The DFL has held both of Minnesota's
U.S. Senate seats since 2009 when
Al Franken defeated Republican incumbent
Norm Coleman after a protracted recount following the
2008 election.
Lieutenant GovernorTina Smith was appointed in January 2018 to replace Franken after he resigned following sexual harassment allegations. The DFL has held Minnesota's other U.S. Senate seat since 2001, when
Mark Dayton defeated Republican incumbent
Rod Grams in
2000. Dayton did not seek re-election in the
2006 election and was succeeded by
Amy Klobuchar in 2007.
The Republican and DFL parties held caucuses on February 6, 2018, in which eligible voters elected delegates that subsequently endorsed candidates at conventions held later in the year. Both parties also held a nonbinding preference ballot for governor.[1]
Electoral system
Elections for state and federal offices were held via
first-past-the-post voting, each producing a single winner. Nominations for parties with major party status, the Republican and DFL parties, were determined by an
open primary election. The candidate that won the most votes in each party became their party's nominee in the general election. If only a single candidate sought the nomination for each party, those candidates were automatically nominated and a primary election for that office was not held. Candidates for major parties had automatic ballot access. Candidates for other parties and independents were nominated by petition.
Judicial and local elections were held via the
nonpartisan blanket primary. The top-two candidates that won the most votes in the primary election advanced to the general election. If not more than two candidates sought election to the same office, a primary election was not held. In multiple-winner elections, the top number of candidates that won the most votes in the primary election that were twice the number of candidates to be elected advanced to the general election. If not more than twice the number of candidates to be elected sought election, a primary election was not held. Some cities, school districts, and all townships and hospital districts did not hold a primary election, regardless of the number of candidates. Judicial and local elections were nonpartisan.
The candidate filing period was from May 22 through June 5, 2018. The filing period for cities, townships, school districts, and hospital districts that do not hold a primary election was from July 31 through August 14, 2018.[2]
Incumbent
DFLattorney generalLori Swanson announced on January 28, 2018, that she would seek re-election.[15] On June 4, 2018, Swanson announced that she would not seek re-election and instead seek election to be governor.[8]
A special election was held for District 13 in the
Minnesota Senate. The special election determined which political party would control the Senate as the vacancy to be filled left the Senate equally divided between the
Republicans and the
DFL.
Jeff Howe, the Republican nominee, won the special election, preserving a one-seat Republican majority.
All 134 seats in the
Minnesota House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. The
Republicans held a majority of 77 seats and the
DFL held 57 seats prior to the election. The DFL won a majority of 75 seats and the Republicans won 59 seats, ending a four-year Republican majority.
Justice Chutich faced a challenge from conservative Michelle MacDonald, whom she beat 55.9% to 43.7%. Court of Appeals Justice Lucinda Ellen Jesson faced a challenge from human-rights lawyer Anthony L. Brown, whom she defeated 62.7% to 37.0%.
County Results for Chutich v. MacDonald.
Congressional District Results for Chutich v. MacDonald Chutich: 50–60% 60–70% MacDonald: 50–60%
County Results for Jesson v. Brown Jesson: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Congressional District Results for Jesson v. Brown Jesson: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Smith sought election to the seat in the
special election held alongside the general election to serve the remainder of Franken's term, expiring on January 3, 2021.
State SenatorKarin Housley was the
Republican nominee.[24] Other candidates included
Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate Sarah Wellington[4] and
independent candidate
Jerry Trooien.[31] Candidates who lost the primary election for the Republican nomination include Bob Anderson and[32] Nikolay Bey.[26] Candidates who lost the primary election for the DFL nomination include
Richard Painter,[33] Ali Chehem Ali,[26] Gregg Iverson,[26] Nick Leonard,[34] and Christopher Seymore.[26] Smith won election to the remaining two years of Franken's original six-year term.
Minnesota's
eight seats in the
United States House of Representatives were up for election. The
DFL held five seats and the
Republicans held three seats prior to the election. Both parties gained and lost two seats, resulting in no net change in the number of seats held by each party.
Local elections
Elections for several subdivisions were held—including elections for counties, municipalities, school districts, and hospital districts.
Counties
All
87 counties held regular elections. 54 counties held primary elections. Seven counties also held special elections on the day of the general election.[35]
826
cities and 638
townships held regular elections. 29 cities held primary elections. 118 cities and 49 townships held special elections.
Oakdale and
Red Wing held special elections on both days of the primary election and general election.
Benson and
Saint Paul did not have regularly scheduled elections, but each held a special election on the day of the primary election. All other special elections were held on the day of the general election.[36]Minnetonka Beach and
Motley each had a ballot question on the day of the primary election.[37][38] 47 cities and 23 townships had ballot questions on the day of the general election.[39]
Cities held elections for one or more of the following:
1One or more special elections were held on the day of the general election.
2Had one or more ballot questions on the day of the general election.
3A primary election was held.
4One or more special elections were held on the day of the primary election.
5Did not have regularly scheduled elections.
6Had a ballot question on the day of the primary election.
School districts
284
school districts held regular elections to elect half of the members of their
board of directors. Six school districts held primary elections. Braham, Eden Prairie, and Holdingford did not have regularly scheduled elections, but each held a special election on the day of the general election. 24 other school districts also held special elections on the day of the general election.[40] Five school districts had ballot questions on the day of the primary election.[41][42][43][44] 56 school districts had ballot questions on the day of the general election.[39]
1A special election was held on the day of the general election.
2Had one or more ballot questions on the day of the general election.
3Had one or more ballot questions on the day of the primary election.
4Did not have regularly scheduled elections.
5A primary election was held.
