Overview of Minnesota’s 2018 Election Results
The 2018 general election in Minnesota produced a slate of outcomes that affirmed nominations and delivered clear winners across statewide offices, congressional seats, state legislative contests, and ballot measures. For most constitutional offices, incumbents secured reelection, while several open seats changed partisan control. On the U.S. House side, Democrats expanded Minnesota’s delegation, and the U.S. Senate seat held by Amy Klobuchar remained in Democratic control. This explainer summarizes verified results from state canvassing and official canvasser proceedings, focusing on offices and measures with durable relevance for understanding Minnesota’s electoral framework.
Statewide Executive Races
Minnesota’s top executive contests in 2018 followed familiar partisan lines, with Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) nominees winning key races. The governor and lieutenant governor ticket headed by Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan defeated the Republican–Independent Republican ticket. The secretary of state and attorney general offices also returned to DFL control after competitive general elections. Across these contests, official canvasser certification confirmed the margins reported by counties, with no statewide contests requiring recounts to alter the certified outcome.
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
The race for governor featured the DFL ticket of Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan against the Republican–IFR ticket of Tim Pawlenty and Michelle Fischbach. Walz–Flanagan prevailed with a margin exceeding 200,000 votes, producing a certified result that positioned Walz as the state’s chief executive and Flanagan as lieutenant governor. County canvassers aggregated precinct returns, and the statewide canvassing session formally certified the results in late November.
Secretary of State and Attorney General
Minnesota’s secretary of state and attorney general elections in 2018 delivered victories to DFL nominees. Steve Simon secured reelection as secretary of state, while Keith Ellison won the attorney general contest, marking his first election to state office after serving as U.S. representative. Both outcomes were certified following standard canvassing procedures, with final vote totals documented in the statewide canvass report.
U.S. House and Senate Contests
Federal legislative races in Minnesota in 2018 strengthened the DFL presence in Washington. All eight U.S. House districts were contested, producing a delegation of Democrats and one Republican. In the U.S. Senate, incumbent Amy Klobuchar won a second term by a wide margin, ensuring continuity for the seat held by the DFL since the early 2000s. The table below summarizes key federal results for quick reference.
| Office / Race | Winner | Party | Approximate Margin (pp) | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senate | Amy Klobuchar | Democratic (DFL) | ~23.6 | Certified winner; second term |
| MN–02 (U.S. House) | Angie Craig | Democratic (DFL) | ~4.5 | Flip from Republican; certified winner |
| MN–03 (U.S. House) | Dean Phillips | Democratic (DFL) | ~5.7 | Open seat win; certified winner |
| MN–04 (U.S. House) | Betty McCollum | Democratic (DFL) | ~12.5 | Incumbent reelected; certified winner |
| MN–08 (U.S. House) | Pete Stauber | Republican | ~5.0 | Incumbent reelected; certified winner |
State Legislative Elections
The 2018 cycle also decided all seats in the Minnesota Senate and all seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Democrats secured a majority in both chambers, ending a period of divided control. These outcomes affected the state’s policy agenda and procedural dynamics for the ensuing biennium, with committee leadership and floor control aligning with the new partisan configuration. Certified results at the district level determined the composition of the next legislative session.
Minnesota Senate and House Control
Election outcomes gave the DFL a sufficient margin to organize both the Senate and the House. The precise distribution by district is reflected in the official canvass, which remains the authoritative source for seat-by-seat results. For long-term reference, the party controlling each chamber and the net seat change compared to pre-2018 composition can be derived from the certified canvass summaries.
Ballot Measures and Constitutional Questions
Minnesota voters in 2018 decided several ballot measures, touching on funding for parks, heritage and arts programs, and school funding formulas. One measure concerning ethics and lobby restrictions did not meet the required threshold for adoption. Another proposal on voter ID requirements was rejected by a clear margin. Certified results for each measure are documented in the statewide canvass and are useful for understanding policy priorities reflected in the electorate’s choices.
Official Certification and Canvassing Process
Following election day, Minnesota county canvassers compiled and reconciled returns, culminating in a statewide canvassing session that produced the final official results. This multi-step process included objection handling for certain contests, review of absentee and provisional ballots, and public certification of winner lists. The timelines and documentation tied to certification provide a durable record useful for audits, historical research, and civic reference.
Key Dates and Deadlines Around the 2018 Cycle
Understanding the rhythm of the 2108 election cycle helps contextualize how results were finalized and certified. From primary filing to the final canvass, each phase of the process adhered to state statutory schedules. The table below highlights critical milestones with approximate dates and their significance within Minnesota’s electoral procedures.
| Date or Period | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| August 14, 2018 | Primary election | Determined party nominees for general election |
| November 6, 2018 | General election | Day voters decided offices and measures |
| Late November–December 2018 | County canvassing and statewide canvassing session | Official certification of final results |
Useful Comparison: DFL vs. Republican Outcomes in 2018
A concise side-by-side comparison can clarify how control shifted across offices and ballot items. This overview abstracts close contests and lands on verified net outcomes, which are stable reference points for analyzing Minnesota’s political landscape after the 2018 cycle.
- Executive offices: DFL won governor and lieutenant governor; retained secretary of state and attorney general.
- U.S. House: DFL flipped MN–02 and MN–03; held MN–01, MN–04, MN–05; Republican held MN–06 and MN–08.
- State legislature: DFL flipped both chambers, controlling House and Senate.
- Ballot measures: Parks and arts funding approved; voter ID restriction rejected; ethics measure did not pass.
Where to Find Official 2018 Results
Authoritative details on candidates, vote counts, and margins for the 2018 election in Minnesota are available through the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office and the state’s campaign finance and ethics agency. The statewide canvass report, candidate filing records, and precinct summaries provide line-item data for research, reporting, and historical comparison. These materials are part of the public record and support transparent understanding of electoral outcomes.
Conclusion
The verified outcomes from Minnesota’s 2018 election illustrate a shift toward unified Democratic–Farmer–Labor control of statewide executive offices and both legislative chambers, alongside Democratic retention of most U.S. House seats and the U.S. Senate seat held by Amy Klobuchar. Official canvassing and certification procedures produced a stable, auditable record that remains a foundation for understanding the state’s electoral and policy trajectory. For precise district-level data or measure-specific results, consult the state’s official canvass materials.