2014 Minnesota elections
A general election was held in the U.S. state of Minnesota on November 4, 2014. All of Minnesota's executive officers were up for election as well as all the seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives, several state judicial seats, a United States Senate seat, all of Minnesota's eight seats in the United States House of Representatives, and several seats for local offices. A primary election was held on August 12, 2014, to nominate major political party candidates for partisan offices and candidates for nonpartisan offices.
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Elections in Minnesota | ||||||||||
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State executive elections
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State elections
Governor
Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor Governor Mark Dayton sought re-election. Other candidates included Republican Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson,[1] Hannah Nicollet of the Independence Party,[2] Chris Wright of the Grassroots Party, and Libertarian Chris Holbrook.[3] Republicans Merrill Anderson, Scott Honour, former state House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, former state House Speaker Kurt Zellers, and Democrats Bill Dahn and Leslie Davis were defeated in the primary election.[4][5] Republicans St. Louis County Commissioner Rob Farnsworth and state Senator Dave Thompson withdrew after failing to win their party's endorsement at the Republican state convention.[6] Dayton was re-elected to a second term.
Attorney General
Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor Attorney General Lori Swanson sought re-election.[7] Other candidates included Republican state Senator Scott Newman,[8] Brandan Borgos of the Independence Party,[9] Libertarian Mary O'Connor, former DFL state Representative Andy Dawkins of the Green Party,[10] and Dan Vacek running under the label "Legal Marijuana Now."[3] Republican Sharon Anderson was defeated in the primary election.[11] Swanson was re-elected to a third term.
Secretary of State
Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor Secretary of State Mark Ritchie announced on June 4, 2013, that he would not seek re-election.[12] Candidates that sought election include DFL state Representative Steve Simon,[13] former Republican state Representative Dan Severson,[14] Bob Helland of the Independence Party,[15] and Libertarian Bob Odden.[3] Democrats Dick Franson and Gregg Iverson, and David Singleton of the Independence Party were defeated in the primary election.[16] Democrats Rachel Bohman[17] and former state Representative Jeremy Kalin[18] withdrew in 2013 several months following their announcements. Republican Dennis Nguyen withdrew in mid-March 2014 following reports of an alleged strip club visit.[19] DFL state Representative Debra Hilstrom[20] and former Republican state Senator John Howe[21] withdrew after failing to win their party's endorsement at their party's state convention. Simon was elected.
State Auditor
Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor State Auditor Rebecca Otto announced on August 20, 2013, that she would seek re-election.[7] Other candidates included Republican Randy Gilbert,[22] Pat Dean of the Independence Party,[15] Judith Schwartzbacker of the Grassroots Party, and Libertarian Keegan Iversen.[3] Former DFL state House Minority Leader Matt Entenza was defeated in the primary election.[23] Otto was re-elected to a third term.
Minnesota House of Representatives
All 134 seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives were up for election. The Republican Party of Minnesota won a majority of seats.
Judiciary
Minnesota Supreme Court justices Wilhelmina Wright and David Lillehaug sought election to six-year terms following their respective appointments in 2012 and 2013 by Governor Mark Dayton. Several seats on the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Minnesota District Courts were up for election as well.[24] Both Wright and Lillehaug were elected.
Federal elections
United States Senate
Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor Senator Al Franken sought re-election. Other candidates included Republican Mike McFadden,[25] Steve Carlson of the Independence Party,[26] and Libertarian Heather Johnson.[27] Republicans state Representative Jim Abeler,[28] David Carlson, Patrick Munro, and Ole Savior; Democrat Sandra Henningsgard; and Tom Books, Jack Shepard, Kevin Terrell,[26] and Stephen Williams of the Independence Party were defeated in the primary election.[29] Republicans Chris Dahlberg,[30] Monti Moreno,[31] state Senator Julianne Ortman,[32] and Phillip Parrish[33] withdrew after failing to win their party's endorsement at the Republican state convention. Franken was re-elected to a second term.
United States House of Representatives
All of Minnesota's eight seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election. No political party gained or lost seats.
References
- Meersman, Tom (May 5, 2013). "Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson announces he will seek GOP nomination for governor". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- Cox, Peter (May 18, 2014). "Full Independence Party slate set for November elections". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- "2014 State General Election Candidate Filings, Executive Offices". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- "Statewide Results for Governor & Lt Governor, Primary Election". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- Condon, Patrick (August 13, 2014). "Jeff Johnson is GOP pick to challenge Gov. Dayton". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- Carlson, Heather J. (May 31, 2014). "Republicans endorse Johnson for governor". Post-Bulletin. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- Stassen-Berger, Rachel E. (August 20, 2013). "State Auditor Rebecca Otto to run for a third term". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- Bierschbach, Briana (May 29, 2014). "GOP Sen. Scott Newman jumps into race for Minnesota Attorney General". MinnPost. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
- Condon, Patrick (June 3, 2014). "Race for Minnesota attorney general gets crowded". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
- Grow, Doug (June 2, 2014). "St. Paul DFLer Andy Dawkins announces Green Party bid for Minnesota attorney general". MinnPost. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
- "Statewide Results for Attorney General, Primary Election". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- Pugmire, Tim (June 4, 2013). "Secretary of State Ritchie won't run again in 2014". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- Scheck, Tom (August 6, 2013). "Democrat Simon says he's running for secretary of state". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
- Sommerhauser, Mark (March 27, 2014). "Severson plans second run at Secretary of State seat". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- Kimball, Joe (May 19, 2014). "Independence Party endorses Nicollet for governor; Terrell for U.S. Senate". MinnPost. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- "Statewide Results for Secretary of State, Primary Election". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- Stassen-Berger, Rachel E. (August 2, 2013). "First in, first out. DFL Secretary of State candidate ends her campaign". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
- Kimball, Joe (October 7, 2013). "Former state Rep. Jeremy Kalin withdraws from secretary of state race". MinnPost. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
- Carlson, Heather J. (March 11, 2014). "Candidate drops out of race after alleged strip club visit with Rochester lawmaker". Post-Bulletin. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- "DFLers endorse Dayton, Franken for 2nd terms". Associated Press. June 2, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- Salisbury, Bill (June 5, 2014). "John Howe withdraws from Minnesota secretary of state race". Pioneer Press. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- Brucato, Cyndy (April 11, 2013). "Randy Gilbert gets out early in GOP bid for state auditor". MinnPost. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
- Grow, Doug (August 13, 2014). "Otto trounces Entenza in auditor race". MinnPost. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- "2014 State General Election Candidate Filings, Judicial Offices". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
- Henry, Devin (May 29, 2013). "Businessman Mike McFadden to challenge Al Franken". MinnPost. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
- Scheck, Tom (August 14, 2014). "Voters pick for Independence Party Senate candidate throws party into disarray". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- "2014 State General Election Candidate Filings, U.S. Senate". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
- Sherry, Allison and Ricardo Lopez (August 13, 2014). "Political newcomer McFadden wins big in GOP Senate primary". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- "Statewide Results for U.S. Senator, Primary Election". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- Condon, Patrick (June 1, 2014). "State GOP endorses investment banker McFadden as Franken challenger". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
- Simons, Abby (May 30, 2014). "Second ballot: Abeler, Moreno out, Dahlberg retains lead". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
- Brucato, Cyndy (May 31, 2014). "McFadden wins Minnesota GOP U.S. Senate endorsement on 10th ballot". MinnPost. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
- Hudson, Matt (June 11, 2014). "Parrish: Senate campaign a success". Owatonna People's Press. Retrieved June 27, 2014.