2024 Minnesota elections

2024 Minnesota general election

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A general election was held in the U.S. state of Minnesota on November 5, 2024. All seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives were up for election as well as several judicial seats, Minnesota's 10 presidential electors, a United States Senate seat,[1] Minnesota's eight seats in the United States House of Representatives, one seat of the Minnesota Senate, and several positions for local offices.

Kamala Harris won Minnesota with 51.1% of the vote, with Donald Trump receiving 46.9%. Amy Klobuchar won a fourth term to the U.S. Senate with 56.3% of votes to GOP Royce White's 40.5%. All U.S. House incumbents won re-election.[2]

The presidential election could have brought significant changes to Minnesota's state government if Vice President Kamala Harris had won. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz would become vice president, making lieutenant governor Peggy Flanagan the state's first female and Native American governor, and Senate President Bobby Joe Champion lieutenant governor.[3]

A primary election to nominate major party candidates for state offices, federal legislative offices, and several judicial and local offices was held on August 13, 2024.[4] A presidential primary was held on March 5, 2024.[5]

Electoral system

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Elections for state and federal offices are held via first-past-the-post voting. The candidate or bloc of presidential electors that wins the most votes will be elected. Presidential nominations for parties with major party status—then the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Legal Marijuana Now, and Republican parties—were determined by an open primary election on March 5. All other partisan races held an open primary election on August 13, using the same process. Only two major parties (the DFL and Republican parties) were on the primary ballot after the Minnesota Supreme Court determined that Legal Marijuana Now is no longer a major party.[6] The candidate that wins the most votes in each party becomes their party's nominee for the general election. If only a single candidate seeks the nomination for each party, a primary election for that office is not held. Judicial and several local elections were held via a nonpartisan blanket primary.

The candidate filing period was from May 21 to June 4, 2024. The filing period for cities, townships, school districts, and hospital districts for which a primary election is not possible was from July 30 until August 13, 2024.[7] Early voting was held in-person and by mail.[8]

Federal elections

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President of the United States

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A presidential primary was held on March 5, 2024. The three major parties at the time had ballots: the DFL, the Republican Party, and the Legal Marijuana Now party (LMN). The winners were Joe Biden (DFL), Donald Trump (Republican Party), and Krystal Gabel (Legal Marijuana Now). Gabel received a plurality of votes for LMN, but had withdrawn prior to the election, leaving Dennis Schuller as the de facto nominee.[9]

In the general election, Kamala Harris won Minnesota's 10 electors in the Electoral College. Minnesota has voted for the Democratic nominee in every presidential election since 1976, the longest streak of any U.S. state as of the 2024 election.

United States House of Representatives

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Minnesota's eight seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election.[10] The DFL and the Republicans each held its four seats.

United States Senate

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Incumbent Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar won re-election for her fourth term.[11]

State elections

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Legislative elections

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Minnesota House of Representatives

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All 134 seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives were up for election in 2024. The DFL lost 3 seats to the Republicans, and each now holds 67 seats.[12]

On March 19, 2024, a special election was held for District 27B following the resignation of Kurt Daudt (R). Republican Bryan Lawrence won the seat with 84.5% of the vote and served for the 2024 legislative session.[13] Lawrence won re-election in the general election.

Minnesota Senate

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Senate District 45 in southwestern Hennepin County held a special election. The seat was vacant upon the resignation of Kelly Morrison on June 6, 2024.[14] The DFL held the seat, electing Ann Johnson Stewart.

Judicial elections

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There were several judicial offices on the ballot.[8] A total of nine offices were contested, three of which are statewide.[15]

Contested judicial elections[16]
District Seat Jurisdiction Candidates Votes %
Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Statewide Natalie Hudson (incumbent) 1,529,063 63.4%
Stephen A. Emery 872,720 36.2%
Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Seat 6 Statewide Karl Procaccini (incumbent) 1,322,180 56.6%
Matthew R. Hanson 1,003,978 43.0%
Minnesota Court of Appeals Seat 12 Statewide Diane Bratvold (incumbent) 1,437,341 63.5%
Jonathan R. Woolsey 816,943 36.1%
2nd Judicial District Seat 3 Ramsey County Timothy Carey (incumbent) 115,908 62.5%
Paul Yang 68,584 37.0%
2nd Judicial District Seat 29 Ramsey County Timothy Mulrooney (incumbent) 109,308 59.1%
Winona Yang 74,738 40.4%
4th Judicial District Seat 24 Hennepin County Matthew Frank (incumbent) 316,118 72.5%
Christopher Leckrone 117,673 27.0%
6th Judicial District Seat 6 (open) Northeast Minnesota Gunnar Johnson 52,817 45.4%
Shawn Reed 63,073 54.2%
Peter Raukar Eliminated in primary N/A
John B. Schulte Eliminated in primary N/A
Gerald K. Wallace Eliminated in primary N/A
7th Judicial District Seat 5 Western Minnesota Timothy M. Churchwell (incumbent) 102,067 50.9%
Joel A. Novak 97,694 48.7%
10th Judicial District Seat 3 North metro Helen Brosnahan (incumbent) 222,617 55.6%
Nathan Hansen 176,149 44.0%
Source: Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State[17]

