Minnesota Attorney General election, 2018
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 16 , or in-person on Nov. 6
- Early voting: Sept. 21 - Nov. 5
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Voter ID: No
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
2022 →
← 2014
|
| Minnesota Attorney General |
|---|
 |
| Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: June 5, 2018 |
| Primary: August 14, 2018 General: November 6, 2018 Pre-election incumbent(s): Lori Swanson (Democrat) |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting in Minnesota |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2018 Impact of term limits in 2018 State government trifectas State government triplexes Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018 |
| Minnesota executive elections |
| Governor Lieutenant governor |
U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (D) defeated litigation attorney Doug Wardlow (R) and Grassroots Party candidate Noah Johnson in the race for Minnesota attorney general on November 6, 2018.
Heading into the election, Minnesota was one of 16 states under divided government. The state was a Democratic trifecta from 2013 to 2015, when Republicans gained a majority in the Minnesota House of Representatives. As of 2018, Minnesota was a Democratic triplex.
Incumbent Lori Swanson (D) was first elected in 2006, and was re-elected in 2010 and 2014 by margins of 11 and 13 percentage points, respectively. Swanson announced on June 4, 2018, that she would run for governor rather than seeking re-election in 2018.[1] Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party had held the attorney general seat since 1971. Minnesota was won by the Democratic presidential candidate in every election since 1976.
For more information on attorney general elections in 2018, click here.
For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
For more information about the Republican primary, click here.
Candidates and election results
General election
General election for Attorney General of Minnesota
Keith Ellison defeated Doug Wardlow and Noah Johnson in the general election for Attorney General of Minnesota on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Keith Ellison (D)  | 49.0 | 1,249,407 |
 | Doug Wardlow (R) | 45.1 | 1,150,459 | |
 | Noah Johnson (Grassroots Party) | 5.7 | 145,748 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 6,158 | ||
| Total votes: 2,551,772 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Minnesota
Keith Ellison defeated Debra Hilstrom, Tom Foley, Matt Pelikan, and Mike Rothman in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Minnesota on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Keith Ellison | 49.8 | 281,142 |
 | Debra Hilstrom | 19.1 | 108,048 | |
 | Tom Foley | 12.5 | 70,786 | |
 | Matt Pelikan | 10.6 | 59,876 | |
 | Mike Rothman | 7.9 | 44,522 | |
| Total votes: 564,374 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Lori Swanson (D)
- Ryan Winkler (D)
- Sam Clark (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Attorney General of Minnesota
Doug Wardlow defeated Sharon Anderson and Robert Lessard in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Minnesota on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Doug Wardlow | 46.3 | 135,971 |
 | Sharon Anderson | 32.1 | 94,245 | |
 | Robert Lessard | 21.7 | 63,722 | |
| Total votes: 293,938 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Candidate profiles
Party: Democratic
Incumbent: No
Political office: U.S. House, Minnesota's 5th Congressional District (Assumed office: 2007)
Biography: Ellison was born in 1963 in Detroit, Michigan. He earned his B.A. from Wayne State University in 1986 and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1990. Prior to his political career, Ellison worked as an attorney.[2] Ellison was first elected to the House in 2006. He served as one of the Chief Deputy Whips of the Democratic caucus for the 113th Congress.[3] Ellison also serves as deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). He campaigned for the DNC chairmanship in 2017 but lost on the second round of voting to former U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez. Following the election, Perez named Ellison as his deputy chairman on February 25, 2017.[4][5]
- Ellison told Ballotpedia one of his top priorities was "A Fair Economy. He said he would hold large corporations and the powerful accountable by "taking on wage theft, fighting for higher wages, going after student loan scammers, protecting seniors from fraud, and working to keep more money in families’ pockets."
- Ellison cited his 16 years as a civil rights attorney and said, "Minnesotans need a People’s Lawyer who will stand up to the Trump Administration, to defend the civil and human rights of all." He said that when "Trump issued his discriminatory Muslim travel ban... it was Democratic state Attorneys General who fought back and sued."[6]
- Ellison told Ballotpedia that healthcare was a top priority, saying he would "fight to hold drug corporations accountable for price gouging and to protect health care access under the Affordable Care Act." He also promised to hold drug companies accountable for "their role in fueling the opioid crisis."
