2014 United States Senate election in Minnesota
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The 2014 United States Senate election in Minnesota was held on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Minnesota, concurrently with the election of the Governor of Minnesota, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
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Franken: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% >90% McFadden: 30–40% 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% >90% Tie: 40-50% 50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor Senator Al Franken ran for re-election to a second term. Primary elections were held on August 12, 2014, in which Franken was renominated and the Republicans picked financial executive Mike McFadden. In the general election, Franken defeated him and Independence Party nominee Steve Carlson and Heather Johnson of the Libertarian Party with 53% of the vote. As of 2025, this is the last time that a male candidate won a U.S. Senate election in Minnesota. This is also the last time that the winner of Minnesota's Class 2 Senate seat won a majority of Minnesota's counties.
Background
Summarize
Perspective
Franken challenged incumbent Republican Senator Norm Coleman in 2008. When the initial count was completed on November 18, Franken was trailing Coleman by 215 votes.[1][2] This close margin triggered a mandatory recount.[3][4] After reviewing ballots that had been challenged during the recount and counting 953 wrongly rejected absentee ballots, the State Canvassing Board officially certified the recount results with Franken holding a 225-vote lead.[5][6]
On January 6, 2009, Coleman's campaign filed an election contest and on April 13, a three-judge panel dismissed Coleman's Notice of Contest and ruled that Franken had won the election by 312 votes.[7] Coleman's appeal of the panel's decision to the Minnesota Supreme Court was unanimously rejected on June 30,[8] and he conceded the election.[9] Franken was sworn in as Minnesota's junior senator on July 7, 2009.[10]
Because Franken's margin of victory was so slim, the seat was initially thought to be a top target for Republicans, but Politico reported in a May 2013 article that Franken's high approval rating, his large war chest, and the Republicans' struggle to find a top-tier candidate meant that Franken was the "heavy favorite" in the 2014 election.[11]
Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary
Candidates
Declared
- Al Franken, incumbent U.S. Senator[12]
- Sandra Henningsgard[13]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic (DFL) | Al Franken (incumbent) | 182,720 | 94.5% | |
Democratic (DFL) | Sandra Henningsgard | 10,627 | 5.5% | |
Total votes | 193,347 | 100.0% |
Republican primary
Summarize
Perspective
At the Republican State Convention on May 30–31, 2014, after ten ballots, Mike McFadden received the party's endorsement. Chris Dahlberg, Monti Moreno, Julianne Ortman and Phillip Parrish had all sought the endorsement but withdrew in favor of McFadden. Only Jim Abeler continued in the race and contested the August primary against McFadden.[15][16] David Carlson did not participate in the convention after a dispute with party leadership over nominating petitions.[17] He, Patrick D. Munro and Ole Savior also appeared on the ballot.
Candidates
Declared
Withdrew
- Chris Dahlberg, St. Louis County commissioner[22][23]
- Monti Moreno, bison farmer, former hair salon owner and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1996[24]
- Julianne Ortman, state senator[25][26]
- Phillip Parrish, U.S. Navy reservist[27]
- Harold Shudlick, retired U.S. Army chaplain and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2006 and 2012[28]
Declined
- Michele Bachmann, U.S. Representative[29]
- Laura Brod, former state representative[30]
- Norm Coleman, former U.S. Senator[31]
- Chip Cravaack, former U.S. Representative[32]
- Bill Guidera, finance chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota[33]
- Pete Hegseth, CEO of Concerned Veterans for America, former executive director of Vets For Freedom and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012[34]
