2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election

The 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 6, to elect the 41st governor of Minnesota, as incumbent Democratic (DFL) Governor Mark Dayton chose not to run for re-election for a third term. The Democratic nominee was U.S. Representative Tim Walz from Minnesota's 1st congressional district, while the Republican Party nominated Hennepin County commissioner Jeff Johnson for a second consecutive time. The Independence Party of Minnesota did not field a candidate for the first time since 1994. Going into the election polls showed Walz ahead; the race was characterized as lean or likely DFL.

Quick Facts Turnout, Nominee ...
2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election

 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 
Turnout2,587,287 (63.6%)[a]
 
Nominee Tim Walz Jeff Johnson
Party Democratic (DFL) Republican
Running mate Peggy Flanagan Donna Bergstrom
Popular vote 1,393,096 1,097,705
Percentage 53.84% 42.43%

Walz:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Johnson:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%      50%      No votes

Governor before election

Mark Dayton
Democratic (DFL)

Elected Governor

Tim Walz
Democratic (DFL)

Close

Walz went on to defeat Johnson by the largest margin for a DFL candidate since 1986, receiving more votes than any other gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota history. This was the first Minnesota gubernatorial election since 1958 in which any party won more than two consecutive elections, as well as the first time since 1998 where the party of the incumbent president lost.

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Summarize
Perspective

Candidates

Nominated

Eliminated in primary

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

Erin Murphy (DFL)
Organizations
Labor unions
State elected officials
Local officials
National organizations
Rebecca Otto (DFL)
State officials
  • Tina Liebling, state representative, former 2018 gubernatorial candidate
Individuals
Lori Swanson (DFL)
Federal politicians
  • Rick Nolan, U.S. representative and candidate for lieutenant governor on the same ticket
State elected officials
Newspapers
Unions
Tim Walz (DFL)
Federal politicians
Mayors
State elected officials
Individuals
Tribal nations
Newspapers
Labor unions
Organizations

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Erin
Murphy
Lori
Swanson
Tim
Walz
Other Undecided
Emerson College[49] August 8–11, 2018 217 ± 6.9% 19% 29% 28% 24%
Marist College[50] July 15–19, 2018 439 ± 5.6% 11% 28% 24% 1% 37%
GQR Research (D-Minnesota Victory PAC)[51] June 25–27, 2018 602 17% 37% 29% 1%[52] 16%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Tom
Bakk
Chris
Coleman
Amy
Klobuchar
Erin
Murphy
Rebecca
Otto
R. T.
Rybak
Tina
Smith
Lori
Swanson
Tim
Walz
Undecided
SurveyUSA[53] November 17–19, 2016 1% 3% 25% 0% 1% 6% 1% 3% 5% 54%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Chris
Coleman
Tina
Liebling
Erin
Murphy
Rebecca
Otto
Lori
Swanson
Paul
Thissen
Tim
Walz
Undecided
Mason-Dixon[54] January 8–10, 2018 298 12% 2% 6% 9% 16% 4% 21% 30%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Erin
Murphy
Rebecca
Otto
Tim
Walz
Other Undecided
Expedition Strategies (D-Walz)[55] April 23–26, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 3% 19% 27% 2% 49%
Close
Hypothetical polling

Straw poll

Straw poll ballot at the Minnesota DFL February 2018 precinct caucuses

On February 6, 2018, the DFL conducted a statewide straw poll among registered Democrats in Minnesota. Caucus-goers were scheduled to elect delegates to their party's Senate district and county conventions, which in turn would elect state convention delegates who would endorse candidates for governor, two U.S. Senate seats, attorney general, state auditor and secretary of state. Congressional district delegates would endorse U.S. House candidates. Since the straw poll, the three lowest performing candidates withdrew from the race (Paul Thissen, Chris Coleman, and Tina Liebling).

More information Congressional unit, Total attendance ...
Congressional
unit
Total
attendance
Chris Coleman Tina Liebling Erin Murphy Rebecca Otto Paul Thissen Tim
Walz
Other Uncommitted
1 2,577 71 355 107 232 56 1,558 4 163
2 3,501 384 202 411 656 120 1,156 4 523
3 4,291 670 202 386 827 186 1,362 8 530
4 6,072 854 297 1,111 1,227 139 1,384 11 897
5 9,519 1,019 457 1,400 1,462 537 2,363 30 1,137
6 2,375 326 115 294 587 59 590 4 375
7 2,121 124 106 274 405 172 761 4 273
8 3,873 441 277 474 1,082 263 759 8 527
Statewide 34,329 3,889 2,011 4,457 6,478 1,532 9,933 73 4,425
Percent - 11.86% 6.13% 13.59% 19.75% 4.67% 30.29% 0.22% 13.49%
Close