Party: Republican
Incumbent: No
Political office: Minnesota House of Representatives (2011-2013)
Biography: Wardlow earned a B.A. in Political Theory from Georgetown University in 2001 and earned a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center 2004. Before running for elected office Wardow served as a law clerk for Justice G. Barry Anderson in the Minnesota Supreme Court. In 2010 Wardlow was elected to represent District 38B in the Minnesota state House where he served from 2011-2013. Wardlow's private sector experience includes working under Robert Lighthizer, who became the 18th U.S. Trade Representative in 2017, on issues related to Chinese trade practice, and litigating for Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian non-profit that focuses on cases related to constitutional protections for what the organization refers to as religious freedom. [7][8][9]
- Wardlow made illegal immigration, and what he refers to as sanctuary cities, a central theme. Wardlow called cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities "dangerous because every crime committed by an illegal immigrant in the United States and in Minnesota is a crime that’s 100 percent preventable. That person shouldn’t be here. So, it’s important that cities cooperate with federal law enforcement."[10]
- Wardlow drew a distinction between his and Ellison's approach to the office, saying, "Ellison, he has said that he wants to use the office to basically wage a political war, to push a political agenda. That's completely inappropriate." Wardlow said he would focus statewide rather than federal issues.[10]
- In the first general election debate, Wardlow called for a comprehensive strategy to tackle issues related to rising rates of opioid use. He said he would rebuild the criminal division in the office and reallocate resources to strengthen the division, ensure penalties for black market opioid sales, and look at the trade in opioids and methamphetamines that originates outside of the state.[11]
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
| Minnesota Attorney General election | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Keith Ellison (D) | Doug Wardlow (R) | Undecided/Other | Margin of Error | Sample Size | ||||||||||||||
| Star Tribune/MPR News Minnesota October 15-17, 2018 | 36% | 43% | 21% | +/-3.5 | 800 | ||||||||||||||
| KSTP/SurveyUSA Poll September 6-8, 2018 | 41% | 41% | 18% | +/-4.9 | 574 | ||||||||||||||
| Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org | |||||||||||||||||||
Campaign finance
Noteworthy endorsements
This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.
Click the links below to see endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites.
Campaign advertisements
This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.
Keith Ellison
Oppose
|
Debates and forums
October 21, 2018, debate
Ellison and Wardlow participated in a debate on October 21, 2018, at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul. The candidates discussed the role of the attorney general, politics in the office, LGBT policy, and each candidate's personal and professional histories, among other issues.[12]
September 21, 2018, debate
Ellison, Wardlow, and Johnson participated in a debate on September 21, 2018, on the TPT-TV program '"Almanac." The candidates discussed LGBT policy, law enforcement, and healthcare, among other issues.[13]
- Find the Minnesota Lawyer round-up of the debate here.
- Find the MinnPost round-up of the debate here.
Campaign themes
These were the policy positions stated in interviews or listed on the candidates' websites, if available.
Keith Ellison
| “ |
FAIRNESS FOR WORKERS I am a champion for labor and workers’ rights, carrying the bill for a $15 minimum wage and leading the charge against wage theft at the federal level. As Attorney General, I will always be a friend to working men and women and their families. Period. Wage Theft While most employers pay workers what they earn and deserve, some do not pay workers their full pay for their hard work, cheating them out of overtime pay or the minimum wage. I will partner with the MN Department of Labor and Industry to enforce wage theft laws and hold offenders accountable by forcing them to repay any stolen wages, plus interest. Last month, the Supreme Court voted to take away workers' rights to file a class-action lawsuit for employment law violations. This decision tilts the playing field in favor of large companies and their armies of lawyers. As the People's Lawyer, I will level the field by filing cases on behalf of all workers who get cheated out of their hard-earned pay. Health Care Every American should have access to guaranteed, quality, affordable health care. That’s why I led the Medicare for All bill in Congress. It’s why as Attorney General I will fight to hold drug corporations accountable for price gouging and other dirty tricks to raise prices or keep generic-brand drugs off the market. In the midst of our nation’s opioid crisis, Attorneys General should lead the fight in taking on drug companies who have flooded our communities with narcotics, and ensure this continues to be treated as a public health crisis. This includes working in collaboration with tribes, whose communities have been hit particularly hard by this crisis. I will stand up for women’s reproductive freedom and access to abortion and contraception. I will also join my fellow Attorneys General nationwide in their fight to protect the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid from on-going legal attacks. Workplace Safety Minnesotans shouldn't have to choose between their health and safety and their paychecks. But that is exactly what the Trump administration has made them do by rolling back and delaying the rules that keep workers safe on the job. I will put a stop to multi-billion dollar companies taking shortcuts on worker health and safety just to squeeze a few extra dollars of profits. This is especially important in Greater Minnesota, because agricultural work, logging, fishing, and iron and steel work are some of the top 10 most dangerous and fatal jobs in the United States. Union Rights and Employment Discrimination If you’re working hard on your job, no matter who you are or what your background is, you should have an equal shot of getting hired and promoted. Things like your age, race, religion, nationality, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity should never be used against you. I will protect workers from employment discrimination. I will also protect workers who exercise their legal right to join together and fight for higher wages and better working conditions. With the Supreme Court poised to deliver a tough blow to state workers in the Janus v. AFSCME decision, state and local workers in Minnesota need an Attorney General with a long record of fighting for workers' collective bargaining rights. I have that record.