Hospital districts
16
hospital districts held regular elections to elect half of the members of their board of directors. Six hospital districts also held special elections on the day of the general election.[45]
The DFL has held both of Minnesota's
U.S. Senate seats since 2009 when
Al Franken defeated Republican incumbent
Norm Coleman after a protracted recount following the
2008 election.
Lieutenant GovernorTina Smith was appointed in January 2018 to replace Franken after he resigned following sexual harassment allegations. The DFL has held Minnesota's other U.S. Senate seat since 2001, when
Mark Dayton defeated Republican incumbent
Rod Grams in
2000. Dayton did not seek re-election in the
2006 election and was succeeded by
Amy Klobuchar in 2007.
The Republican and DFL parties held caucuses on February 6, 2018, in which eligible voters elected delegates that subsequently endorsed candidates at conventions held later in the year. Both parties also held a nonbinding preference ballot for governor.[1]
Electoral system
Elections for state and federal offices were held via
first-past-the-post voting, each producing a single winner. Nominations for parties with major party status, the Republican and DFL parties, were determined by an
open primary election. The candidate that won the most votes in each party became their party's nominee in the general election. If only a single candidate sought the nomination for each party, those candidates were automatically nominated and a primary election for that office was not held. Candidates for major parties had automatic ballot access. Candidates for other parties and independents were nominated by petition.
Judicial and local elections were held via the
nonpartisan blanket primary. The top-two candidates that won the most votes in the primary election advanced to the general election. If not more than two candidates sought election to the same office, a primary election was not held. In multiple-winner elections, the top number of candidates that won the most votes in the primary election that were twice the number of candidates to be elected advanced to the general election. If not more than twice the number of candidates to be elected sought election, a primary election was not held. Some cities, school districts, and all townships and hospital districts did not hold a primary election, regardless of the number of candidates. Judicial and local elections were nonpartisan.
The candidate filing period was from May 22 through June 5, 2018. The filing period for cities, townships, school districts, and hospital districts that do not hold a primary election was from July 31 through August 14, 2018.[2]
Incumbent
DFLattorney generalLori Swanson announced on January 28, 2018, that she would seek re-election.[15] On June 4, 2018, Swanson announced that she would not seek re-election and instead seek election to be governor.[8]
A special election was held for District 13 in the
Minnesota Senate. The special election determined which political party would control the Senate as the vacancy to be filled left the Senate equally divided between the
Republicans and the
DFL.
Jeff Howe, the Republican nominee, won the special election, preserving a one-seat Republican majority.
All 134 seats in the
Minnesota House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. The
Republicans held a majority of 77 seats and the
DFL held 57 seats prior to the election. The DFL won a majority of 75 seats and the Republicans won 59 seats, ending a four-year Republican majority.
Justice Chutich faced a challenge from conservative Michelle MacDonald, whom she beat 55.9% to 43.7%. Court of Appeals Justice Lucinda Ellen Jesson faced a challenge from human-rights lawyer Anthony L. Brown, whom she defeated 62.7% to 37.0%.
County Results for Chutich v. MacDonald.
Congressional District Results for Chutich v. MacDonald Chutich: 50–60% 60–70% MacDonald: 50–60%
County Results for Jesson v. Brown Jesson: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Congressional District Results for Jesson v. Brown Jesson: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Smith sought election to the seat in the
special election held alongside the general election to serve the remainder of Franken's term, expiring on January 3, 2021.
State SenatorKarin Housley was the
Republican nominee.[24] Other candidates included
Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate Sarah Wellington[4] and
independent candidate
Jerry Trooien.[31] Candidates who lost the primary election for the Republican nomination include Bob Anderson and[32] Nikolay Bey.[26] Candidates who lost the primary election for the DFL nomination include
Richard Painter,[33] Ali Chehem Ali,[26] Gregg Iverson,[26] Nick Leonard,[34] and Christopher Seymore.[26] Smith won election to the remaining two years of Franken's original six-year term.
Minnesota's
eight seats in the
United States House of Representatives were up for election. The
DFL held five seats and the
Republicans held three seats prior to the election. Both parties gained and lost two seats, resulting in no net change in the number of seats held by each party.
Local elections
Elections for several subdivisions were held—including elections for counties, municipalities, school districts, and hospital districts.
Counties
All
87 counties held regular elections. 54 counties held primary elections. Seven counties also held special elections on the day of the general election.[35]
826
cities and 638
townships held regular elections. 29 cities held primary elections. 118 cities and 49 townships held special elections.
Oakdale and
Red Wing held special elections on both days of the primary election and general election.
Benson and
Saint Paul did not have regularly scheduled elections, but each held a special election on the day of the primary election. All other special elections were held on the day of the general election.[36]Minnetonka Beach and
Motley each had a ballot question on the day of the primary election.[37][38] 47 cities and 23 townships had ballot questions on the day of the general election.[39]
Cities held elections for one or more of the following:
1One or more special elections were held on the day of the general election.
2Had one or more ballot questions on the day of the general election.
3A primary election was held.
4One or more special elections were held on the day of the primary election.
5Did not have regularly scheduled elections.
6Had a ballot question on the day of the primary election.
School districts
284
school districts held regular elections to elect half of the members of their
board of directors. Six school districts held primary elections. Braham, Eden Prairie, and Holdingford did not have regularly scheduled elections, but each held a special election on the day of the general election. 24 other school districts also held special elections on the day of the general election.[40] Five school districts had ballot questions on the day of the primary election.[41][42][43][44] 56 school districts had ballot questions on the day of the general election.[39]
1A special election was held on the day of the general election.
2Had one or more ballot questions on the day of the general election.
3Had one or more ballot questions on the day of the primary election.
4Did not have regularly scheduled elections.
5A primary election was held.
Hospital districts
16
hospital districts held regular elections to elect half of the members of their board of directors. Six hospital districts also held special elections on the day of the general election.[45]