2020 Minnesota Senate election

The 2020 Minnesota Senate election was held in the U.S. state of Minnesota on November 3, 2020, to elect members to the Senate of the 92nd Minnesota Legislature. A primary election was held in several districts on August 11, 2020. The election coincided with the election of the other house of the Legislature, the House of Representatives, and other elections.

Not to be confused with 2020 United States Senate election in Minnesota.

2020 Minnesota State Senate election
November 3, 2020
All 67 seats in the Minnesota Senate
34 seats needed for a majority
Turnout79.98% Increase 5.26 pp
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Paul Gazelka Susan Kent
Party Republican Democratic (DFL)
Leader since November 10, 2016 February 1, 2020
Leader's seat 9th–Nisswa 53rd–Woodbury
Last election 34 seats, 48.96% 33 seats, 50.12%
Seats before 35 32
Seats won 34 33
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 1
Popular vote 1,532,446 1,577,523
Percentage 48.39% 49.82%
Swing Decrease0.57 pp Decrease0.30 pp
Majority Leader before election

Paul Gazelka
Republican

 Elected Majority Leader

Paul Gazelka
Republican

Elections in Minnesota
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Secretary of State elections
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Attorney General elections
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Ballot questions
2012
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Background

The last election in 2016 resulted in the Republican Party of Minnesota winning a majority of seats, after losing a majority to the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) only four years earlier in the previous election in 2012. In conjunction with the result of the House election, it also resulted in the return of all-Republican control of the Legislature for the first time since 2012 and only the second time Republicans have had majorities in both houses since the return of partisan elections to the Senate in 1976. Control of the Senate has alternated between the Republicans and the DFL every election since 2010. All-Republican control of the Legislature ended when the DFL won a majority in the House in 2018.

A special election was held for District 11 on February 5, 2019, as a result of the resignation of incumbent DFL Senator Tony Lourey after he was selected to be the next commissioner of human services by Governor-elect Tim Walz in early January 2019.[1] Republican State Representative Jason Rarick won the special election, increasing the Republican majority to 35 seats.[2]

In October 2020, The Washington Post identified this state election as one of eight whose outcomes could affect partisan balance during post-census redistricting.[3]

Electoral system

The 67 members of the Senate were elected from single-member districts via first-past-the-post voting for two-year terms. Contested nominations of recognized major parties (DFL, Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis, Legal Marijuana Now, and Republican) for each district were determined by an open primary election. Minor party candidates were nominated by petition. Write-in candidates must have filed a request with the secretary of state's office for votes for them to be counted. The filing period was from May 19 to June 2, 2020.[4]

Retiring members
Retiring incumbents (light red and light blue) by district.

Republican

DFL

Primary elections results

A primary election was held on August 11 in 16 districts to nominate Republican and DFL candidates. Four Republican nominations and 13 DFL nominations were contested. Nine incumbents were opposed for their party's nomination. DFL incumbents Erik Simonson in District 7 and Jeff Hayden in District 62 were not renominated.[9][10]