Everyone wins—consumers, retirees, investors, workers and businesses—when we get rid of fraud and unfair competition. In Congress, I have passed laws to fight credit card abuse and to stand up for the rights of tenants and renters, and founded the Congressional Antitrust Caucus. As Attorney General, I stand up to companies that deceive Minnesotans and violate our antitrust laws. Fair Student Loans Americans who borrow money to get a better education deserve fair treatment when repaying those loans. A few big companies control this business and they are misleading consumers by steering them into programs that leave them on the hook for years of extra payments at a higher cost. For some former students, especially those who attended for-profit private trade schools, the loans were part of a fraud that left them owing money for a worthless degree. U. S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is siding with the fraudulent schools and the big lending companies. As Attorney General, I would side with consumers with student loans and fight for fairness and debt relief. Fair Competition Consumers and workers need a robust economy with businesses competing on a fair and level playing field, not an economy where more power is concentrated in the hands of fewer and fewer companies. Corporate concentration is killing small businesses. As Attorney General, I will work to crack down on the unfair competitive practices that stifle our economy by cheating workers and consumers. I will advocate for farmers throughout the state to stop supply and intermediary companies from violating antitrust laws that raise their costs and lower the prices they are paid. I will also fight employers who keep down wages by monopoly power even as profits improve, or who use anticompetitive practices like non-compete agreements to keep workers’ wages low. Stop Predatory Lending and Financial Scams No one should be subject to a loan with hidden and abusive terms when they need to fix their house or buy a car. All Minnesotans can agree it is wrong to use an internet solicitation to try circumventing our state protections and charge 500% interest on a payday loan. I have spent my career fighting against predatory lending and as Attorney General I will continue this work to stop predatory lenders who violate our consumer protection laws. As our state population ages, seniors are increasingly being targeted by scammers and crooks. As Attorney General, I will put a stop to the abhorrent exploitation of seniors. This type of behavior has no place in Minnesota. Affordable and Fair Housing When Minnesotans save their hard-earned money to buy a mobile home or a traditional home, the last thing they should be worried about is predatory and fraudulent mortgages. I’ll put a stop to mortgage fraud and abuse and fight back against lenders who trap senior citizens in reverse mortgages that erode their hard-earned home equity. I will also work to level the playing field between landlords and tenants and combat the eviction crisis that is putting too many Minnesota families out on the street. It’s been 50 years since Congress passed the Fair Housing Act under the co-authorship of Walter Mondale to eliminate discrimination in lending. But redlining is still alive and well and black and brown homeowners and renters are consistently charged more than whites. As Attorney General, I will sue lenders and landlords who violate fair housing laws.
As a former civil rights attorney for 16 years, I know the value of a good lawyer to protect the rights of all to be free from discrimination and harm. Immigration justice Minnesota has a proud immigrant tradition, from those seeking economic opportunity to those fleeing warfare. As Attorney General, I will fight efforts by the Trump Administration to remove protections from Dreamers - remarkable young people who through their educational and work opportunities are contributing to our economy and society. I will ensure that our immigration detention system is humane, and free from mistreatment. I will also stand up to the un-American, discriminatory Muslim Travel Ban. Our country is at its best when we welcome those fleeing horrendous conditions, not when we fan the flames of bigotry and division. Criminal Justice and Gun Violence Partnering with our Counties County attorneys often look to the Attorney General for resources and assistance when prosecuting complex and high profile cases. As Attorney General, I will ensure that every county attorney has the support and expertise necessary to fairly enforce our criminal laws. This will include particular attention to combating the sex trafficking that is all too prevalent in Minnesota. Collateral consequences Minnesota’s comparatively low prison population is growing and we have one of the highest rates of people on probation and parole in the county. Minnesotans on probation and parole face barriers to education, employment, housing, and political participation that make it harder to complete their sentence and become a productive member of their community. And Minnesotans with a criminal conviction continue to face barriers to finding a job, stable housing, and being able to support their families long after they have served their time. As Attorney General, I will work with county attorneys and the state legislature to reduce our incarceration, probation and parole rates and enhance public safety by helping people get back on their feet and successfully reintegrate into their communities. Gun Violence Prevention Gun violence has disrupted the lives of Minnesotans of all ages and all walks of life across the state. I saw firsthand Washington’s failure to act on public demands to enact common sense gun safety solutions. As Attorney General, I will ensure that Minnesota is a leader in preventing gun violence by fighting for laws that require universal background checks for gun sales, a ban of the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines, and by keeping guns out of the hands of people who pose a risk to themselves or to others, including domestic violence offenders. I will also defend Minnesota’s laws by standing with the Attorneys General of 17 other states to fight bad federal legislation that will undermine our ability to establish and enforce our state gun safety measures. Equal Access to Justice We must ensure that every Minnesotan has equal access to justice. That starts by increasing support for our public defenders, a right secured in Gideon v. Wainwright by the advocacy of our own Walter Mondale when he was Minnesota’s Attorney General. As Attorney General, I will work with the Board of Public Defense and the legislature to ensure that every low-income Minnesotan accused of a crime has efficient and thorough legal counsel. I will also work to eliminate cash bail laws that prey on the poor and powerless in our system. Climate Justice Minnesota has been hit hard with increasingly frequent major floods from Duluth to Waseca. Climate change impacts the vulnerable the most - working people, people of color, and seniors. Yet the Trump Administration actively denies and suppresses climate change science and is reversing the progress made under President Obama to hold fossil fuel corporations accountable. As Attorney General, I will stand up to efforts to undermine the Clean Power Plan, which would improve Minnesotans’ health and our environment by transitioning to clean energy. We don’t have to choose between a robust economy and a clean environment; we can and must have both. Minnesotans need the Office of the Attorney General to fight for them every day. [14] |
” |
| —Keith Ellison for attorney general[15] | ||
Doug Wardlow
| “ |
DOUG WARDLOW Learn more about your next Attorney General! Doug is a family man who enjoys spending time with his wife Jenny and their three children, Winston, Annabelle, and Martin.
