chamber's majority.
“We’re going to take preemptive steps to make sure we don’t have to go through that fiasco again,” Gazelka told MPR, referring to events triggered by the 2018 resignation of U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D). Following Franken's resignation, Gov. Mark Dayton (D) appointed Lt. Gov. Tina Smith (D) to the seat, prompting Senate President Michelle Fischbach's (R) succession to lieutenant governor. Fischbach initially refused to take the new role and only did so after a court ruled she had to.[1]
On November 18, 2020, Tomassoni and Sen. Thomas Bakk (DFL) announced the formation of the Independent Caucus. The pair said that the move would allow them to chair committees and better serve their districts along with the chamber's Republican majority. According to KSTP, Gazelka was expected to appoint each as a committee chair. Bakk previously served as the leader of the DFL caucus from 2012 to 2020.[2]
In a statement, Bakk said: "I'm very disappointed by the extreme partisanship going on nationally and right here in Minnesota. Both political parties are to blame. The constant negative and sharp rhetoric is undermining voters' confidence in our public institutions. It doesn't have to stay this way . . . David and I have always voted our districts. We have always represented our districts as bipartisan and moderate members of the legislature. Forming this new caucus is just a natural progression of aligning more with moderate than the far right or left."[2]
As a result of the new caucus, Republicans held a 34-31 edge over Democrats when the legislature convened on January 4, 2021. KSTP reported that Bakk and Tomassoni were likely to caucus with the Republicans as a result of their committee chair positions.[2]
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Minnesota modified its absentee/mail-in voting and candidate filing procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: The absentee/mail-in ballot postmark deadline was extended to November 3, 2020; the receipt deadline was extended to November 10, 2020. The witness requirement for absentee/mail-in ballots was suspended.
- Candidate filing procedures: General election candidates were allowed to submit filing forms and petitions electronically.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Party control
| Minnesota State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 32 | 33 | |
| Republican Party | 35 | 34 | |
| Total | 67 | 67 | |
Districts
- See also: Minnesota state legislative districts
Use the interactive map below to find your district.
Candidates
General election
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate ConnectionPrimary election
Campaign finance
The section and tables below contain data from financial reports submitted to state agencies. Districts and elections are grouped in sections of 10. To view data for a district, click on the appropriate bar below to expand it. The data is gathered and made available by Transparency USA.
2020 battleground chamber
The Minnesota State Senate was among 24 state legislative chambers Ballotpedia identified as battleground chambers for the 2020 cycle. Click here for more information on state legislative battlegrounds.
What was at stake?
- Democrats needed to gain two seats to take control of the chamber in 2020.
- If Democrats won control of the chamber while maintaining a majority in the state House, they would have gained a state government trifecta. If Republicans held their majority or won a majority in the state House, they would have maintained the state's divided government.
Why was it a battleground?
- Seats needed to flip: Democrats needed to flip two of the 67 seats up (3% of the chamber) to win control of the chamber.
- Seats decided by 10% or less in 2016: In the 2016 elections, there were 17 races (25% of the chamber) decided by a margin of 10% or smaller.
- Seats flipped in 2016: Control of 10 seats (15% of the chamber) changed hands in the 2016 elections.
- More flips in 2016 than needed to change control in 2020: More seats flipped in the 2016 election (10) than needed to flip to change control of the chamber in 2020 (two).
- History of recent flips: Control of the Minnesota State Senate changed three times between 2010 and 2020. Republicans gained a majority in 2010, followed by Democrats gaining a majority in 2012 and Republicans regaining the majority in 2016.
- Race ratings: The Cook Political Report rated the Minnesota State Senate a toss-up chamber in 2020, meaning both parties had a good chance to win a majority.[3]
Battleground races
| Minnesota State Senate Battleground races |
|---|
| Democrat seats |
 District 4
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| District 27
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| District 36
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| District 37
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| District 42
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| District 48
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| District 49
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| District 51
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| District 53
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| District 54
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| District 57
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| District 58
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| Republican seats |
 District 5
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| District 11
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| District 14
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| District 20
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| District 44
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| District 56
|
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia identified 18 battleground races in the Minnesota State Senate 2020 elections, 12 of which were Democrat-held districts while the other six were Republican-held districts. Based on analysis of these districts' electoral histories, these races had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could possibly have led to shifts in a chamber's partisan balance.