District Party Candidates Votes %
6 Republican John Moren 3,569 100.00
DFL David Tomassoni 6,519 86.41
Christopher Horoshak 1,025 13.59
7 Republican Donna Bergstrom 2,129 100.00
DFL Jen McEwen 8,603 73.54
Erik Simonson 3,095 26.46
9 Republican Paul Gazelka 5,822 83.49
Richard Dahl 1,151 16.51
DFL A. John Peters 2,759 100.00
10 Republican Carrie Ruud 5,558 82.50
Shaun Christian Hansen 1,179 17.50
DFL Steve Samuelson 4,869 100.00
22 Grassroots Brian Abrahamson 44 100.00
Republican Bill Weber 4,406 100.00
DFL Shawna Marshall 1,897 76.06
Roger Elgersma 597 23.94
34 Republican Warren Limmer 3,875 100.00
DFL Bonnie Westlin 5,810 71.81
Aarica Coleman 2,281 28.19
39 Republican Karin Housley 3,213 100.00
DFL Josiah Hill 7,188 86.94
Brian Hile 1,080 13.06
43 Grassroots Doug Daubenspeck 81 100.00
Republican Bob Zick 2,352 100.00
DFL Chuck Wiger 6,051 69.67
Natasha Lapcinski 2,634 30.33
44 Republican Greg Pulles 3,946 100.00
DFL Ann Johnson Stewart 9,672 76.59
Zina Alston Fizer 2,956 23.41
47 Republican Julia Coleman 4,586 63.52
Tom Funk 2,634 36.48
DFL Addie Miller 5,105 86.97
Bala Chintaginjala 765 13.03
49 Republican Julie Dupré 2,581 62.78
Jenny Rhoades 1,530 37.22
DFL Melisa Franzen 14,895 100.00
53 Republican Mary Giuliani Stephens 2,889 100.00
DFL Susan Kent 6,418 66.63
Marquita Stephens 3,214 33.37
56 Republican Dan Hall 3,090 100.00
DFL Lindsey Port 4,669 66.70
Kevin Shea 1,925 27.50
Richard Tucker 406 5.80
59 Republican Paul Anderson 841 100.00
DFL Bobby Joe Champion 11,639 77.07
Suleiman Isse 3,463 22.93
62 Republican Bruce Lundeen 443 100.00
DFL Omar Fateh 11,109 54.86
Jeff Hayden 9,140 45.14
65 Republican Paul Holmgren 902 100.00
DFL Sandy Pappas 7,484 63.67
Laverne McCartney Knighton 4,270 36.33
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State[11]

Predictions
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[12] Tossup October 21, 2020

Results
Districts won
Party Candidates Votes Seats
No. % +/− No. +/− %
Republican Party of Minnesota 67 1,532,446 48.39 –0.57 34 –1 50.75
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party 65 1,577,523 49.82 –0.30 33 +1 49.25
Legal Marijuana Now Party 7 29,841 0.94 +0.62 0 0 0.00
Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party 6 17,291 0.55 +0.55 0 0 0.00
Independence–Alliance Party of Minnesota 1 5,654 0.18 +0.07 0 0 0.00
Write-in N/A 3,835 0.12 –0.09 0 0 0.00
Total 3,166,590 100.00 ±0.00 67 ±0 100.00
Invalid/blank votes 127,190 3.86 –1.38
Total 3,293,780 100.00 ±0
Registered voters/Turnout[13] 4,118,462 79.98 +5.26
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State,[14] Star Tribune[15]

Close races

Districts where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. District 14, 0.8% (gain)
  2. District 34, 1.56%
  3. District 26, 1.76%
  4. District 25, 2.53%
  5. District 27, 4.5% (gain)
  6. District 38, 4.15%
  7. District 37, 4.25%
  8. District 54, 5.83%
  9. District 39, 6.02%
  10. District 56, 6.12% (gain)
  11. District 33, 8%
  12. District 53, 8.26%
  13. District 58, 9.08% (gain)
  14. District 4, 9.16%
  15. District 3, 9.51%