POLICIES Doug Wardlow is running to be Minnesota's Lawyer. As Attorney General, Doug will make Minnesota Fair and Safe. You deserve an Attorney General who will fight for you and your family. As Minnesota's Lawyer, Doug Wardlow will fight for these policies:
|
” |
| —Doug Wardlow for attorney general[16] | ||
Social media
Twitter accounts
Tweets by Keith Ellison Tweets by Doug Wardlow
Facebook accounts
Click the icons below to visit the candidates' Facebook pages.
Keith Ellison 
Doug Wardlow
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
Nineteen of 87 Minnesota counties—21.8 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
| Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Trump margin of victory in 2016 | Obama margin of victory in 2012 | Obama margin of victory in 2008 | ||||
| Beltrami County, Minnesota | 9.72% | 9.89% | 10.15% | ||||
| Blue Earth County, Minnesota | 3.69% | 9.48% | 12.95% | ||||
| Chippewa County, Minnesota | 28.70% | 1.87% | 5.87% | ||||
| Clay County, Minnesota | 1.95% | 7.92% | 16.02% | ||||
| Fillmore County, Minnesota | 21.70% | 7.34% | 8.26% | ||||
| Freeborn County, Minnesota | 17.24% | 14.11% | 17.13% | ||||
| Houston County, Minnesota | 13.87% | 3.16% | 10.69% | ||||
| Itasca County, Minnesota | 16.35% | 9.83% | 12.92% | ||||
| Kittson County, Minnesota | 22.05% | 6.03% | 18.54% | ||||
| Koochiching County, Minnesota | 19.85% | 9.45% | 10.10% | ||||
| Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota | 25.60% | 0.90% | 5.92% | ||||
| Mahnomen County, Minnesota | 2.92% | 18.56% | 25.31% | ||||
| Mower County, Minnesota | 7.82% | 22.61% | 23.61% | ||||
| Nicollet County, Minnesota | 3.04% | 7.83% | 10.52% | ||||
| Norman County, Minnesota | 13.34% | 10.79% | 26.94% | ||||
| Rice County, Minnesota | 3.06% | 8.27% | 11.50% | ||||
| Swift County, Minnesota | 25.57% | 9.83% | 13.79% | ||||
| Traverse County, Minnesota | 23.30% | 4.44% | 5.41% | ||||
| Winona County, Minnesota | 2.90% | 12.85% | 19.09% | ||||
In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won Minnesota with 46.4 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 44.9 percent. In presidential elections between 1860 and 2016, Minnesota voted Republican 50 percent of the time and Democratic 47.5 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Minnesota voted Democratic all five times.[17]
Presidential results by legislative district
The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Minnesota. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[18][19]
| In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 68 out of 134 state House districts in Minnesota with an average margin of victory of 27.6 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 62 out of 134 state House districts in Minnesota with an average margin of victory of 30.4 points. Clinton won 12 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections. |
| In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 66 out of 134 state House districts in Minnesota with an average margin of victory of 12.3 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 72 out of 134 state House districts in Minnesota with an average margin of victory of 23.8 points. Trump won seven districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections. |
| 2016 presidential results by state House district | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
| 1A | 43.15% | 54.54% | R+11.4 | 27.87% | 64.99% | R+37.1 | R |
| 1B | 46.10% | 51.92% | R+5.8 | 31.45% | 61.37% | R+29.9 | R |
| 2A | 48.08% | 50.09% | R+2 | 33.59% | 60.04% | R+26.4 | R |
| 2B | 42.17% | 56.05% | R+13.9 | 29.64% | 64.36% | R+34.7 | R |