To determine state legislative battleground races in 2020, Ballotpedia looked for races that fit one or more of the four factors listed below:
- In the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the most recent state legislative election winner won by a margin of 10 percentage points or less.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the incumbent is not on the ballot this year.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and that presidential candidate won the district by a margin of 20 percentage points or more.
District 4
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the most recent state legislative election winner won by a margin of 10 percentage points or less. Kent Eken (D) was elected in 2016 where he received 55.2 percent of the vote and defeated James Leiman (R) by 10.4 percentage points. District 4 was one of 39 Minnesota Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 4 by 7.8 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 5
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where in the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote. Justin Eichorn (R) was elected in 2016 where he received 50.7 percent of the vote and defeated then-incumbent Tom Saxhaug (D) by 1.4 percentage points. District 5 was one of 39 Minnesota state Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 5 by 16.9 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 11
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where in the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote. Jason Rarick (R) was elected in a 2019 special election where he received 52 percent of the vote and defeated Challenger (D) by 6.1 percentage points. District 11 was one of 39 Minnesota state Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 11 by 13.3 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 14
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where in the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote. Jerry Relph (R) was elected in 2016 where he received 47.5 percent of the vote and defeated Dan Wolgamott (D) by 0.1 percentage points. District 14 was one of 39 Minnesota state Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 14 by 7.8 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 20
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where in the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote. Rich Draheim (R) was elected in 2016 where he received 52 percent of the vote and defeated then-incumbent Kevin Dahle (D) by 4 percentage points. District 20 was one of 39 Minnesota state Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 20 by 15.5 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 27
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and in the last state legislative election the winner received less than 55% of the vote. Dan Sparks (D) was elected in 2016 where he received 54.8 percent of the vote and defeated Gene Dornink (R) by 9.6 percentage points. District 27 was one of 39 Minnesota state Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 27 by 13.8 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 36
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where in the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote. John Hoffman (D) was elected in 2016 where he received 51.1 percent of the vote and defeated Jeffrey Lunde (R) by 2.2 percentage points. District 36 was one of 28 Minnesota Senate districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 36 by 4.7 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 37
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and in the last state legislative election the winner received less than 55% of the vote. Jerry Newton (D) was elected in 2016 where he received 51.5 percent of the vote and defeated Brad Sanford (R) by3 percentage points. District 37 was one of 39 Minnesota state Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 37 by 2.6 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 42
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where in the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote. Jason Isaacson (D) was elected in 2016 where he received 54.3 percent of the vote and defeated Candy Sina (R) by 8.6 percentage points. District 42 was one of 28 Minnesota Senate districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 42 by 17.5 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 44
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, the incumbent is not on the ballot this year, and in the last state legislative election the winner received less than 55% of the vote. Paul Anderson (R) was elected in 2016 where he received 50.2 percent of the vote and defeated Deb Calvert (D) by 0.4 percentage points. District 44 was one of 28 Minnesota Senate districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 44 by 18.3 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 48
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where in the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote. Steve Cwodzinski (D) was elected in 2016 where he received 51.1 percent of the vote and defeated David Hann (R) by 2.3 percentage points. District 48 was one of 28 Minnesota Senate districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 48 by 16.5 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 49