District results
District Incumbent Candidates[16]
Name Party First
elected		 Name Party Votes % Winner
Party
1 Mark Johnson Republican 2016 Mark Johnson Republican 27,972 69.63 Republican
Reed Perkins DFL 12,162 30.28
2 Paul Utke Republican 2016 Paul Utke Republican 28,951 65.11 Republican
Alan Roy DFL 15,458 34.76
3 Tom Bakk DFL 2002 Tom Bakk DFL 26,700 55.19 DFL
Christopher Hogan Republican 21,613 44.68
4 Kent Eken DFL 2012 Kent Eken DFL 23,333 54.53 DFL
Mark Larson Republican 19,415 45.37
5 Justin Eichorn Republican 2016 Justin Eichorn Republican 25,169 55.59 Republican
Rita Albrecht DFL 16,706 36.89
Robyn Smith LMN 2,400 5.30
Dennis Barsness Grassroots 967 2.14
6 David Tomassoni DFL 2000 David Tomassoni DFL 25,557 57.04 DFL
John Moren Republican 19,191 42.83
7 Erik Simonson[lower-alpha 1] DFL 2016 Jen McEwen DFL 30,526 68.32 DFL
Donna Bergstrom Republican 14,081 31.51
8 Bill Ingebrigtsen Republican 2006 Bill Ingebrigtsen Republican 33,625 67.69 Republican
Michele Anderson DFL 15,997 32.20
9 Paul Gazelka Republican 2010 Paul Gazelka Republican 33,472 75.60 Republican
A. John Peters DFL 10,765 24.31
10 Carrie Ruud Republican 2002[lower-alpha 2] Carrie Ruud Republican 33,027 67.55 Republican
Steve Samuelson DFL 15,828 32.37
11 Jason Rarick Republican 2019[lower-alpha 3] Jason Rarick Republican 24,498 56.58 Republican
Michelle Lee DFL 18,761 43.33
12 Torrey Westrom Republican 2012 Torrey Westrom Republican 33,442 74.42 Republican
Jill Abahsain DFL 11,467 25.52
13 Jeff Howe Republican 2018[lower-alpha 3] Jeff Howe Republican 32,623 69.43 Republican
Michael Willemsen DFL 14,306 30.45
14 Jerry Relph Republican 2016 Aric Putnam DFL 18,318 46.39 DFL
Jerry Relph Republican 18,002 45.59
Jaden Partlow LMN 3,127 7.92
15 Andrew Mathews Republican 2016 Andrew Mathews Republican 33,886 72.25 Republican
Brent Krist DFL 12,957 27.63
16 Gary Dahms Republican 2010 Gary Dahms Republican 29,696 73.64 Republican
Joshua Prine IA 5,654 14.02
Steve Preslicka LMN 4,880 12.10
17 Andrew Lang Republican 2016 Andrew Lang Republican 28,337 67.86 Republican
Fernando Alvarado DFL 13,383 32.05
18 Scott Newman Republican 2010 Scott Newman Republican 31,357 71.35 Republican
Chad Tschimperle DFL 12,538 28.53
19 Nick Frentz DFL 2016 Nick Frentz DFL 26,165 59.82 DFL
Elizabeth Bangert Republican 17,504 40.02
20 Rich Draheim Republican 2016 Rich Draheim Republican 26,523 54.24 Republican
Jon Olson DFL 19,431 39.73
Jason Hoschette Grassroots 2,901 5.93
21 Mike Goggin Republican 2016 Mike Goggin Republican 27,981 59.67 Republican
Ralph Kaehler DFL 18,871 40.25
22 Bill Weber Republican 2012 Bill Weber Republican 26,697 69.17 Republican
Shawna Marshall DFL 9,936 25.74
Brian Abrahamson Grassroots 1,947 5.04
23 Julie Rosen Republican 2002 Julie Rosen Republican 32,533 78.66 Republican
David Pulkrabek LMN 8,730 21.11
24 John Jasinski Republican 2016 John Jasinski Republican 25,943 63.66 Republican
Roger Steinkamp DFL 14,756 36.21
25 Dave Senjem Republican 2002 Dave Senjem Republican 25,021 51.21 Republican
Sara Flick DFL 23,783 48.68
26 Carla Nelson Republican 2010 Carla Nelson Republican 24,740 50.86 Republican
Aleta Borrud DFL 23,831 48.99
27 Dan Sparks DFL 2002 Gene Dornink Republican 19,759 48.87 Republican
Dan Sparks DFL 17,941 44.37
Tyler Becvar LMN 2,699 6.68
28 Jeremy Miller Republican 2010 Jeremy Miller Republican 24,811 57.66 Republican
Sarah Kruger DFL 18,171 42.23
29 Bruce Anderson Republican 2012 Bruce Anderson Republican 30,405 63.23 Republican
Chris Brazelton DFL 13,572 28.23
Mary Murphy Grassroots 4,066 8.46
30 Mary Kiffmeyer Republican 2012 Mary Kiffmeyer Republican 34,714 67.25 Republican
Diane Nguyen DFL 16,861 32.66
31 Michelle Benson Republican 2010 Michelle Benson Republican 35,980 70.57 Republican
Kate Luthner DFL 14,962 29.34
32 Mark Koran Republican 2016 Mark Koran Republican 32,493 66.35 Republican