| 3A | 55.31% | 42.36% | D+13 | 43.14% | 49.65% | R+6.5 | D |
| 3B | 60.19% | 38.11% | D+22.1 | 50.13% | 42.59% | D+7.5 | D |
| 4A | 55.32% | 42.31% | D+13 | 48.97% | 41.71% | D+7.3 | D |
| 4B | 46.65% | 51.41% | R+4.8 | 35.41% | 57.18% | R+21.8 | D |
| 5A | 52.05% | 45.83% | D+6.2 | 39.67% | 51.97% | R+12.3 | R |
| 5B | 49.48% | 48.58% | D+0.9 | 35.93% | 57.00% | R+21.1 | R |
| 6A | 63.20% | 34.57% | D+28.6 | 44.68% | 47.85% | R+3.2 | D |
| 6B | 61.82% | 35.90% | D+25.9 | 45.05% | 47.77% | R+2.7 | D |
| 7A | 67.15% | 30.27% | D+36.9 | 62.12% | 28.28% | D+33.8 | D |
| 7B | 69.99% | 27.63% | D+42.4 | 59.01% | 32.66% | D+26.3 | D |
| 8A | 39.32% | 59.07% | R+19.8 | 31.05% | 62.92% | R+31.9 | R |
| 8B | 40.24% | 57.98% | R+17.7 | 27.72% | 65.66% | R+37.9 | R |
| 9A | 37.61% | 60.36% | R+22.7 | 23.48% | 70.76% | R+47.3 | R |
| 9B | 37.60% | 60.41% | R+22.8 | 21.44% | 73.05% | R+51.6 | R |
| 10A | 42.68% | 55.47% | R+12.8 | 31.71% | 61.41% | R+29.7 | R |
| 10B | 44.58% | 53.66% | R+9.1 | 31.38% | 62.81% | R+31.4 | R |
| 11A | 62.19% | 35.79% | D+26.4 | 46.93% | 45.13% | D+1.8 | D |
| 11B | 46.72% | 50.92% | R+4.2 | 31.58% | 61.39% | R+29.8 | R |
| 12A | 46.30% | 51.70% | R+5.4 | 32.87% | 59.48% | R+26.6 | R |
| 12B | 36.32% | 61.98% | R+25.7 | 23.78% | 70.60% | R+46.8 | R |
| 13A | 41.20% | 57.04% | R+15.8 | 29.40% | 63.98% | R+34.6 | R |
| 13B | 40.74% | 57.46% | R+16.7 | 29.76% | 63.36% | R+33.6 | R |
| 14A | 47.70% | 50.25% | R+2.6 | 40.14% | 51.73% | R+11.6 | R |
| 14B | 53.28% | 43.56% | D+9.7 | 43.47% | 46.88% | R+3.4 | R |
| 15A | 42.24% | 55.67% | R+13.4 | 26.60% | 66.72% | R+40.1 | R |
| 15B | 34.92% | 62.92% | R+28 | 21.90% | 71.37% | R+49.5 | R |
| 16A | 45.53% | 52.33% | R+6.8 | 31.31% | 60.77% | R+29.5 | R |
| 16B | 40.08% | 57.64% | R+17.6 | 26.83% | 64.99% | R+38.2 | R |
| 17A | 47.24% | 50.94% | R+3.7 | 29.82% | 63.25% | R+33.4 | R |
| 17B | 47.10% | 51.19% | R+4.1 | 34.89% | 57.60% | R+22.7 | R |
| 18A | 39.80% | 57.83% | R+18 | 26.88% | 65.04% | R+38.2 | R |
| 18B | 37.06% | 60.70% | R+23.6 | 25.23% | 67.02% | R+41.8 | R |
| 19A | 52.51% | 45.09% | D+7.4 | 43.51% | 47.62% | R+4.1 | D |
| 19B | 57.05% | 39.91% | D+17.1 | 48.70% | 40.94% | D+7.8 | D |
| 20A | 40.38% | 57.73% | R+17.4 | 30.47% | 62.58% | R+32.1 | R |
| 20B | 53.95% | 43.71% | D+10.2 | 47.02% | 45.86% | D+1.2 | D |
| 21A | 51.06% | 46.99% | D+4.1 | 40.39% | 51.63% | R+11.2 | R |
| 21B | 44.07% | 53.85% | R+9.8 | 30.94% | 61.07% | R+30.1 | R |
| 22A | 41.53% | 56.48% | R+14.9 | 26.80% | 66.15% | R+39.4 | R |
| 22B | 44.04% | 54.37% | R+10.3 | 30.63% | 63.03% | R+32.4 | R |
| 23A | 39.08% | 58.83% | R+19.8 | 26.82% | 66.32% | R+39.5 | R |
| 23B | 47.30% | 50.57% | R+3.3 | 32.70% | 59.47% | R+26.8 | R |
| 24A | 45.64% | 52.20% | R+6.6 | 33.70% | 57.84% | R+24.1 | R |
| 24B | 47.07% | 50.66% | R+3.6 | 33.44% | 58.77% | R+25.3 | R |
| 25A | 45.24% | 52.32% | R+7.1 | 37.03% | 52.94% | R+15.9 | R |
| 25B | 53.14% | 44.51% | D+8.6 | 50.23% | 40.22% | D+10 | D |
| 26A | 57.64% | 39.78% | D+17.9 | 54.11% | 36.72% | D+17.4 | D |
| 26B | 44.47% | 53.59% | R+9.1 | 38.48% | 53.17% | R+14.7 | R |
| 27A | 55.57% | 42.31% | D+13.3 | 37.42% | 55.76% | R+18.3 | R |
| 27B | 59.95% | 37.84% | D+22.1 | 41.96% | 50.58% | R+8.6 | D |
| 28A | 56.63% | 40.82% | D+15.8 | 46.44% | 44.13% | D+2.3 | D |
| 28B | 51.67% | 46.36% | D+5.3 | 37.30% | 55.31% | R+18 | R |
| 29A | 37.73% | 60.22% | R+22.5 | 28.82% | 63.10% | R+34.3 | R |
| 29B | 40.42% | 57.50% | R+17.1 | 30.71% | 61.38% | R+30.7 | R |
| 30A | 39.60% | 58.57% | R+19 | 30.48% | 61.61% | R+31.1 | R |
| 30B | 36.49% | 61.79% | R+25.3 | 29.58% | 62.31% | R+32.7 | R |
