Republican Party primaries in Minnesota, 2018

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Republican Party primaries, 2018

Minnesota Republican Party.jpg

Primary Date
August 14, 2018

Federal elections
Republican primary for U.S. Senate
Republican primaries for U.S. House

State elections
Republican primaries for Minnesota legislature
Republican primary for governor
Republican primary for lieutenant governor
Republican primary for attorney general
Republican primary for secretary of state

State party
Republican Party of Minnesota
State political party revenue

Primary elections—in which registered voters select a candidate whom they believe should run on the party's ticket in the general election—can reflect internal conflict over the direction of a party.

Heading into the 2018 election, the Republican Party's legislative record during Donald Trump’s presidency figured into several Republican primaries. This record included the passage of major tax legislation in December 2017 and the confirmation of federal judges. It also included a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill in March 2018, which Trump opposed, and unsuccessful efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.[1][2]

Trump, himself, also played a role in Republican primaries. His approval rating reached 90% in June among self-described Republicans, according to a Gallup survey.[3] Many Republican candidates campaigned on their support for Trump, and negative ads accusing opponents of criticizing the president were common.[4][5][6] A May report found Trump's name or image had appeared in 37% of all Republican campaign ads at that point in 2018.[7]

This page focuses on the Republican primaries that took place in Minnesota on August 14, 2018. In addition, the page provides context for understanding the state party apparatus.

Battleground primaries

Battleground elections are those that Ballotpedia expected would either be more competitive than other races or attract significant national attention.

Federal elections

U.S. Senate

See also: United States Senate election in Minnesota (August 14, 2018 Republican primary)
Incumbent Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) was seeking her third term in the state where she defeated Republican Kurt Bills by 35 points in 2012. To see a full list of candidates in the Republican primary, click "Show more" below.
Show more
Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

U.S. House

See also: United States House elections in Minnesota (August 14, 2018 Republican primaries)
The 2018 U.S. House of Representatives elections in Minnesota took place on November 6, 2018. Voters elected eight candidates to serve in the U.S. House, one from each of the state's eight congressional districts. In 2017, the NRCC identified Minnesota's 1st, 7th, and 8th Congressional Districts as targeted races. To see a full list of candidates in the Republican primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

District 1

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

District 2

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

District 3

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

District 4

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

District 5

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

District 6

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

District 7

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

District 8

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

State elections

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

Gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election

See also: Minnesota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 14 Republican primary)

See also: Minnesota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 14 Republican primary)

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

Attorney general election

See also: Minnesota Attorney General election, 2018 (August 14 Republican primary)

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

Withdrew

Secretary of state election

See also: Minnesota Secretary of State election, 2018 (August 14 Republican primary)

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:

State party overview

See also: Republican Party of Minnesota
Minnesota Republican Party.jpg


State political party revenue

See also: State political party revenue and State political party revenue per capita

State political parties typically deposit revenue in separate state and federal accounts in order to comply with state and federal campaign finance laws. The following table displays the Republican Party of Minnesota's revenue over a six-year period from 2011 to 2016. Revenue totals are broken down by account type and year. The data was compiled through publicly available state and federal campaign finance reports.

Republican Party of Minnesota revenue, 2011 to 2016[9][10]
Year Federal account State account(s) Total
2011 $1,908,951.28 $655,183.56 $2,564,134.84
2012 $2,094,935.61 $1,623,876.26 $3,718,811.87
2013 $1,644,762.42 $1,135,508.68 $2,780,271.10
2014 $3,694,778.03 $3,302,115.26 $6,996,893.29
2015 $2,156,439.40 $1,170,752.55 $3,327,191.95
2016 $2,453,001.33 $1,137,978.89 $3,590,980.22

Minnesota compared to other states

The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following maps display total state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic and Republican state party affiliates from 2011 to 2016. The blue map displays Democratic state parties and the red map displays Republican state parties. Click on a state below to view the state party's revenue per capita totals:

Total Democratic and Republican state political party revenue per capita in the United States, 2011-2016

Primary election scheduling

Minnesota was one of four states to hold a primary election on August 14, 2018.

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.[11][12][13]

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.[14]

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.[15][16]

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.[15]

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.[16]

Automatic registration

Minnesota practices automatic voter registration.[16]

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.[17]

Residency requirements

To register to vote in Minnesota, you must be a resident of the state for at least 20 days.[15]

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

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."[18]

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.[19] 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. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. 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 generally require registered voters to present identification while voting.[20]

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.