Joshua Fike DFL 16,412 33.51
33 David Osmek Republican 2012 David Osmek Republican 31,614 53.97 Republican
Gretchen Piper DFL 26,928 45.97
34 Warren Limmer Republican 1995[lower-alpha 3] Warren Limmer Republican 29,347 50.74 Republican
Bonnie Westlin DFL 28,443 49.18
35 Jim Abeler Republican 2016[lower-alpha 3] Jim Abeler Republican 31,291 62.63 Republican
David Nelson DFL 18,622 37.27
36 John Hoffman DFL 2012 John Hoffman DFL 27,580 56.33 DFL
Karen Attia Republican 21,319 43.55
37 Jerry Newton DFL 2016 Jerry Newton DFL 26,100 52.38 DFL
Brad Sanford Republican 23,659 47.48
38 Roger Chamberlain Republican 2010 Roger Chamberlain Republican 28,041 52.08 Republican
Justin Stofferahn DFL 25,755 47.83
39 Karin Housley Republican 2012 Karin Housley Republican 29,246 52.97 Republican
Josiah Hill DFL 25,921 46.95
40 Chris Eaton DFL 2011[lower-alpha 3] Chris Eaton DFL 24,291 71.46 DFL
Robert Marvin Republican 9,647 28.38
41 Carolyn Laine[lower-alpha 4] DFL 2016 Mary Kunesh-Podein DFL 29,967 66.85 DFL
Lucia Vogel Republican 14,791 32.99
42 Jason Isaacson DFL 2016 Jason Isaacson DFL 29,645 58.71 DFL
Ben Schwanke Republican 20,771 41.14
43 Chuck Wiger DFL 1996 Chuck Wiger DFL 26,345 56.20 DFL
Bob Zick Republican 16,520 35.24
Doug Daubenspeck Grassroots 3,950 8.43
44 Paul Anderson[lower-alpha 4] Republican 2016 Ann Johnson Stewart DFL 33,855 58.74 DFL
Greg Pulles Republican 23,756 41.22
45 Ann Rest DFL 2000 Ann Rest DFL 29,054 60.70 DFL
Roxana Bruins Republican 14,040 29.33
Andy Schuler LMN 4,729 9.88
46 Ron Latz DFL 2006 Ron Latz DFL 37,972 72.72 DFL
Bryan Björnson Republican 14,189 27.17
47 Scott Jensen[lower-alpha 4] Republican 2016 Julia Coleman Republican 32,366 57.63 Republican
Addie Miller DFL 23,728 42.25
48 Steve Cwodzinski DFL 2016 Steve Cwodzinski DFL 29,985 58.15 DFL
Jeff Jiang Republican 21,558 41.81
49 Melisa Franzen DFL 2012 Melisa Franzen DFL 36,149 62.77 DFL
Julie Dupré Republican 21,403 37.16
50 Melissa Wiklund DFL 2012 Melissa Wiklund DFL 30,516 66.62 DFL
Dean Mumbleau Republican 15,243 33.28
51 Jim Carlson DFL 2006[lower-alpha 5] Jim Carlson DFL 30,719 61.23 DFL
Doug Willetts Republican 19,389 38.65
52 Matt Klein DFL 2016 Matt Klein DFL 29,730 60.58 DFL
Tomas Settell Republican 19,291 39.31
53 Susan Kent DFL 2012 Susan Kent DFL 29,538 54.08 DFL
Mary Giuliani Stephens Republican 25,024 45.82
54 Karla Bigham DFL 2018[lower-alpha 3] Karla Bigham DFL 25,530 52.85 DFL
Leilani Holmstadt Republican 22,712 47.02
55 Eric Pratt Republican 2012 Eric Pratt Republican 31,082 61.61 Republican
Sahra Odowa DFL 19,322 38.30
56 Dan Hall Republican 2010 Lindsey Port DFL 26,071 53.01 DFL
Dan Hall Republican 23,061 46.89
57 Greg Clausen DFL 2012 Greg Clausen DFL 30,897 56.41 DFL
Jose Jimenez Republican 23,825 43.50
58 Matt Little DFL 2016 Zach Duckworth Republican 29,020 55.01 Republican
Matt Little DFL 23,701 44.93
59 Bobby Joe Champion DFL 2012 Bobby Joe Champion DFL 33,810 82.06 DFL
Paul Anderson Republican 7,300 17.72
60 Kari Dziedzic DFL 2012[lower-alpha 3] Kari Dziedzic DFL 37,488 85.73 DFL
Mary Holmberg Republican 6,171 14.11
61 Scott Dibble DFL 2002 Scott Dibble DFL 49,050 84.78 DFL
Jennifer Zielinski Republican 8,727 15.08
62 Jeff Hayden[lower-alpha 1] DFL 2011[lower-alpha 3] Omar Fateh DFL 33,103 88.99 DFL
Bruce Lundeen Republican 3,947 10.61
63 Patricia Torres Ray DFL 2006 Patricia Torres Ray DFL 40,742 77.64 DFL
Diane Napper Republican 8,231 15.69
Chris Wright Grassroots 3,460 6.59
64 Dick Cohen[lower-alpha 4] DFL 1986 Erin Murphy DFL 40,174 78.68 DFL
Sharon Anderson Republican 7,471 14.63
Patti McArdell LMN 3,276 6.42
65 Sandy Pappas DFL 1990 Sandy Pappas DFL 31,463 81.47 DFL
Paul Holmgren Republican 7,044 18.24
66 John Marty DFL 1986 John Marty DFL 31,867 76.90 DFL
Greg Copeland Republican 9,482 22.88
67 Foung Hawj DFL 2012 Foung Hawj DFL 24,008 73.86 DFL
Alexander Deputie Republican 8,407 25.86