| 31A | 35.58% | 62.46% | R+26.9 | 23.94% | 69.10% | R+45.2 | R |
| 31B | 38.58% | 59.53% | R+20.9 | 29.00% | 63.74% | R+34.7 | R |
| 32A | 41.06% | 56.85% | R+15.8 | 28.13% | 64.23% | R+36.1 | R |
| 32B | 42.98% | 55.07% | R+12.1 | 31.50% | 60.69% | R+29.2 | R |
| 33A | 36.20% | 62.39% | R+26.2 | 37.84% | 54.78% | R+16.9 | R |
| 33B | 43.71% | 54.67% | R+11 | 46.18% | 45.68% | D+0.5 | R |
| 34A | 40.35% | 58.12% | R+17.8 | 40.80% | 51.26% | R+10.5 | R |
| 34B | 46.78% | 51.60% | R+4.8 | 47.91% | 43.62% | D+4.3 | R |
| 35A | 45.40% | 52.32% | R+6.9 | 37.77% | 53.46% | R+15.7 | R |
| 35B | 41.04% | 57.50% | R+16.5 | 36.48% | 55.65% | R+19.2 | R |
| 36A | 48.54% | 49.44% | R+0.9 | 44.09% | 47.07% | R+3 | R |
| 36B | 53.38% | 45.11% | D+8.3 | 52.16% | 40.08% | D+12.1 | D |
| 37A | 53.32% | 44.53% | D+8.8 | 45.38% | 46.05% | R+0.7 | D |
| 37B | 48.64% | 49.49% | R+0.9 | 43.74% | 48.04% | R+4.3 | R |
| 38A | 44.17% | 53.89% | R+9.7 | 40.36% | 51.11% | R+10.7 | R |
| 38B | 46.39% | 51.99% | R+5.6 | 45.39% | 46.56% | R+1.2 | R |
| 39A | 45.12% | 53.25% | R+8.1 | 40.85% | 51.57% | R+10.7 | R |
| 39B | 47.78% | 50.62% | R+2.8 | 45.97% | 46.25% | R+0.3 | R |
| 40A | 69.71% | 28.69% | D+41 | 67.81% | 26.13% | D+41.7 | D |
| 40B | 68.60% | 29.42% | D+39.2 | 65.29% | 27.68% | D+37.6 | D |
| 41A | 59.61% | 38.36% | D+21.2 | 55.79% | 35.28% | D+20.5 | D |
| 41B | 62.30% | 35.32% | D+27 | 62.11% | 29.12% | D+33 | D |
| 42A | 51.48% | 46.50% | D+5 | 52.61% | 38.39% | D+14.2 | R |
| 42B | 56.76% | 41.28% | D+15.5 | 56.05% | 35.37% | D+20.7 | D |
| 43A | 56.52% | 41.92% | D+14.6 | 54.01% | 38.15% | D+15.9 | D |
| 43B | 57.50% | 40.33% | D+17.2 | 52.35% | 39.35% | D+13 | D |
| 44A | 47.99% | 50.66% | R+2.7 | 53.47% | 38.83% | D+14.6 | R |
| 44B | 54.39% | 44.30% | D+10.1 | 57.27% | 35.36% | D+21.9 | D |
| 45A | 59.17% | 38.72% | D+20.5 | 58.13% | 33.53% | D+24.6 | D |
| 45B | 63.39% | 34.34% | D+29.1 | 64.02% | 27.43% | D+36.6 | D |
| 46A | 64.31% | 33.66% | D+30.7 | 66.50% | 25.81% | D+40.7 | D |
| 46B | 65.79% | 32.01% | D+33.8 | 68.45% | 23.31% | D+45.1 | D |
| 47A | 35.32% | 63.07% | R+27.7 | 31.29% | 60.91% | R+29.6 | R |
| 47B | 42.17% | 56.19% | R+14 | 44.19% | 47.17% | R+3 | R |
| 48A | 52.14% | 46.19% | D+5.9 | 55.55% | 36.50% | D+19.1 | D |
| 48B | 46.72% | 51.70% | R+5 | 53.09% | 39.54% | D+13.6 | R |
| 49A | 52.29% | 46.68% | D+5.6 | 60.37% | 32.60% | D+27.8 | R |
| 49B | 52.45% | 46.18% | D+6.3 | 56.50% | 36.35% | D+20.2 | D |
| 50A | 63.81% | 33.98% | D+29.8 | 61.93% | 29.97% | D+32 | D |
| 50B | 56.96% | 40.99% | D+16 | 55.51% | 36.29% | D+19.2 | D |
| 51A | 55.56% | 42.44% | D+13.1 | 54.45% | 37.27% | D+17.2 | D |
| 51B | 51.44% | 46.79% | D+4.7 | 54.17% | 37.06% | D+17.1 | D |
| 52A | 58.72% | 39.32% | D+19.4 | 56.76% | 34.99% | D+21.8 | D |
| 52B | 52.90% | 45.36% | D+7.5 | 49.95% | 42.08% | D+7.9 | R |
| 53A | 56.63% | 41.59% | D+15 | 54.59% | 37.63% | D+17 | D |
| 53B | 46.78% | 51.95% | R+5.2 | 50.81% | 42.01% | D+8.8 | R |
| 54A | 55.87% | 41.75% | D+14.1 | 46.83% | 43.55% | D+3.3 | R |
| 54B | 49.32% | 48.74% | D+0.6 | 42.76% | 48.63% | R+5.9 | R |
| 55A | 46.18% | 51.67% | R+5.5 | 43.39% | 47.89% | R+4.5 | R |
| 55B | 38.11% | 60.15% | R+22 | 34.43% | 57.98% | R+23.5 | R |
| 56A | 47.26% | 50.85% | R+3.6 | 47.12% | 44.13% | D+3 | R |
| 56B | 49.26% | 48.97% | D+0.3 | 48.62% | 43.89% | D+4.7 | R |
| 57A | 50.85% | 47.34% | D+3.5 | 49.06% | 42.78% | D+6.3 | D |
| 57B | 48.75% | 49.64% | R+0.9 | 48.21% | 43.72% | D+4.5 | R |
| 58A | 42.24% | 56.02% | R+13.8 | 40.36% | 51.99% | R+11.6 | R |
| 58B | 42.46% | 55.75% | R+13.3 | 34.86% | 57.04% | R+22.2 | R |
| 59A | 84.23% | 13.96% | D+70.3 | 78.85% | 13.74% | D+65.1 | D |
