2020 Minnesota Senate election

The 2020 Minnesota Senate election will be 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 coincides with the election of the other house of the Legislature, the House of Representatives, and other elections.

2020 Minnesota Senate election
November 3, 2020
All 67 seats in the Minnesota Senate
34 seats needed for a majority
 
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%
Current seats 35 32
Incumbent Majority Leader

Paul Gazelka
Republican
Elections in Minnesota

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]

Electoral system

The 67 members of the Senate will 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 file 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.[3]

Retiring members

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.[8][9]

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,[10] Star Tribune[11]

Candidates
District Incumbent Candidates[12]
Name Party First
elected		 Name Party
1 Mark Johnson Republican 2016 Mark Johnson Republican
Reed Perkins DFL
2 Paul Utke Republican 2016 Paul Utke Republican
Leonard Alan Roy DFL
3 Tom Bakk DFL 2002 Christopher Hogan Republican
Tom Bakk DFL
4 Kent Eken DFL 2012 Mark Larson Republican
Kent Eken DFL
5 Justin Eichorn Republican 2016 Robyn Smith LMN
Dennis Barsness Grassroots
Justin Eichorn Republican
Rita Albrecht DFL
6 David Tomassoni DFL 2000 John Moren Republican
David Tomassoni DFL
7 Erik Simonson DFL 2016 Donna Bergstrom Republican
Jen McEwen DFL
8 Bill Ingebrigtsen Republican 2006 Bill Ingebrigtsen Republican
Michele Anderson DFL
9 Paul Gazelka Republican 2010 Paul Gazelka Republican
A. John Peters DFL
10 Carrie Ruud Republican 2002[nb 1] Carrie Ruud Republican
Steve Samuelson DFL
11 Jason Rarick Republican 2019[nb 2] Jason Rarick Republican
Michelle Lee DFL
12 Torrey Westrom Republican 2012 Torrey Westrom Republican
Jill Abahsain DFL
13 Jeff Howe Republican 2018[nb 2] Jeff Howe Republican
Michael Willemsen DFL
14 Jerry Relph Republican 2016 Jaden Partlow LMN
Jerry Relph Republican
Aric Putnam DFL
15 Andrew Mathews Republican 2016 Andrew Mathews Republican
Brent Krist DFL
16 Gary Dahms Republican 2010 Steve Preslicka LMN
Gary Dahms Republican
Joshua Prine IA
17 Andrew Lang Republican 2016 Andrew Lang Republican
Fernando Alvarado DFL
18 Scott Newman Republican 2010 Scott Newman Republican
Chad Tschimperle DFL
19 Nick Frentz DFL 2016 Elizabeth Bangert Republican
Nick Frentz DFL
20 Rich Draheim Republican 2016 Jason Hoschette Grassroots
Rich Draheim Republican
Jon Olson DFL
21 Mike Goggin Republican 2016 Mike Goggin Republican
Ralph Kaehler DFL
22 Bill Weber Republican 2012 Brian Abrahamson Grassroots
Bill Weber Republican
Shawna Marshall DFL
23 Julie Rosen Republican 2002 David Pulkrabek LMN
Julie Rosen Republican
24 John Jasinski Republican 2016 John Jasinski Republican
Roger Steinkamp DFL
25 Dave Senjem Republican 2002 Dave Senjem Republican
Sara Flick DFL
26 Carla Nelson Republican 2010 Carla Nelson Republican
Aleta Borrud DFL
27 Dan Sparks DFL 2002 Tyler Becvar LMN
Gene Dornink Republican
Dan Sparks DFL
28 Jeremy Miller Republican 2010 Jeremy Miller Republican
Sarah Kruger DFL
29 Bruce Anderson Republican 2012 Mary Murphy Grassroots
Bruce Anderson Republican
Chris Brazelton DFL
30 Mary Kiffmeyer Republican 2012 Mary Kiffmeyer Republican
Diane Nguyen DFL
31 Michelle Benson Republican 2010 Michelle Benson Republican
Kate Luthner DFL
32 Mark Koran Republican 2016 Mark Koran Republican
Joshua Fike DFL
33 David Osmek Republican 2012 David Osmek Republican
Gretchen Piper DFL
34 Warren Limmer Republican 1995[nb 2] Warren Limmer Republican
Bonnie Westlin DFL
35 Jim Abeler Republican 2016[nb 2] Jim Abeler Republican