Results

county
Results by county
  Walz
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Murphy
  •   40–50%
  Swanson
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
congressional district
Results by congressional district
  Walz
  •   40–50%
  •   70–80%
  Murphy
  •   40–50%
  Swanson
  •   40–50%
More information Party, Candidate ...
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Tim Walz 242,832 41.60%
Democratic (DFL) Erin Murphy 186,969 32.03%
Democratic (DFL) Lori Swanson 143,517 24.59%
Democratic (DFL) Tim Holden 6,398 1.10%
Democratic (DFL) Olé Savior 4,019 0.69%
Total votes 583,735 100.00%
Close

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominated

Eliminated in primary

Withdrew

Declined

Endorsements

Tim Pawlenty
State officials
Organizations
Newspapers and publications

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Jeff
Johnson
Matt
Kruse
Tim
Pawlenty
Other Undecided
Emerson College[49] August 8–11, 2018 156 ± 8.0% 34% 43% 23%
Marist College[50] July 15–19, 2018 340 ± 6.4% 32% 51% 1% 16%
BK Strategies (R)[96] June 24–25, 2018 439 ± 4.7% 20% 3% 54% 23%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Kurt
Daudt
Keith
Downey
Tom
Emmer
Mike
McFadden
Erik
Paulsen
Tim
Pawlenty
Rich
Stanek
Undecided
SurveyUSA[53] November 17–19, 2016 2% 1% 4% 2% 8% 19% 1% 64%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Kurt
Daudt
Matt
Dean
Keith
Downey
Jeff
Johnson
Julie
Rosen
Mary G.
Stephens
Undecided
Mason-Dixon[54] January 8–10, 2018 218 12% 2% 1% 24% 4% 1% 54%
Close
Hypothetical polling

Results

Thumb
Results by county
  Johnson
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Pawlenty
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
Thumb
Results by congressional district
  Johnson
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  Pawlenty
  •   40–50%
More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican Party of Minnesota primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Johnson 168,841 52.61%
Republican Tim Pawlenty 140,743 43.86%
Republican Mathew Kruse 11,330 3.53%
Total votes 320,914 100.00%
Close

Third parties and independents

Candidates

Declared

General election

Summarize
Perspective

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[99] Likely D October 26, 2018
The Washington Post[100] Lean D November 5, 2018
FiveThirtyEight[101] Likely D November 5, 2018
Rothenberg Political Report[102] Likely D November 1, 2018
Sabato's Crystal Ball[103] Lean D November 5, 2018
RealClearPolitics[104] Lean D November 4, 2018
Daily Kos[105] Likely D November 5, 2018
Fox News[106][b] Lean D November 5, 2018
Politico[107] Likely D November 5, 2018
Governing[108] Lean D November 5, 2018
Close
Notes
  1. Based on an estimated number of 4,064,389 eligible voters[1]
  2. The Fox News Midterm Power Rankings uniquely does not contain a category for Safe/Solid races

Debates

The debate season began only three days after the primaries, with Johnson and Walz participating in two debates on Friday, August 17. A third debate was held on Friday, August 31.[109][110]

More information Host network/sponsors, Date ...
Host
network/sponsors
Date Link(s) Participants
Tim
Walz (DFL)
Jeff
Johnson (R)
MPR News August 31, 2018 [110] Invited Invited
KSTP-TV August 17, 2018 [111] Invited Invited
Twin Cities PBS (Almanac) August 17, 2018 [112] Invited Invited
Close