| 59B | 80.65% | 17.23% | D+63.4 | 79.46% | 13.04% | D+66.4 | D |
| 60A | 77.47% | 18.61% | D+58.9 | 76.38% | 14.48% | D+61.9 | D |
| 60B | 76.39% | 19.31% | D+57.1 | 79.57% | 11.88% | D+67.7 | D |
| 61A | 78.23% | 19.40% | D+58.8 | 81.47% | 12.06% | D+69.4 | D |
| 61B | 78.20% | 19.94% | D+58.3 | 81.29% | 12.45% | D+68.8 | D |
| 62A | 86.72% | 9.26% | D+77.5 | 84.08% | 7.57% | D+76.5 | D |
| 62B | 86.87% | 10.09% | D+76.8 | 85.70% | 6.89% | D+78.8 | D |
| 63A | 82.84% | 14.33% | D+68.5 | 81.97% | 10.62% | D+71.4 | D |
| 63B | 73.83% | 23.99% | D+49.8 | 73.80% | 18.58% | D+55.2 | D |
| 64A | 76.89% | 20.30% | D+56.6 | 78.82% | 13.58% | D+65.2 | D |
| 64B | 70.63% | 27.37% | D+43.3 | 74.41% | 18.39% | D+56 | D |
| 65A | 83.74% | 13.76% | D+70 | 80.78% | 12.13% | D+68.6 | D |
| 65B | 77.60% | 19.70% | D+57.9 | 74.28% | 17.59% | D+56.7 | D |
| 66A | 65.92% | 31.91% | D+34 | 67.89% | 23.85% | D+44 | D |
| 66B | 78.86% | 18.90% | D+60 | 76.62% | 15.90% | D+60.7 | D |
| 67A | 76.07% | 21.79% | D+54.3 | 70.99% | 21.62% | D+49.4 | D |
| 67B | 74.76% | 23.00% | D+51.8 | 70.67% | 22.02% | D+48.6 | D |
| Total | 52.84% | 45.12% | D+7.7 | 46.88% | 45.34% | D+1.5 | - |
| Source: Daily Kos | |||||||
State overview
Partisan control
This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Minnesota heading into the 2018 elections.
Congressional delegation
- Following the 2016 elections, Democrats held both U.S. Senate seats in Minnesota.
- Democrats held 5 of 8 U.S. House seats in Minnesota.
State executives
- The governor of Minnesota was Democrat Mark Dayton. The state held an election for governor and lieutenant governor on November 6, 2018.
State legislature
- Republicans had a 77-56 majority in the state House. The state Senate was tied, with 33 Republicans and 33 Democrats.
Trifecta status
- Minnesota was under divided government, meaning that the two parties shared control of the state government. Mark Dayton (D) served as governor, while Republicans controlled the state legislature.
2018 elections
- See also: Minnesota elections, 2018
Minnesota held elections for the following positions in 2018:
- Two U.S. Senate seats (one regular election and one special election)
- 8 U.S. House seats
- Governor and lieutenant governor
- Five lower state executive positions
- 134 state House seats
- One state Senate seat
- Municipal elections in St. Paul, Hennepin County, and Ramsey County
Demographics
| Demographic data for Minnesota | ||
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 5,482,435 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 79,627 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 84.8% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 5.5% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 4.4% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 1% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.7% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 5% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 92.4% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 33.7% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $61,492 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 12.2% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Minnesota. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
As of July 2016, Minnesota's three largest cities were Minneapolis (pop. est. 422,000), St. Paul (pop. est. 307,000), and Rochester (pop. est. 116,000).[20]
State election history
This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Minnesota from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Minnesota Secretary of State.