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where in the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote. Melisa Franzen (D) was elected in 2016 where she received 54.6 percent of the vote and defeated Mike Lehman (R) by 9.1 percentage points. District 49 was one of 28 Minnesota Senate districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 49 by 23.9 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 51
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where in the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote. Jim Carlson (D) was elected in 2016 where he received 54.1 percent of the vote and defeated Victor Lake (R) by 8.2 percentage points. District 51 was one of 28 Minnesota Senate districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 51 by 17.2 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 53
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where in the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote. Susan Kent (D) was elected in 2016 where she received 54.4 percent of the vote and defeated Sharna Wahlgren (R) by 0.9 percentage points. District 53 was one of 28 Minnesota Senate districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 53 by12.6 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 54
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and in the last state legislative election the winner received less than 55% of the vote. Karla Bigham (D) was elected in a 2018 special election where she received 50.7 percent of the vote and defeated Denny McNamara (R) by 3.6 percentage points. District 54 was one of 39 Minnesota state Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 54 by 1.4 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 56
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the most recent state legislative election winner won by a margin of 10 percentage points or less. Dan Hall (R) was elected in 2016 where he received 55.2 percent of the vote and defeated Phillip Sterner (D) by 10.3 percentage points. District 56 was one of 28 Minnesota Senate districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 56 by 3.9 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 57
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where in the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote. Greg Clausen (D) was elected in 2016 where he received 53.1 percent of the vote and defeated Cory Campbell (R) by 6.3 percentage points. District 57 was one of 28 Minnesota Senate districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 57 by 5.4 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
District 58
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and in the last state legislative election the winner received less than 55% of the vote. Matt Little (D) was elected in 2016 where he received 50.4 percent of the vote and defeated Tim Pitcher (R) by 0.9 percentage points. District 58 was one of 39 Minnesota state Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 58 by 16.8 percentage points. |
Campaign finance
Battleground races map
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
Four incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election. Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Jerry Relph |  Republican |
Senate District 14 |
| Dan Sparks |  Democratic |
Senate District 27 |
| Dan Hall | Republican |
Senate District 56 |
| Matt Little | Democratic |
Senate District 58 |
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
Two incumbents lost in the Aug. 11 primaries. Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Current Office |
|---|---|---|
| Erik Simonson | Democratic |
Senate District 7 |
| Jeff Hayden | Democratic |
Senate District 62 |
Retiring incumbents
There were four open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020.[4] Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Current Office | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolyn Laine | Democratic |
Senate District 41 | Retired |
| Paul Anderson | Republican |
Senate District 44 | Retired |
| Scott Jensen | Republican |
Senate District 47 | Retired |
| Dick Cohen | Democratic |
Senate District 64 | Retired |
The four seats left open in 2020 represented the lowest number of open seats within the preceding decade. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.
| Open Seats in Minnesota State Senate elections: 2010 - 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2020 | 67 | 4 (6 percent) | 63 (94 percent) |
| 2016 | 67 | 13 (19 percent) | 54 (81 percent) |
| 2012 | 67 | 16 (24 percent) | 51 (76 percent) |
| 2010 | 67 | 9 (13 percent) | 58 (87 percent) |
Redistricting in Minnesota
- See also: Redistricting in Minnesota
In Minnesota, congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the Minnesota State Legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[5]
The Minnesota Constitution requires "that state Senate districts be contiguous, and that Representative districts be nested within Senate districts." State statutes apply contiguity requirements to all congressional and state legislative districts. Furthermore, state statutes stipulate that political subdivisions should not be divided "more than necessary."[5]
Process to become a candidate
See statutes: Minnesota Statutes, "Chapter 204B. Elections; General Provisions"
For major party candidates