Endorsements

Jeff Johnson (R)
Federal officials
Statewide and local officials
Individuals
Organizations
Tim Walz (DFL)
Federal officials
Newspapers
Mayors
  • Rita Albrecht, mayor of Bemidji
  • Robert Beussman, mayor of New Ulm
  • Bob Byrnes, mayor of Marshall
  • Rick Cannata, mayor of Hibbing
  • Melvin Carter, mayor of St. Paul
  • Molly Cummings, mayor of Hopkins
  • Jacob Frey, mayor of Minneapolis[37]
  • Mary Gaasch, mayor of Lauderdale
  • Eric Garcetti, mayor of Los Angeles[129]
  • Emily Larson, mayor of Duluth
  • Kirsten Hagen-Kennedy, mayor of North Branch
  • Mike Kuhle, mayor of Worthington
  • Mike Maguire, mayor of Eagan
  • Rick Miller, mayor of Waite Park
  • Harold Peterson, mayor of Blooming Prairie
  • Sarah Schroeder, mayor of Spring Grove
  • Nancy Tyra-Lukens, mayor of Eden Prairie
  • Ardell Brede, mayor of Rochester
  • Ben Schierer, mayor of Fergus Falls
  • Jim Hovland, mayor of Edina
  • Shep Harris, mayor of Golden Valley
  • Gary Skalko, mayor of Mountain Iron
  • Roy Srp, mayor of Waseca
  • Myron Bailey, mayor of Cottage Grove
  • Pat Baustian, mayor of Luverne
  • Bob Broeder, mayor of Le Seur
  • Ted Kozlowski, mayor of Stillwater
  • Jack L'Heureux, mayor of Mora
  • Charles Novak, mayor of Ely
  • Mark Peterson, mayor of Winona
  • Dennis Phelps, mayor of Westbrook
  • Mike Poellinger, mayor of La Crescent
  • R. T. Rybak, former mayor of Minneapolis[36]
  • Gary Skalko, mayor of Mountain Iron
  • Nora Slawik, mayor of Maplewood
  • Dave Smiglewski, mayor of Granite Falls
  • Tom Stiehm, mayor of Austin
  • El Tinklenberg, former mayor of Blaine
  • John Tuorilla, mayor of Columet
State and local officials
Local officials
  • Betsy Tate Anderson, former Hopkins School Board
  • David Boone, Robbinsdale School Board
  • Jen Bouchard, Hopkins School Board
  • Crystal Brakke, Richfield School Board
  • Katy Campbell, Hopkins Council
  • Anne Casey, St. Louis Park School Board
  • Joanie Clausen, Golden Valley Council
  • Mari Daily, Moorhead Council
  • Jim Grabowska, St. Clair School Board
  • Dan Hartman, former Duluth Council
  • Michael Herring, Robbinsdale School Board
  • Linda Higgins, Hennepin County commissioner
  • Noah Hobbs, Duluth City Council
  • Valerie Holthus, Andover City Council
  • Andrew Johnson, Minneapolis City Council
  • Chris LaTondresse, Hopkins School Board
  • Pam Lindberg, Robbinsdale School Board
  • Nevada Littlewolf, Virginia City Council
  • Nancy Livingston, North St. Paul School Board
  • Randy Maluchnik, Carver County commissioner
  • Ken Morrison, St. Louis Park School Board
  • Reed Olson, Beltrami County commissioner
  • Linea Palmisano, Minneapolis City Council
  • Todd Rengo, Esko School Board
  • Gillian Rosenquist, Golden Valley Council
  • Kevin Staunton, Edina City Council
  • Vance Stuehrenberg, Blue Earth County commissioner
  • Christian Torkelson, Little Canada Council
  • Mary Tomback, St. Louis Park School Board
  • Renee Van Nett, Duluth City Council
  • Karen Waters, St. Louis Park School Board
  • Gordy Wagner, Pope County commissioner
  • Abdi Warsame, Minneapolis City Council
Individuals
Tribal nations
Unions
National organizations

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Tim
Walz (DFL)
Jeff
Johnson (R)
Josh
Welter (L)
Other Undecided
Change Research[132] November 2–4, 2018 953 53% 41% 2% 2%[133]
Research Co.[134] November 1–3, 2018 450 ± 4.6% 48% 42% 1% 9%
SurveyUSA[135] October 29–31, 2018 600 ± 5.3% 49% 41% 2% 9%
St. Cloud State University[136] October 15–30, 2018 404 50% 34%
Mason-Dixon[137] October 15–17, 2018 800 ± 3.5% 45% 39% 3% 2%[133] 12%
Change Research[138] October 12–13, 2018 1,413 47% 44% 3% 4%[139] 2%
Marist College[140] September 30 – October 4, 2018 637 LV ± 4.9% 51% 36% 6% <1% 6%
55% 38% <1% 7%
860 RV ± 4.2% 49% 37% 7% <1% 7%
53% 39% 1% 8%
Mason-Dixon[141] September 10–12, 2018 800 ± 3.5% 45% 36% 1% 2%[133] 16%
SurveyUSA[142] September 6–8, 2018 574 ± 4.9% 47% 40% 3% 10%
Suffolk University[143] August 17–20, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 46% 41% 1% 1%[144] 12%
Emerson College[49] August 8–11, 2018 500 ± 4.6% 40% 33% 27%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Erin
Murphy (D)
Tim
Pawlenty (R)
Other Undecided
Marist College[50] July 15–19, 2018 876 ± 4.0% 48% 40% 2% 9%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Lori
Swanson (D)
Tim
Pawlenty (R)
Other Undecided
Emerson College[49] August 8–11, 2018 500 ± 4.6% 44% 36% 21%
Marist College[50] July 15–19, 2018 876 ± 4.0% 51% 40% 2% 7%
BK Strategies[145] June 24–25, 2018 1,574 ± 2.5% 46% 41% 13%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Tim
Walz (D)
Tim
Pawlenty (R)
Other Undecided
Emerson College[49] August 8–11, 2018 500 ± 4.6% 44% 33% 23%
Marist College[50] July 15–19, 2018 876 ± 4.0% 51% 40% 1% 8%
BK Strategies[145] June 24–25, 2018 1,574 ± 2.5% 48% 41% 11%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Lori
Swanson (D)
Jeff
Johnson (R)
Undecided
Emerson College[49] August 8–11, 2018 500 ± 4.6% 37% 32% 31%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Generic
Democrat
Generic
Republican
Undecided
BK Strategies[145] June 24–25, 2018 1,574 ± 2.5% 48% 42% 10%
Public Policy Polling (D-A Better Minnesota)[146] June 15–16, 2018 717 46% 39% 16%
Close
Hypothetical polling