The federal Help America Vote Act requires that individuals in all 50 states who register to vote by mail and who have not voted previously in a federal election in their state must provide either their driver's license or a paycheck, bank statement, current utility bill, or government document showing their name and address. Individuals voting by mail must include a copy of one of those documents with their absentee/mail-in ballot.[21]

These requirements do not apply if an individual submitted a copy of their identification, their driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering to vote.

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.[22]

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.[23]

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.[16]


Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Nineteen of 87 Minnesota counties—21.8 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Beltrami County, Minnesota 9.72% 9.89% 10.15%
Blue Earth County, Minnesota 3.69% 9.48% 12.95%
Chippewa County, Minnesota 28.70% 1.87% 5.87%
Clay County, Minnesota 1.95% 7.92% 16.02%
Fillmore County, Minnesota 21.70% 7.34% 8.26%
Freeborn County, Minnesota 17.24% 14.11% 17.13%
Houston County, Minnesota 13.87% 3.16% 10.69%
Itasca County, Minnesota 16.35% 9.83% 12.92%
Kittson County, Minnesota 22.05% 6.03% 18.54%
Koochiching County, Minnesota 19.85% 9.45% 10.10%
Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota 25.60% 0.90% 5.92%
Mahnomen County, Minnesota 2.92% 18.56% 25.31%
Mower County, Minnesota 7.82% 22.61% 23.61%
Nicollet County, Minnesota 3.04% 7.83% 10.52%
Norman County, Minnesota 13.34% 10.79% 26.94%
Rice County, Minnesota 3.06% 8.27% 11.50%
Swift County, Minnesota 25.57% 9.83% 13.79%
Traverse County, Minnesota 23.30% 4.44% 5.41%
Winona County, Minnesota 2.90% 12.85% 19.09%

In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won Minnesota with 46.4 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 44.9 percent. In presidential elections between 1860 and 2016, Minnesota voted Republican 50 percent of the time and Democratic 47.5 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Minnesota voted Democratic all five times.[24]

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Minnesota. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[25][26]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 68 out of 134 state House districts in Minnesota with an average margin of victory of 27.6 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 62 out of 134 state House districts in Minnesota with an average margin of victory of 30.4 points. Clinton won 12 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 66 out of 134 state House districts in Minnesota with an average margin of victory of 12.3 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 72 out of 134 state House districts in Minnesota with an average margin of victory of 23.8 points. Trump won seven districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

See also

Federal primaries in Minnesota State primaries in Minnesota Minnesota state party apparatus Minnesota voter information
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Footnotes

  1. ‘’National Review’’, “Trump Is Not Blameless in the Spending-Bill Disaster,” March 28, 2018
  2. The New York Times, "A New Guide to the Republican Herd," August 26, 2012
  3. Gallup, "Trump Job Approval Slips Back to 41%," June 25, 2018
  4. Daily Commercial, "Trump hurdle looms large in Florida GOP governor primary," July 30, 2018
  5. Daily Commercial, "These 2018 Primaries Are Worth Watching," July 25, 2018
  6. Washington Post, "Republican primary candidates have one goal: Securing Trump’s endorsement or denying it to an opponent," July 25, 2018
  7. USA Today, "Donald Trump once divided Republicans; ads for midterms signal that's no longer true," May 17, 2018
  8. Harry Niska for Attorney General, "Home," accessed November 20, 2017
  9. Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, "View Political Party Unit Reports," accessed May 2016 (Search terms Republican Party of Minn and Minn DFL State Central Committee)
  10. Federal Election Commission, "Candidate and Committee Viewer," accessed May 2016 (Search terms Republican Party of Minnesota - Federal and Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party)
  11. NCSL,"State Primary Election Types," accessed April 25, 2023
  12. Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
  13. Minnesota Secretary of State,"PRIMARY ELECTION," accessed April 25, 2023
  14. Minnesota Secretary of State, "Voting Hours," accessed April 24, 2023
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Register to Vote," accessed April 24, 2023
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Minnesota State Legislature, "House File 3," accessed June 6, 2023
  17. NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed August 27, 2024
  18. Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota Voter Registration Application," accessed November 1, 2024
  19. 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."
  20. Minnesota Secretary of State, "Do I Need to Bring ID?" accessed October 7, 2025
  21. Congress, "H.R.3295 - Help America Vote Act of 2002," accessed September 30, 2025
  22. Star Tribune, "No excuse needed to vote absentee in Minnesota," June 22, 2014
  23. Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota Absentee Ballot Application," accessed April 25, 2023
  24. 270towin.com, "Minnesota," accessed June 29, 2017
  25. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  26. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017