David Nelson DFL
36 John Hoffman DFL 2012 Karen Attia Republican
John Hoffman DFL
37 Jerry Newton DFL 2016 Brad Sanford Republican
Jerry Newton DFL
38 Roger Chamberlain Republican 2010 Roger Chamberlain Republican
Justin Stofferahn DFL
39 Karin Housley Republican 2012 Karin Housley Republican
Josiah Hill DFL
40 Chris Eaton DFL 2011[nb 2] Robert Marvin Republican
Chris Eaton DFL
41 Carolyn Laine[nb 3] DFL 2016 Lucia Marina Vogel Republican
Mary Kunesh-Podein DFL
42 Jason Isaacson DFL 2016 Ben Schwanke Republican
Jason Isaacson DFL
43 Chuck Wiger DFL 1996 Doug Daubenspeck Grassroots
Bob Zick Republican
Chuck Wiger DFL
44 Paul Anderson[nb 3] Republican 2016 Greg Pulles Republican
Ann Johnson Stewart DFL
45 Ann Rest DFL 2000 Andy Schuler LMN
Roxana Bruins Republican
Ann Rest DFL
46 Ron Latz DFL 2006 Bryan Björnson Republican
Ron Latz DFL
47 Scott Jensen[nb 3] Republican 2016 Julia Coleman Republican
Addie Miller DFL
48 Steve Cwodzinski DFL 2016 Jeff Jiang Republican
Steve Cwodzinski DFL
49 Melisa Franzen DFL 2012 Julie Dupré Republican
Melisa Franzen DFL
50 Melissa Halvorson Wiklund DFL 2012 Dean Mumbleau Republican
Melissa Halvorson Wiklund DFL
51 Jim Carlson DFL 2006[nb 4] Doug Willetts Republican
Jim Carlson DFL
52 Matt Klein DFL 2016 Tomas Settell Republican
Matt Klein DFL
53 Susan Kent DFL 2012 Mary Giuliani Stephens Republican
Susan Kent DFL
54 Karla Bigham DFL 2018[nb 2] Leilani Holmstadt Republican
Karla Bigham DFL
55 Eric Pratt Republican 2012 Eric Pratt Republican
Sahra Odowa DFL
56 Dan Hall Republican 2010 Dan Hall Republican
Lindsey Port DFL
57 Greg Clausen DFL 2012 Jose Jimenez Republican
Greg Clausen DFL
58 Matt Little DFL 2016 Zach Duckworth Republican
Matt Little DFL
59 Bobby Joe Champion DFL 2012 Paul Anderson Republican
Bobby Joe Champion DFL
60 Kari Dziedzic DFL 2012[nb 2] Mary Holmberg Republican
Kari Dziedzic DFL
61 Scott Dibble DFL 2002 Jennifer Zielinski Republican
Scott Dibble DFL
62 Jeff Hayden DFL 2011[nb 2] Bruce Lundeen Republican
Omar Fateh DFL
63 Patricia Torres Ray DFL 2006 Chris Wright Grassroots
Diane Napper Republican
Patricia Torres Ray DFL
64 Dick Cohen[nb 3] DFL 1986 Patricia Jirovec McArdell LMN
Sharon Anderson Republican
Erin Murphy DFL
65 Sandy Pappas DFL 1990 Paul Holmgren Republican
Sandy Pappas DFL
66 John Marty DFL 1986 Greg Copeland Republican
John Marty DFL
67 Foung Hawj DFL 2012 Alexander Deputie Republican
Foung Hawj DFL

See also

Notes
  1. Lost re-election in 2006. Elected again in 2012.
  2. Elected in a special election.[13]
  3. Retiring; not seeking re-election.
  4. 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. "Candidate Filing Periods". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. "State Sen. Carolyn Laine will retire from the Legislature this year". ABC Newspapers. Adams Publishing Group. January 10, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  7. 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.
  8. Johnson, Brooks (August 12, 2020). "Jen McEwen beats incumbent Erik Simonson in DFL primary for Duluth Senate seat". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  9. Van Oot, Torey; Condon, Patrick (August 12, 2020). "Progressives shake up DFL incumbents in Minnesota". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  10. "Results for All State Senate Races". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  11. "2020 Minnesota primary election results". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  12. "Candidate Filings". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  13. "Party Control of the Minnesota Senate, 1951-present". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
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