- John Kline, U.S. Representative[35]
- Jason Lewis, radio talk show host and political commentator[36]
- Erik Paulsen, U.S. Representative[37]
- Tim Pawlenty, former governor of Minnesota[30]
- Rich Stanek, Hennepin County Sheriff[30]
Endorsements
Mike McFadden
- Norm Coleman, former U.S. Senator[38]
- Rod Grams, former U.S. Senator[38]
Julianne Ortman
- Sarah Palin, former Alaska Governor, 2008 Republican Vice-Presidential Candidate[39]
- Citizens United,[40]
- SHE-PAC,[41]
- Conservative Campaign Committee,[42]
- Minnesota Gun Owners Political Action Committee,[43]
Polling
Poll source |
Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Jim Abeler |
David Carlson |
Chris Dahlberg |
David Latvaaho |
Mike McFadden |
Monti Moreno |
Julianne Ortman |
Phillip Parrish |
Harold Shudlick |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PPP[44] | October 27–29, 2013 | 305 | ±5.7% | 12% | — | 10% | — | 11% | 2% | 12% | — | — | — | 53% |
TPC[45] | February 28–March 1, 2014 | 400 | ±4.9% | 8% | — | 4% | — | 8% | 1% | 16% | 0% | 1% | — | 52% |
Suffolk[46] | April 24–28, 2014 | 800 | ± ? | 8% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 12% | 0% | 14% | 1% | — | — | 63% |
SurveyUSA[47] | June 5–9, 2014 | 404 | ± 5% | 16% | — | — | — | 44% | — | — | — | — | 19% | 21% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Michele Bachmann |
Laura Brod |
Chip Cravaack |
John Kline |
Erik Paulsen |
Rich Stanek |
Other/ Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[48] | January 18–20, 2013 | 275 | ± 5.9% | 45% | 4% | 13% | 19% | 11% | 2% | 6% |
Hypothetical polling
Republican primary
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mike McFadden (endorsed) | 129,601 | 71.74% | |
Republican | Jim Abeler | 26,714 | 14.79% | |
Republican | David Carlson | 16,449 | 9.10% | |
Republican | Patrick Munro | 5,058 | 2.80% | |
Republican | Ole Savior | 2,840 | 1.57% | |
Total votes | 180,662 | 100.00% |
Independence primary
The Independence Party of Minnesota state convention was held on May 17, 2014, at Minnesota State University, Mankato.[49] Businessman Kevin Terrell won the party's endorsement, but lost the primary to Steve Carlson. Carlson did not ask for an endorsement from the Independence Party and self-identifies with the Tea party.[50] For their part, the Independence Party has disowned Carlson, who has defended Todd Akin's controversial "legitimate rape" comments and said that George Zimmerman "provided a valuable service" by killing Trayvon Martin.[51]
Candidates
Declared
Withdrew
- Hannah Nicollet (running for governor)[54][55]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Independence | Steve Carlson | 2,148 | 33.91% | |
Independence | Kevin Terrell (endorsed) | 1,376 | 21.72% | |
Independence | Jack Shepard | 1,130 | 17.83% | |
Independence | Stephen Williams | 862 | 13.60% | |
Independence | Tom Books | 820 | 12.94% | |
Total votes | 6,336 | 100.00% |
Libertarian convention
The Libertarian Party of Minnesota state convention was held on April 26, 2014, in Maple Grove.[56]
Candidates
Nominee
- Heather Johnson[57]
General election
Summarize
Perspective
Debates
- Complete video of debate, October 1, 2014
- Complete video of debate, October 26, 2014
Predictions
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report[58] | Likely D | November 3, 2014 |
Sabato's Crystal Ball[59] | Likely D | November 3, 2014 |
Rothenberg Political Report[60] | Likely D | November 3, 2014 |
Real Clear Politics[61] | Likely D | November 3, 2014 |
Polling
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Al Franken (DFL) |
Mike McFadden (R) |
Steve Carlson (IP) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[62] | May 17–19, 2013 | 712 | ± 3.7% | 51% | 36% | — | — | 13% |
Public Policy Polling[63] | October 27–29, 2013 | 895 | ± 3.3% | 49% | 38% | — | — | 13% |
SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV[64] | February 25–27, 2014 | 545 | ± 4.3% | 50% | 40% | — | — | 11% |
Suffolk University[65] | April 24–28, 2014 | 800 | ± ? | 44% | 29% | — | 7% | 20% |
SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV[66] | June 5–9, 2014 | 1,017 | ± 3.1% | 48% | 42% | — | 5%[67] | 5% |
Public Policy Polling[68] | June 12–15, 2014 | 633 | ± 3.9% | 49% | 38% | — | — | 13% |
Gravis Marketing[69] | July 2–3, 2014 | 879 | ± 3% | 51% | 35% | 13% | — | — |
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[70] | July 5–24, 2014 | 3,185 | ± 2% | 53% | 40% | — | 2% | 4% |
Rasmussen Reports[71] | August 13–14, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 50% | 42% | — | 2% | 6% |
SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV[72] | August 19–21, 2014 | 600 | ± 4.1% | 51% | 42% | 2% | 2% | 3% |
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[73] | August 18 – September 2, 2014 | 3,607 | ± 2% | 49% | 41% | — | 1% | 9% |
Mason-Dixon/Star Tribune[74] | September 8–10, 2014 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 49% | 36% | 3% | 1% | 11% |
Rasmussen Reports[71] | September 29–30, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 49% | 41% | — | 3% | 6% |
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[75] | September 20 – October 1, 2014 | 2,562 | ± 2% | 49% | 42% | — | 0% | 8% |
SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV[76] | September 30 – October 2, 2014 | 577 | ± 4.2% | 55% | 37% | 3% | 2%[77] | 3% |
Public Opinion Strategies[78] | October 5–7, 2014 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 46% | 39% | — | 15% | |
SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV[79] | October 14–16, 2014 | 597 | ± 4.1% | 53% | 38% | 3% | 3%[80] | 3% |
Mason-Dixon/Star Tribune[81] | October 20–22, 2014 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 48% | 39% | 3% | 1% | 9% |
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[75] | October 16–23, 2014 | 2,430 | ± 3% | 51% | 41% | — | 1% | 7% |
SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV[82] | October 27–30, 2014 | 596 | ± 4.1% | 51% | 40% | 4% | 3%[80] | 3% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Al Franken (DFL) |
Jim Abeler (R) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[63] | October 27–29, 2013 | 895 | ± 3.3% | 50% | 39% | — | 11% |
SurveyUSA[83] | February 25–27, 2014 | 545 | ± 4.3% | 49% | 37% | — | 14% |
Suffolk[84] | April 24–28, 2014 | 800 | ± ? | 45% | 29% | 8% | 19% |
SurveyUSA[47] | June 5–9, 2014 | 1,017 | ± 3.1% | 48% | 39% | 8%[85] | 5% |
Public Policy Polling[68] | June 12–15, 2014 | 633 | ± 3.9% | 50% | 39% | — | 11% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Al Franken (DFL) |
Michele Bachmann (R) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[86] | January 21–22, 2012 | 1,236 | ± 2.8% | 54% | 39% | — | 7% |
Public Policy Polling[87] | May 31 – June 3, 2012 | 973 | ± 3.1% | 57% | 35% | — | 8% |
Public Policy Polling[88] | September 10–11, 2012 | 824 | ± 3.4% | 52% | 40% | — | 7% |
Public Policy Polling[89] | October 5–8, 2012 | 937 | ± 3.2% | 55% | 37% | — | 8% |
Public Policy Polling[48] | January 18–20, 2013 | 1,065 | ± 3% | 54% | 40% | — | 7% |
Public Policy Polling[62] | May 17–19, 2013 | 712 | ± 3.7% | 55% | 38% | — | 7% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Al Franken (DFL) |
David Carlson (R) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[68] | June 12–15, 2014 | 633 | ± 3.9% | 49% | 38% | — | 13% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Al Franken (DFL) |
Norm Coleman (R) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[87] | May 31 – June 3, 2012 | 973 | ± 3.1% | 51% | 41% | — | 8% |
Public Policy Polling[88] | September 10–11, 2012 | 824 | ± 3.4% | 50% | 43% | — | 6% |
Public Policy Polling[89] | October 5–8, 2012 | 937 | ± 3.2% | 51% | 41% | — | 8% |
Public Policy Polling[48] | January 18–20, 2013 | 1,065 | ± 3% | 50% | 44% | — | 7% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Al Franken (DFL) |
John Kline (R) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[48] | January 18–20, 2013 | 1,065 | ± 3% | 49% | 41% | — | 11% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Al Franken (DFL) |
Jason Lewis (R) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[62] | May 17–19, 2013 | 712 | ± 3.7% | 54% | 37% | — | 9% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Al Franken (DFL) |
