2012 Minnesota Senate election

For Minnesota's 2012 U.S. Senate election, see 2012 United States Senate election in Minnesota.

2012 Minnesota Senate election
← 2010 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2016 →
All 67 seats in the Minnesota Senate
34 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Tom Bakk Dave Senjem
Party Democratic (DFL) Republican
Leader since November 4, 2010 December 27, 2011
Leader's seat 3rd–Cook 25th–Rochester
Last election 30 seats, 48.91% 37 seats, 49.72%
Seats won 39 28
Seat change Increase9 Decrease9
Popular vote 1,532,065 1,193,356
Percentage 55.83% 43.49%
Swing Increase6.92 pp Decrease6.23 pp
Majority Leader before election

Dave Senjem
Republican

Elected Majority Leader

Tom Bakk
Democratic (DFL)

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The 2012 Minnesota Senate election was held in the U.S. state of Minnesota on November 6, 2012, to elect members to the Senate of the 88th and 89th Minnesota Legislatures. A primary election was held in several districts on August 14, 2012.

The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) won a majority of seats, defeating the majority of the Republican Party of Minnesota.[1] This was the first election for the Republicans since it won a majority of seats in the 2010 election, its first since the return of partisan elections to the Senate in 1976. The new Legislature convened on January 8, 2013.

Primary election results

District Party Candidates Votes %
1 Republican Steve Nordhagen 1,574 72.77
Jual Carlson 589 27.23
DFL LeRoy Stumpf 3,218 100.00
5 Republican John Carlson 2,654 100.00
DFL Tom Saxhaug 3,981 72.39
Laverne Pederson 1,518 27.61
10 Republican Carrie Ruud 2,350 100.00
DFL Taylor Stevenson 2,873 57.38
Anne Marcotte 2,134 42.62
13 Republican Michelle Fischbach 1,484 90.27
Fadumo Yusuf 160 9.73
DFL Peggy Boeck 765 100.00
15 Republican Dave Brown 1,725 100.00
DFL Sally Knox 1,183 62.56
Ron Thiessen 708 37.44
17 Republican Joe Gimse 1,490 100.00
DFL Lyle Koenen 3,019 57.20
Larry Rice 2,259 42.80
20 Republican Mike Dudley 2,590 86.62
Gene Thomas Kornder 400 13.38
DFL Kevin Dahle 2,323 100.00
30 Republican Mary Kiffmeyer 1,620 73.44
Paul Bolin 586 26.56
DFL Paul Perovich 806 100.00
33 Republican David Osmek 2,885 50.94
Connie Doepke 2,778 49.06
DFL Judy Rogosheske 1,187 100.00
39 Republican Karin Housley 1,941 67.26
Eric Michael Langness 945 32.74
DFL Julie Bunn 2,235 100.00
40 DFL Chris Eaton 2,005 81.01
Timothy Davis 470 18.99
45 Republican Blair Tremere 978 54.36
Timothy Hall 821 45.64
DFL Ann Rest 3,851 100.00
46 Republican Paul Scofield 544 56.43
Roger Champagne 420 43.57
DFL Ron Latz 3,205 100.00
47 Republican Julianne Ortman 2,114 58.43
Bruce Schwichtenberg 1,504 41.57
DFL James Weygand 824 100.00
55 Republican Eric Pratt 1,666 100.00
DFL Kathy Busch 1,059 87.52
Josh Ondich 151 12.48
57 Republican Pat Hall 1,937 100.00
DFL Greg Clausen 1,456 78.66
Mike Germain 395 21.34
64 Republican Sharon Anderson 632 100.00
DFL Dick Cohen 5,797 89.43
Alexander Jeffries 685 10.57
67 Republican Mike Capistrant 425 100.00
DFL Foung Hawj 2,142 44.21
Robert Humphrey 1,897 39.15
Tom Dimond 806 16.64

Source: Minnesota Secretary of State[2]

General election

Opinion polling

Polling firm/client Polling period Sample
size 		Margin of
error (pp) 		Republican DFL Independence Other Undecided
SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV[3] November 1–3, 2012 556 LV ±4.2 40% 48% 6% 6% 1%
SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV[4] October 26–28, 2012 574 LV ±4.2 40% 45% 8% 6% 1%
SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV[5] October 12–14, 2012 550 LV ±4.3 36% 45% 8% 3% 9%
Public Policy Polling[6] October 5–8, 2012 937 LV ±3.2 40% 52% — — 8%
Public Policy Polling[7] September 10–11, 2012 824 LV ±3.4 44% 47% — — 9%
SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV[8] September 6–9, 2012 551 LV ±4.3 38% 45% 6% 3% 9%
SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV[9] July 17–19, 2012 552 LV ±4.3 40% 45% 8% 2% 6%
Public Policy Polling[10] May 31 – June 3, 2012 973 ±3.1 36% 48% — — 16%
Public Policy Polling[11] January 21–22, 2012 1,236 ±2.8 39% 48% — — 14%
Public Policy Polling[12] May 27–30, 2011 1,179 ±2.9 40% 49% — — 11%