with Erin Murphy and Tim Pawlenty

with Lori Swanson and Tim Pawlenty

with Tim Walz and Tim Pawlenty

with Lori Swanson and Jeff Johnson

Results

Thumb
Thumb
More information Party, Candidate ...
2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election[147]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Tim Walz 1,393,096 53.84% +3.77%
Republican Jeff Johnson 1,097,705 42.43% −2.08%
Grassroots—LC Chris Wright 68,667 2.65% +1.07%
Libertarian Josh Welter 26,735 1.03% +0.11%
Write-in 1,084 0.04% 0.00%
Total votes 2,587,287 100.00% N/A
Democratic (DFL) hold
Close

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

Walz won five of eight congressional districts, with the remaining three going to Johnson. Each candidate won a district that elected a representative of the other party.[148]

More information District, Walz ...
District Walz Johnson Representative
1st 50% 47% Jim Hagedorn
2nd 51% 45% Angie Craig
3rd 54% 42% Dean Phillips
4th 66% 31% Betty McCollum
5th 78% 18% Ilhan Omar
6th 41% 55% Tom Emmer
7th 40% 57% Collin Peterson
8th 47% 49% Pete Stauber
Close

Voter demographics

More information Demographic subgroup, Walz ...
Edison Research exit poll
Demographic subgroup Walz Johnson No
answer
 % of
voters
Gender
Men 48 49 3 46
Women 59 37 4 54
Age
18–24 years old 71 25 4 6
25–29 years old 63 34 3 5
30–39 years old 60 38 2 12
40–49 years old 51 46 3 13
50–64 years old 54 45 1 29
65 and older 52 46 2 35
Race
White 53 46 1 89
Black 84 14 2 5
Latino N/A N/A N/A 3
Asian N/A N/A N/A 2
Other N/A N/A N/A 2
Race by gender
White men 46 53 1 41
White women 59 39 2 48
Black men N/A N/A N/A 3
Black women N/A N/A N/A 2
Latino men N/A N/A N/A 1
Latino women N/A N/A N/A 1
Others N/A N/A N/A 3
Education
High school or less 52 45 3 17
Some college education 48 49 3 24
Associate degree 48 49 3 17
Bachelor's degree 56 40 4 26
Advanced degree 70 28 2 16
Education and race
White college graduates 61 35 4 38
White no college degree 46 51 3 51
Non-white college graduates 70 26 4 4
Non-white no college degree 74 23 3 7
Whites by education and gender
White women with college degrees 68 29 3 21
White women without college degrees 51 45 4 28
White men with college degrees 54 43 3 17
White men without college degrees 40 58 2 23
Non-whites 73 24 3 11
Income
Under $30,000 63 34 3 14
$30,000–49,999 54 43 3 21
$50,000–99,999 48 51 1 36
$100,000–199,999 55 42 3 23
Over $200,000 N/A N/A N/A 7
Party ID
Democrats 95 5 N/A 39
Republicans 10 90 N/A 32
Independents 51 42 7 28
Party by gender
Democratic men 94 5 1 14
Democratic women 95 4 1 25
Republican men 8 92 N/A 16
Republican women 12 88 N/A 17
Independent men 47 48 5 16
Independent women 58 34 8 13
Ideology
Liberals 94 2 4 27
Moderates 65 32 3 39
Conservatives 10 87 3 33
Marital status
Married 47 49 4 68
Unmarried 63 33 4 32
Gender by marital status
Married men 43 54 3 31
Married women 51 45 4 36
Unmarried men 52 43 5 15
Unmarried women 72 24 4 18
First-time midterm election voter
Yes 52 44 4 12
No 55 42 3 88
Most important issue facing the country
Health care 74 24 2 50
Immigration 20 79 1 22
Economy 30 67 3 18
Gun policy N/A N/A N/A 8
Area type
Urban 67 30 3 40
Suburban 50 46 4 32
Rural 41 56 3 28
Source: CNN[149]
Close

See also

Notes

    References

    Loading related searches...

    Wikiwand - on

    Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.