A major party candidate seeking placement on the primary ballot must file an affidavit of candidacy. The affidavit must state the following, regardless of the office being sought:[6][7]
- that the candidate is an eligible voter
- that the candidate has no other affidavit on file as a candidate for any other office at the same primary or next ensuing general election
- that the candidate is 21 years old, or will be at the time he or she assumes office, and that the candidate will maintain a residence in the district in which he or she is seeking election for 30 days prior to the general election
- that the candidate's name as written on the affidavit for ballot designation is the candidate's true name or the name by which he or she is commonly known in the community
The candidate must also include his or her address and telephone number. The candidate must indicate on the affidavit that he or she has either participated in the party's most recent precinct caucus or intends to vote for a majority of the party's candidates at the next ensuing general election. The affidavit includes office-specific information, as well.[6][7]
In addition the affidavit of candidacy, a major party candidate must either pay a filing fee or submit a petition in lieu of paying the filing fee. Filing fees vary according to the office being sought and are as follows:[7][8][9]
| Filing fees | |
|---|---|
| Office | Filing fee |
| Governor, attorney general, auditor, secretary of state or United States Representative | $300 |
| United States Senator | $400 |
| State legislature | $100 |
If a candidate elects to submit a petition in lieu of paying the filing fee, the petition must meet the following signature requirements:[7][8]
| Signature requirements for petitions in lieu of filing fees | |
|---|---|
| Office | Required signatures |
| Governor, attorney general, auditor, secretary of state or United States Senator | 2,000 |
| United States Representative | 1,000 |
| State legislature | 500 |
Candidates must file between the 84th day preceding the primary election and the 70th day preceding the primary. Candidates for federal office must file with the Minnesota Secretary of State. A candidate for state-level office may file with the county auditor of his or her county of residence or the Minnesota Secretary of State.[7][10]
For minor party and independent candidates
A minor party or independent candidate seeking placement on the general election ballot must file an affidavit of candidacy meeting the same specifications as that filed by a major party candidate. Instead of including the name of his or her political party, an independent candidate may designate a non-recognized party or political principle, provided that the designation is made in three words or less and does not suggest similarity with an existing recognized party.[6][11]
A minor party or independent candidate must also submit a nominating petition. For federal or statewide offices, signatures must equal either 1 percent of the total number of individuals who voted in the state at the last preceding state general election, or 2,000, whichever is less. For congressional office, signatures must equal either 5 percent of the total number of individuals who voted in the district at the last preceding state general election, or 1,000, whichever is less. For state legislative office, signatures must equal either 10 percent of the total number of individuals who voted in the legislative district at the last preceding state general election, or 500, whichever is less.[11][12][13]
In addition to the affidavit of candidacy and nominating petition, a minor party or independent candidate is liable for the same filing fee as a major party candidate. A nominating petition may be used in lieu of paying the filing fee, but the petition must include a prominent statement informing signers that the petition will be used in this way.[8][11]
Candidates must file between the 84th day preceding the primary election and the 70th day preceding the primary. Candidates for federal office must file with the Minnesota Secretary of State. A candidate for state-level office may file with the county auditor of his or her county of residence or the Minnesota Secretary of State.[10][11]
For write-in candidates
A write-in candidate must file a written request in order to have his or her votes tallied. Such requests must be filed no later than the seventh day before the general election. Write-in candidates for federal office must submit their requests to the Minnesota Secretary of State. A write-in candidate for state-level office may submit the request to the county auditor of his or her county of residence or the Minnesota Secretary of State.[14][10]
2020 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for Minnesota State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Minnesota State Senate | All candidates | N/A | $100.00 | 6/2/2020 | Source |
Qualifications
To be eligible to run for the Minnesota State Senate, a candidate must meet the following criteria:[15]
- be eligible to vote in Minnesota;
- not have filed for more than one office for the upcoming primary or general election;
- be at least 21 years old;
- be a resident of Minnesota for at least one year; and
- be a resident of the legislative district for at least six months prior to the general election date.