Monti Moreno (R) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[63] | October 27–29, 2013 | 895 | ± 3.3% | 49% | 36% | — | 15% |
SurveyUSA[83] | February 25–27, 2014 | 545 | ± 4.3% | 50% | 36% | — | 15% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Al Franken (DFL) |
Patrick Munro (R) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[68] | June 12–15, 2014 | 633 | ± 3.9% | 50% | 35% | — | 15% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Al Franken (DFL) |
Julianne Ortman (R) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[62] | May 17–19, 2013 | 712 | ± 3.7% | 52% | 35% | — | 14% |
Public Policy Polling[63] | October 27–29, 2013 | 895 | ± 3.3% | 49% | 37% | — | 14% |
SurveyUSA[83] | February 25–27, 2014 | 545 | ± 4.3% | 49% | 41% | — | 10% |
Suffolk[91] | April 24–28, 2014 | 800 | ± ? | 44% | 29% | 7% | 20% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Al Franken (DFL) |
Erik Paulsen (R) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[48] | January 18–20, 2013 | 1,065 | ± 3% | 50% | 39% | — | 11% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Al Franken (DFL) |
Tim Pawlenty (R) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[86] | January 21–22, 2012 | 1,236 | ± 2.8% | 49% | 43% | — | 8% |
Public Policy Polling[87] | May 31 – June 3, 2012 | 973 | ± 3.1% | 52% | 41% | — | 7% |
Public Policy Polling[88] | September 10–11, 2012 | 824 | ± 3.4% | 50% | 43% | — | 7% |
Public Policy Polling[89] | October 5–8, 2012 | 937 | ± 3.2% | 51% | 42% | — | 7% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Al Franken (DFL) |
Julie Rosen (R) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[62] | May 17–19, 2013 | 712 | ± 3.7% | 52% | 36% | — | 12% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Al Franken (DFL) |
Ole Savior (R) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[68] | June 12–15, 2014 | 633 | ± 3.9% | 50% | 33% | — | 17% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Al Franken (DFL) |
Rich Stanek (R) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[62] | May 17–19, 2013 | 712 | ± 3.7% | 51% | 36% | — | 13% |
Hypothetical polling
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic (DFL) | Al Franken (incumbent) | 1,053,205 | 53.15% | +11.16% | |
Republican | Mike McFadden | 850,227 | 42.91% | +0.93% | |
Independence | Steve Carlson | 47,530 | 2.40% | −12.75% | |
Libertarian | Heather Johnson | 29,685 | 1.50% | +1.02% | |
Write-in | 881 | 0.04% | -0.04% | ||
Total votes | 1,981,528 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
Democratic (DFL) hold |
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Lincoln (largest municipality: Tyler)
- Fillmore (largest city: Spring Valley)
- Grant (Largest city: Elbow Lake)
- Houston (Largest city: La Crescent)
- Kanabec (Largest city: Mora)
- Kandiyohi (Largest city: Willmar)
- Le Sueur (Largest city: Le Sueur)
- Marshall (Largest city: Warren)
- Mille Lacs (Largest city: Princeton)
- Pennington (Largest city: Thief River Falls)
- Polk (Largest city: East Grand Forks)
- Pope (Largest city: Glenwood)
- Red Lake (Largest city: Red Lake Falls)
- Renville (Largest city: Olivia)
- Stevens (Largest city: Morris)
- Traverse (Largest city: Wheaton)
- Wabasha (Largest city: Lake City)
- Waseca (Largest city: Waseca)
- Watonwan (Largest city: St. James)
- Yellow Medicine (Largest city: Granite Falls)
- Clay (largest city: Moorhead)
- Dakota (largest city: Hastings)
- Olmsted (largest city: Rochester)
- Washington (largest city: Stillwater)
By congressional district
Franken won 6 of 8 congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.[93]
District | Franken | McFadden | Representative |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 49% | 45% | Tim Walz |
2nd | 49% | 48% | John Kline |
3rd | 48.5% | 48.7% | Erik Paulsen |
4th | 61% | 35% | Betty McCollum |
5th | 74% | 23% | Keith Ellison |
6th | 42% | 54% | Tom Emmer |
7th | 48% | 47% | Collin Peterson |
8th | 54% | 42% | Rick Nolan |
See also
References
External links
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