|
Approximately 2.9 million Minnesotans voted in the General Election, besting previous midterm turnouts and securing Minnesota’s place as the state with the second-highest voter turnout in the nation. Minnesota voters returned the DFL to full control of state government, giving the party control of the Governor’s office, the Senate, and the House. Voters also kept the U.S. Senate seat in DFL hands and, pending a recount in the First Congressional District, the state’s U.S. House delegation shifts from a 4–4 split to 5–3 DFL.
All results below are unofficial, and recounts are expected in a few very close races.
|
|
|
|
GOVERNOR AND U.S. SENATE
|
|
Sen. Amy Klobuchar defeated House Speaker Lisa Demuth to become the first woman elected governor of Minnesota. Former Fergus Falls Mayor and Lt. Governor-elect Ben Schierer will become the first male lieutenant governor since Lt. Gov. Lou Wangberg (who served under Gov. Al Quie) left office in Jan. 1983. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan defeated former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya for the seat held by retiring Sen. Tina Smith, and becomes the first Native American woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
|
 |
|
DFL candidates also won the other three statewide offices: Attorney General Keith Ellison and Secretary of State Steve Simon were re-elected, and Zack Filipovich won the open State Auditor seat.
|
|
|
|
MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE
|
|
The DFL won control of the House and expanded its Senate majority, ending two years of divided legislative control. The House had been tied 67–67 and was operating under a power-sharing agreement; the DFL now holds 77 seats after flipping 10. In the Senate, preliminary results show the DFL growing its one-seat majority to 39–28.
|
 |
|
In Senate District 4, DFL incumbent Sen. Rob Kupec trails Republican candidate Austin Peterson by four votes, and in Senate District 33, incumbent Republican Sen. Karin Housley leads DFL challenger Nat Smith by 42 votes. House District 32A Republican incumbent Rep. Nolan West is ahead of DFL candidate Amanda Matchett by 22 votes. All three races will have a recount.
View full election results for the Minnesota Legislature.
|
|
|
|
U.S. HOUSE DELEGATION
|
|
DFL candidates won five of Minnesota’s eight congressional seats, up from four. The gain comes in the 1st District, where Democrat Jake Johnson leads Republican incumbent Brad Finstad by 321 votes out of more than 326,000 cast. The margin falls within the range for a recount.
|
 |
|
|
|
LOOKING AHEAD
|
|
County officials are now reviewing unofficial returns ahead of the State Canvassing Board’s certification of the election results. Recounts are expected in the 1st Congressional District, Senate Districts 4 and 33, and House District 32A.
The Legislature will have new caucus leadership, which they are expected to select this week, and committee chairs, which will be decided by December. Governor–elect Klobuchar’s incoming administration will also bring in new state agency commissioners and staff. Governor–elect Klobuchar will be sworn in on Monday, January 4, 2027. The 2027 legislative session convenes on January 12.
|
|
|
|
FILLING KLOBUCHAR’S U.S. SENATE SEAT
|
|
Sen. Klobuchar’s election to the governor’s office leaves her U.S. Senate seat to be filled by appointment. Under state law, the governor appoints a temporary senator until a special election is called, which will be held in November 2027. The winner will serve the rest of the term, which ends in January 2031.
Klobuchar takes office Jan. 4. The day after the election, she indicated she expects to make the choice herself, and it was reported on Nov. 6 that Gov. Walz intends to follow her wishes. Names that have been circulating include Secretary of State Steve Simon and Congresswoman Kelly Morrison, both of whom just won re-election.
The 2027 special election may be the only U.S. Senate race on the ballot next year, which could draw national attention and spending. The most recent Minnesota Senate appointment was Tina Smith’s in 2017, after Al Franken resigned.
|
|
|
|
STATE BUDGET OUTLOOK
|
|
The Minnesota Management and Budget October Revenue and Economic Update, published Oct. 12, estimated first-quarter FY 2027 net general fund receipts at $8.607 billion, $928 million (12.1%) above forecast. Individual income, corporate franchise, sales tax and other revenues all exceeded projections. Concern about the longer-term budget outlook remains, however, because state spending is outpacing revenue, creating a structural budget imbalance.
The upcoming November budget forecast will set the terms for the 2027 session. Typically released in early December, it is the official number the governor and legislators use to build the next two-year budget.
|
|
|
|