Salaries and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[16] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $51,750/year | For senators: $86/day. For representatives: $66/day. |
When sworn in
Minnesota legislators assume office on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January after the election. When the first Monday in January falls on January 1, legislators assume office on the first Wednesday after the first Monday.[17][18]
Minnesota political history
Trifectas
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
Minnesota Party Control: 1992-2024
Four years of Democratic trifectas • No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | I | I | I | I | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Presidential politics in Minnesota
2016 Presidential election results
| U.S. presidential election, Minnesota, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic |  Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine |
46.4% | 1,367,716 | 10 | |
| Republican | Donald Trump/Mike Pence | 44.9% | 1,322,951 | 0 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 3.8% | 112,972 | 0 | |
| Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 1.3% | 36,985 | 0 | |
| Constitution | Darrell Castle/Scott Bradley | 0.3% | 9,456 | 0 | |
| Legal Marijuana Now | Dan R. Vacek/Mark G. Elworth Jr. | 0.4% | 11,291 | 0 | |
| Socialist Workers Party | Alyson Kennedy/Osborne Hart | 0.1% | 1,672 | 0 | |
| American Delta Party | Roque De La Fuente/Michael Steinberg | 0% | 1,431 | 0 | |
| Independence | Evan McMullin/Nathan Johnson | 1.8% | 53,076 | 0 | |
| - | Write-in votes | 0.9% | 27,263 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 2,944,813 | 10 | |||
| Election results via: Minnesota Secretary of State | |||||
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Minnesota utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[19][20][21]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In Minnesota, most polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central Time. However, some smaller municipalities may open their polls as late as 10:00 a.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[22]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
Voter pre-registration is available in Minnesota beginning at age 16. An individual must be 18 years old on Election Day in order to vote. To register to vote in Minnesota, an individual must be a United States citizen who has resided in the state for the 20-day period preceding the election.[23][24]
An individual must register to vote at least 21 days before Election Day or on Election Day at a polling place. An individual may register to vote by completing a registration application and submitting it by mail or in-person to a local election official. An individual can also register online. To register at a polling place on Election Day, an individual must present valid identification.[23]
The Minnesota voter registration application includes an option to join a permanent absentee voter list, which means the voter will automatically be sent an absentee/mail-in ballot for every election.[24]
Automatic registration
Minnesota practices automatic voter registration.[24]
Automatic voter registration took effect on June 1, 2023, as a result of HF 3, which was signed into law by Governor Tim Walz (D) on May 5, 2023.
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Minnesota has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
Minnesota allows for same-day voter registration.[25]
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Minnesota, you must be a resident of the state for at least 20 days.[23]
Verification of citizenship
As of October 2024, Minnesota did not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "giving false information is a felony punishable by not more than 5 years imprisonment or a fine of not more than $10,000, or both."[26]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[27] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The Minnesota Secretary of State allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Minnesota does not require registered voters to present identification while voting.[28]
If you are registering to vote at the polls or have not voted in at least four years, you will need to bring proof of residency to the polls. Click here to see what qualifies as acceptable proof of residency.
Early voting
Minnesota permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
There are no eligibility requirements to vote absentee in Minnesota.[29]
There is no specific deadline for applying for an absentee ballot. A completed ballot must be returned on or before Election Day for it to be counted.[30]
Prospective voters may select an option on the Minnesota voter registration application to join a permanent absentee voter list, which means they will automatically be sent an absentee/mail-in ballot for every election.[24]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Twin Cities Pioneer Press, "Anticipating Biden election fallout, Republicans tap DFLer as Minnesota Senate president," November 12, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 KSTP, "Longtime Minnesota senators quit DFL caucus to form Independent Caucus," November 18, 2020
- ↑ The Cook Political Report, "July Update: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races," July 22, 2020
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 All About Redistricting, "Minnesota," accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 2024 Minnesota Statutes, "Section 204B.06," accessed March 18, 2025
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota Elections Campaign Manual," accessed March 18, 2025
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 2024 Minnesota Statutes, "Section 204B.11," accessed March 18, 2025
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Fees," accessed March 18, 2025
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 2013 Minnesota Statutes, "Section 204B.09," accessed March 18, 2025 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "mnwherefile" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Petitions," accessed March 18, 2025
- ↑ 2025 Minnesota Statutes, "Section 204B.08," accessed March 18, 2025
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedmnresults - ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Election Administration & Campaigns," accessed March 18, 2025
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Filing for Office," accessed June 23, 2014
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Minnesota.gov, "Minnesota Statute 3.05," accessed February 12, 2021
- ↑ Minnesota.gov, "Minnesota Statute 3.011," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ NCSL,"State Primary Election Types," accessed April 25, 2023
- ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State,"PRIMARY ELECTION," accessed April 25, 2023
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Voting Hours," accessed April 24, 2023
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Register to Vote," accessed April 24, 2023
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 Minnesota State Legislature, "House File 3," accessed June 6, 2023
- ↑ NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed August 27, 2024
- ↑ Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota Voter Registration Application," accessed November 1, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Do I Need to Bring ID?" accessed April 25, 2023
- ↑ Star Tribune, "No excuse needed to vote absentee in Minnesota," June 22, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota Absentee Ballot Application," accessed April 25, 2023
