Nearly one million people statewide and more than 90,000 in Minneapolis voted in the August 14 primary elections that determined who would represent each major party in the November general election.
The overall voter turnout was about 22.7 percent, the highest percentage since 1994, according to Steve Simon, Minnesota Secretary of State. More than 100,000 people either voted early or submitted absentee ballots, helping make the 902,119 statewide votes the most in a primary since 1982. Minneapolis also broke its 48-year-long record with 93,500 votes.
Open seats that were at the top of people’s minds were the governor, the Fifth Congressional District, two U.S. Senate seats and the state attorney general. Some of the seats drew interest because they yield a lot of power; others were fueled by controversy or the chance to make history.
In the District 5 congressional race, Ilhan Omar made history as the first African refugee in U.S. history to be nominated by a major party for a chance to serve in U.S. House of Representatives. And, the likelihood she will win in November is high as District 5 has been electing exclusively DFL candidates since 1962.
The attorney general’s race garnered much last-minute attention when the son of DFL candidate Keith Ellison’s ex-girlfriend, Karen Monahan, accused Ellison just days before the election of physically and verbally abusing his mother. Monahan has said the claims are true and that she has video proof; however, she has repeatedly declined media requests to release the evidence. Despite the accusation, Ellison secured the DFL nomination this past weekend.”
Below is an election outlook of who will be on the ballot come Nov. 8. Click here to follow our ongoing election news coverage and candidate profiles.
STATE RACES
Governor & Lt. Governor
DFL: Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan
Republican: Jeff Johnson (Endorsed) and Donna Bergstrom
Attorney General
DFL: Keith Ellison – Endorsed
Republican: Doug Wardlow– Endorsed
Secretary of State
DFL: Steve Simon – Incumbent, Endorsed
Republican: John Howe – Endorsed
State Auditor
DFL: Julie Blaha – Endorsed
Republican: Pam Myhra – Endorsed
Senate Class 1
DFL: Amy Klobuchar – Incumbent, Endorsed
Republican: Jim Newberger – Endorsed
Senate Class 2
DFL: Tina Smith – Incumbent, Endorsed
Republican: Karin Housley
Not listed: The 134 races for State House of Representatives. For a complete list of all 134 house seats for the major parties, visit dflhouse.com/candidates and mngop.com/state-house.
CONGRESSIONAL RACES
Congressional District 1
DFL: Dan Feehan – Endorsed
Republican: Jim Hagedorn – Endorsed
Congressional District 2
DFL: Angie Craig – Endorsed
Republican: Jason Lewis – Incumbent, Endorsed
Congressional District 3
DFL: Dean Phillips – Endorsed
Republican: Erik Paulsen – Incumbent, Endorsed
Congressional District 4
DFL: Reid Rossell
Republican: Greg Ryan – Endorsed
Congressional District 5
DFL: lhan Omar – Endorsed
Republican: Jennifer Zielinski – Endorsed
Congressional District 6
DFL: Ian Todd – Endorsed
Republican: Tom Emmer – Incumbent, Endorsed
Congressional District 7
DFL: Collin Peterson – Incumbent, Endorsed
Republican: David Hughes – Endorsed
Congressional District 8
DFL: Joe Radinovich
Republican: Pete Stauber – Endorsed
HENNEPIN COUNTY RACES
These seats are nonpartisan so the top two vote-getters in the primary move on to the general
election.
Hennepin County Sheriff
Dave “Hutch” Hutchinson – DFL-Endorsed
Rich Stanek – Incumbent
District 3 County Commissioner
Marion Greene – DFL-Endorsed
Ladonna Redmond
District 4 County Commissioner:
Angela Conley
Peter McLaughlin – Incumbent
County Attorney
Mike Freeman – Incumbent
Mark Haase – DFL-Endorsed
District 2 Candidates
Irene Fernando – DFL-Endorsed
Blong Yang