State ballot measure

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The Minnesota Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) amendment was the only statewide ballot measure in Minnesota for 2024. The measure, which passed with over 77% support, extended a 1988 law directing 40% of state lottery proceeds to environmental projects.[18] The amendment required a majority vote of all voters in the election, meaning abstaining was effectively a "no" vote. The ENRTF was first established in 1988.[19] The fund has raised over $1 billion since 1991.[20]

Constitutional Amendment 1
Choice Votes %
checkY Yes 2,525,629 77.2
☒N No 530,322 16.2
Blank votes 214,380 6.6
Total 3,270,331 100.0

Local elections

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Elections for several subdivisions were held, including elections for counties, municipalities, townships, and school districts.[8]

Minneapolis

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Minneapolis voters decided on a proposed $20 million increase to the Minneapolis Public Schools technology levy, raising it to $38 million over the next 10 years. The district aims to reduce reliance on its general fund for technology expenses. The tax increase would cost about $96 annually for a $350,000 home.[21]

School District Question 1
Choice Votes %
checkY Yes 126,924 66.35
☒N No 64,366 33.65
Total 191,290 100.0

Saint Paul

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St. Paul voters had two ballot questions. The first would have allowed the mayor to impose an early childhood care tax of up to $20 million per year, totaling $110 million over a decade, though the mayor stated he won't implement it even if passed, which it did not. The second question proposed shifting city elections from odd to even years to increase voter turnout and reduce costs.[22] This question passed with about 60% support.

City Question 1 (Childcare)
Choice Votes %
☒N No 77,064 59.9
checkY Yes 51,501 40.1
Total 128,565 100.0
City Question 2 (Even-year elections)
Choice Votes %
checkY Yes 74,941 60.72
☒N No 48,475 39.28
Total 149,882 100.0

References

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  1. ^ Kilgore, Ed (January 29, 2023). "2024 Looks Very Dark for Senate Democrats". Intelligencer. Archived from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  2. ^ Brussee, Bryan; Nehil, Tom; Steinberg, Jake; Lin, Ellie; Sinner, C.J. (November 1, 2024). "Live: Minnesota general election results 2024". Star Tribune. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  3. ^ Callaghan, Peter (November 4, 2024). "A new governor? A dismantled trifecta? Here's what's at stake in Minnesota this election". MinnPost. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  4. ^ "2024 State Primary Election Dates". www.ncsl.org. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  5. ^ "Minnesota Voting Information". Vote 411. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  6. ^ Ferguson, Dana (May 10, 2024). "Legal Marijuana Now Party demoted from major party status in Minnesota Supreme Court decision". MPR News. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  7. ^ "Candidate Filing Periods". Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. State of Minnesota. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "Elections Calendar". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  9. ^ Brussee, Bryan; Nehil, Tom; Sinner, C.J. (March 5, 2024). "2024 Minnesota presidential primary live election results". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  10. ^ "2022 National House Vote Tracker". Cook Political Report. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  11. ^ Hauser, Tom (January 31, 2024). "KSTP/SurveyUSA poll: Klobuchar positioned to win reelection, but could be closer than usual". KSTP. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  12. ^ "Minnesota House of Representative elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  13. ^ "Republicans retain Minnesota House seat in special election". Minnesota Public Radio. March 19, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  14. ^ Morrison, Kelly (June 6, 2024). ""Today I am stepping down from my seat in the MN Senate"". twitter/x. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  15. ^ "Judicial Candidate Info". Minnesota State Bar Association. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  16. ^ "Index - Election Results". electionresults.sos.mn.gov. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  17. ^ "Judicial Candidate Filings, 2024 State General Election". Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  18. ^ "Minnesota Secretary Of State - Constitutional amendments". www.sos.state.mn.us. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  19. ^ Ibrahim, Mohamed (September 26, 2024). "The ENRTF on the Minnesota ballot". MinnPost. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  20. ^ Ibrahim, Mohamed (March 11, 2024). "More than 100 projects set to receive environmental trust dollars". MinnPost. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  21. ^ "MPS school board approves ballot question to increase technology levy by $20 million". www.mplsschoolsvoices.news. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  22. ^ Keefer, Winter (October 28, 2024). "Why Minneapolis, St. Paul mayors shrugged at overridden vetoes". MinnPost. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
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