Historical elections
Presidential elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Minnesota every year from 2000 to 2016.
| Election results (President of the United States), Minnesota 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton |
46.4% | Donald Trump |
44.9% | 1.5% |
| 2012 | Barack Obama |
52.7% | Mitt Romney |
45.0% | 7.7% |
| 2008 | Barack Obama |
54.1% | John McCain |
43.8% | 10.3% |
| 2004 | John Kerry |
51.1% | George W. Bush |
47.6% | 3.5% |
| 2000 | Al Gore |
47.9% | George W. Bush |
45.5% | 2.4% |
U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Minnesota from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.
| Election results (U.S. Senator), Minnesota 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2014 | Al Franken |
53.2% | Mike McFadden |
42.9% | 10.3% |
| 2012 | Amy Klobuchar |
65.2% | Kurt Bills |
30.5% | 34.7% |
| 2008 | Al Franken |
41.99% | Norm Coleman |
41.98% | 0.01% |
| 2006 | Amy Klobuchar |
58.1% | Mark Kennedy |
37.9% | 20.2% |
| 2002 | Norm Coleman |
49.5% | Walter Mondale |
47.3% | 2.2% |
| 2000 | Mark Dayton |
48.8% | Rod Grams |
43.3% | 5.5% |
Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Minnesota.
| Election results (Governor), Minnesota 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2014 | Mark Dayton |
50.1% | Jeff Johnson |
44.5% | 5.6% |
| 2010 | Mark Dayton |
43.6% | Tom Emmer |
43.2% | 0.4% |
| 2006 | Tim Pawlenty |
46.7% | Mike Hatch |
45.7% | 1.0% |
| 2002 | Tim Pawlenty |
44.4% | Roger Moe |
36.5% | 7.9% |
Congressional delegation, 2000-2016
This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Minnesota in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.
| Congressional delegation, Minnesota 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Republicans | Republicans (%) | Democrats | Democrats (%) | Balance of power |
| 2016 | 3 |
37.5% | 5 |
62.5% | D+2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
37.5% | 5 |
62.5% | D+2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
37.5% | 5 |
62.5% | D+2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
50.0% | 4 |
50.0% | Even |
| 2008 | 3 |
37.5% | 5 |
62.5% | D+2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
37.5% | 5 |
62.5% | D+2 |
| 2004 | 4 |
50.0% | 4 |
50.0% | Even |
| 2002 | 4 |
50.0% | 4 |
50.0% | Even |
| 2000 | 3 |
37.5% | 5 |
62.5% | D+2 |
Trifectas, 1992-2017
A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.
Minnesota Party Control: 1992-2024
Four years of Democratic trifectas • No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | I | I | I | I | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Context of the 2018 election
Past elections
| Election results (Minnesota Attorney General), 1998-2014[21] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2014 | Lori Swanson |
52.6% | Scott Newman |
39.0% | 13.6% |
| 2010 | Lori Swanson |
52.9% | Chris Bradden |
41.3% | 11.6% |
| 2006 | Lori Swanson |
53.2% | Jeff Johnson |
40.7% | 12.5% |
| 2002 | Mike Hatch |
54.6% | Tom Kelly |
40.8% | 13.8% |
| 1998 | Mike Hatch |
47.8% | Charlie Weaver |
43.8% | 4.0% |
The Democratic candidate had won each of the previous five attorney general elections in Minnesota leading up to the 2018 election. With the exception of the 1998 election, all were decided by margins of ten percent or more. In 2018, the last time a Republican candidate had been elected attorney general of Minnesota was in 1966, when Douglas Head (R) defeated W.H. Olson (D) by a 6.4 percent margin.[22]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Minnesota attorney general election 2018. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
|
Minnesota government: |
Elections: |
Ballotpedia exclusives: |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ StarTribune, "Attorney General Lori Swanson shakes up DFL field in governor's race," June 5, 2018
- ↑ Biographical Guide to Members of Congress, "Keith Ellison," accessed December 10, 2011
- ↑ Office of the Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, "Hoyer Announces Whip Team for the 113th Congress," accessed January 4, 2013
- ↑ The Denver Post, "In Denver, Howard Dean drops out, others campaign to lead DNC," December 2, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Perez elected DNC chairman," February 25, 2017
- ↑ Insight News, "Keith Ellison: How I will continue to defend the rights of all Minnesotans as your Attorney General," August 9, 2018
- ↑ The Federalist, "With A Terrible Record To Run On, Keith Ellison Slings Slime At AG Opponent Doug Wardlow," August 29, 2018
- ↑ Republican AGs, "Doug Wardlow," accessed September 20, 2018
- ↑ Doug Wardlow for AG, "About," accessed September 20, 2018
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Fox 9, "Attorney General candidate Doug Wardlow sits down with Fox 9 Sunday Morning", September 16, 2018
- ↑ The Uptake, "MN Attorney General Candidate Debate: Keith Ellison And Doug Wardlow," September 21, 2018
- ↑ StarTribune, "Candidates for Minnesota attorney general clash over essence of job," October 22, 2018
- ↑ Minnesota Lawyer, "Televised AG debate tough but controlled," September 27, 2018
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ "Issues," accessed July 16, 2018
- ↑ "Policies," accessed September 20, 2018
- ↑ 270towin.com, "Minnesota," accessed June 29, 2017
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
- ↑ Minnesota Demographics, "Minnesota Cities by Population," accessed September 4, 2018
- ↑ Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, "Election Results," accessed January 9, 2018
- ↑ Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, "1966 General Election," accessed January 8, 2018
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||