Minnesota held its general election on November 6, 2018, deciding 134 legislative seats and 5 statewide offices led by the governorship. Control shifted: the House moved from a 77-57 Republican majority to a 75-59 Democratic majority. The Senate was not up for regular election this cycle.
Highlights
- Democrats (Minnesota's DFL) won every statewide office and a new House majority, leaving Republicans' one-seat Senate majority as their only foothold in state government under a new Democratic governor.
- Democrats crushed Republicans in the Twin Cities suburbs, where nearly all of their pickups came. The new majority chose Melissa Hortman (D) as its speaker-designate. Several flips stood out:
- Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (D) unseated Rep. Jenifer Loon (R) in House 48B by about 240 votes, Kelly Morrison (D) beat Rep. Cindy Pugh (R) in House 33B by about 220, and Shelly Christensen (D) ousted Rep. Kathy Lohmer (R) in House 39B by about 140.
- Up north, former Rep. John Persell (D) won back House 5A from Rep. Matt Bliss (R) by 11 votes after a publicly funded recount widened his election-night lead of eight.
- In St. Cloud's House 14B, Rep. Jim Knoblach (R) suspended his campaign amid allegations from his daughter, which he denies. His name stayed on the ballot, and he lost to Dan Wolgamott (D).
- Republicans were shut out of statewide contests for a 12th straight year. Tim Walz (D) beat Jeff Johnson (R) by more than 11 points for governor, with Peggy Flanagan (D) as his running mate. Keith Ellison (D) held the attorney general's office for Democrats, beating Doug Wardlow (R) by about 4 points in a contentious race in which both candidates faced questions about their pasts. Secretary of State Steve Simon (D) won re-election by about 9 points, and Julie Blaha (D) won the auditor's race by about 6.
- Republicans kept their Senate majority by winning a special election in a heavily conservative central Minnesota district, the seat Michelle Fischbach (R) resigned to become lieutenant governor. That kept legislative control divided.
- Every one of the 18 House seats that changed hands went from Republican to Democratic, and all 14 defeated incumbents were Republicans. The 2 other races decided by under 2 points were both Republican holds: Greg Boe (R) kept House 47B Republican by about 120 votes over Donzel Leggett (D), and Rep. Nolan West (R) held House 37B by about 150 over Amir Malik (D). Only 2 House races had a single candidate on the ballot.
Legislature
- House (134 seats): 56 D, 77 R, 1 other or vacant before the election, 75 D, 59 R after; control moved from Republicans to Democrats.
- Senate (67 seats): 33 D, 33 R, 1 other or vacant before the election, 33 D, 33 R, 1 other or vacant after; control stayed with Republicans.
Statewide races
| Race | Winner | Others | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | Tim Walz (D) 53.84% | Jeff Johnson (R) 42.43%, Chris Wright (Grassroots Party) 2.65% | |
| Attorney General | Keith Ellison (D) 49% | Doug Wardlow (R) 45.1%, Noah Johnson (G) 5.7% | |
| Auditor | Julie Blaha (D) 49.4% | Pam Myhra (R) 43.2%, Chris Dock (L) 2.1% | |
| Lt. Governor | Peggy Flanagan (D) 53.84% | Donna Bergstrom (R) 42.43%, Judith Schwartzbacker (Other) 2.65% | Flipped R to D |
| Secretary of State | Steve Simon (D) 52.3% | John Howe (R) 43.6%, William Denney (I) 4.1% |