Seats changing parties
Seat gains and holds by party
Party Incumbent District First
elected		 Winner Party
Republican Jerry Relph 14 2016 Aric Putnam DFL
Paul Anderson[lower-alpha 4] 44 2016 Ann Johnson Stewart DFL
Dan Hall 56 2010 Lindsey Port DFL
DFL Dan Sparks 27 2002 Gene Dornink Republican
Matt Little 58 2016 Zach Duckworth Republican

Post-election changes

On November 18, 2020, longtime DFL senators Thomas M. Bakk and David Tomassoni announced they would be leaving the DFL party and form their own "Independent Caucus" in the state senate.[18] Majority Leader Paul Gazelka welcomed the move and promised to give both senators chairmanships on "prominent committees". This changes the senate composition to 34 Republicans, 31 Democrats, and two independents.

See also

Notes
  1. Lost primary election for party's nomination.
  2. Lost re-election in 2006. Elected again in 2012.
  3. Elected in a special election.[17]
  4. Retiring; not seeking re-election.
  5. Lost re-election 2010. Elected again in 2012.

References
  1. Coolican, J. Patrick (January 3, 2019). "Gov.-elect Tim Walz names seven new commissioners, including state Sen. Tony Lourey". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  2. Van Oot, Torey (February 6, 2019). "Republican Jason Rarick wins Minnesota Senate seat vacated by Democrat". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  3. Phillips, Amber (October 2, 2020). "The state legislative battles to watch in 2020". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  4. "Candidate Filing Periods". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  5. Turtinen, Melissa (February 14, 2020). "Sen. Paul Anderson won't seek re-election for Senate District 44". Lakeshore Weekly News. MediaNews Group. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  6. Olson, Mark (July 22, 2019). "State. Sen. Scott Jensen won't seek re-election to District 47". Chaska Herald. Big Fish Works. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  7. "State Sen. Carolyn Laine will retire from the Legislature this year". ABC Newspapers. Adams Publishing Group. January 10, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  8. Van Oot, Torey (November 18, 2019). "Longtime DFL Sen. Dick Cohen of St. Paul won't run for re-election in 2020". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  9. Johnson, Brooks (August 12, 2020). "Jen McEwen beats incumbent Erik Simonson in DFL primary for Duluth Senate seat". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  10. Van Oot, Torey; Condon, Patrick (August 12, 2020). "Progressives shake up DFL incumbents in Minnesota". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  11. "Results for All State Senate Races". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  12. "October Overview: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  13. "Statewide Reporting Statistics". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  14. "Results for All State Senate Races". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  15. "Minnesota election results 2020". Star Tribune. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  16. "Candidate Filings". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  17. "Party Control of the Minnesota Senate, 1951-present". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  18. Hauser, Tom; Maher, Tracy (November 18, 2020). "Longtime Minnesota senators quit DFL caucus to form Independent Caucus". KSTP-TV. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020.

Further reading
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