Results

Districts won
Summary of the November 6, 2012 Minnesota Senate election results
Party Candidates Votes Seats
No. % ∆pp No. ∆No. %
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party 67 1,532,065 55.83 Increase6.92 39 Increase9 58.21
Republican Party of Minnesota 63 1,193,356 43.49 Decrease6.23 28 Decrease9 41.79
Independence Party of Minnesota 2 6,102 0.22 Decrease0.47 0 Steady 0.00
Independent 1 5,196 0.19 Decrease0.12 0 Steady 0.00
Write-in N/A 7,251 0.26 Decrease0.07 0 Steady 0.00
Total 2,743,970 100.00 ±0.00 67 ±0 100.00
Invalid/blank votes 206,810 7.01 Negative increase3.78
Turnout (out of 3,861,043 eligible voters)[13] 2,950,780 76.42 Increase20.59
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State,[14] Minnesota Legislative Reference Library[15]

District results

District Candidates Party Votes % Winner
Party
1 LeRoy Stumpf DFL 22,298 60.59 DFL
Steve Nordhagen Republican 14,475 39.33
2 Rod Skoe DFL 21,269 54.92 DFL
Dennis Moser Republican 17,423 44.99
3 Tom Bakk DFL 28,427 64.59 DFL
Jennifer Havlick Republican 15,509 35.24
4 Kent Eken DFL 19,833 52.17 DFL
Phil Hansen Republican 18,132 47.70
5 Tom Saxhaug DFL 21,301 52.33 DFL
John Carlson Republican 19,362 47.56
6 David Tomassoni DFL 30,882 71.58 DFL
Brandon Anderson Republican 12,220 28.32
7 Roger Reinert DFL 32,684 76.90 DFL
Tyler Verry Republican 9,621 22.64
8 Bill Ingebrigtsen Republican 22,693 52.86 Republican
Dan Skogen DFL 20,197 47.04
9 Paul Gazelka Republican 20,527 53.65 Republican
Al Doty DFL 17,687 46.22
10 Carrie Ruud Republican 22,848 53.88 Republican
Taylor Stevenson DFL 19,490 45.96
11 Tony Lourey DFL 24,342 64.22 DFL
Bill Saumer Republican 13,505 35.63
12 Torrey Westrom Republican 25,279 61.49 Republican
John Schultz DFL 15,801 38.44
13 Michelle Fischbach Republican 26,015 63.53 Republican
Peggy Boeck DFL 14,871 36.32
14 John Pederson Republican 19,351 52.47 Republican
Jerry McCarter DFL 17,434 47.27
15 Dave Brown Republican 21,917 56.55 Republican
Sally Knox DFL 16,787 43.31
16 Gary Dahms Republican 20,922 53.01 Republican
Ted Suss DFL 18,496 46.87
17 Lyle Koenen DFL 21,621 55.40 DFL
Joe Gimse Republican 17,350 44.46
18 Scott Newman Republican 22,556 58.15 Republican
Steven Schiroo DFL 16,180 41.71
19 Kathy Sheran DFL 33,291 97.52 DFL
20 Kevin Dahle DFL 20,627 50.02 DFL
Mike Dudley Republican 20,556 49.85
21 Matt Schmit DFL 21,937 52.43 DFL
John Howe Republican 19,846 47.44
22 Bill Weber Republican 19,548 52.76 Republican
Alan Oberloh DFL 17,457 47.11
23 Julie Rosen Republican 25,838 63.97 Republican
Paul Marquardt DFL 14,516 35.94
24 Vicki Jensen DFL 19,248 52.60 DFL
Vern Swedin Republican 17,286 47.23
25 Dave Senjem Republican 22,299 53.72 Republican
Judy Ohly DFL 19,149 46.13
26 Carla Nelson Republican 22,263 55.62 Republican
Kenneth Moen DFL 17,692 44.20
27 Dan Sparks DFL 26,552 68.22 DFL
Linden Anderson Republican 12,334 31.69
28 Jeremy Miller Republican 23,122 57.12 Republican
Jack Krage DFL 17,303 42.74
29 Bruce Anderson Republican 24,486 60.56 Republican
Brian Doran DFL 15,867 39.25
30 Mary Kiffmeyer Republican 25,205 62.41 Republican
Paul Perovich DFL 15,125 37.45
31 Michelle Benson Republican 24,774 58.64 Republican
Mike Starr DFL 17,423 41.24
32 Sean Nienow Republican 21,955 54.25 Republican
Jeske Noordergraaf DFL 18,450 45.59
33 David Osmek Republican 28,195 58.92 Republican
Judy Rogosheske DFL 19,547 40.85
34 Warren Limmer Republican 25,847 57.04 Republican
Sharon Bahensky DFL 19,406 42.83
35 Branden Petersen Republican 22,874 54.21 Republican
Peter Perovich DFL 19,253 45.63
36 John Hoffman DFL 22,194 53.10 DFL
Benjamin Kruse Republican 19,522 46.71
37 Alice Johnson DFL 22,814 53.23 DFL
Pam Wolf Republican 19,962 46.57
38 Roger Chamberlain Republican 23,817 53.22 Republican
Timothy Henderson DFL 20,849 46.59
39 Karin Housley Republican 23,385 50.62 Republican
Julie Bunn DFL 22,754 49.25
40 Chris Eaton DFL 25,165 96.93 DFL
41 Barb Goodwin DFL 25,842 62.82 DFL
Gina Bauman Republican 15,200 36.95
42 Bev Scalze DFL 25,607 55.57 DFL
April King Republican 20,400 44.27
43 Chuck Wiger DFL 26,767 62.25 DFL
Duane Johnson Republican 16,137 37.53
44 Terri Bonoff DFL 27,203 55.81 DFL
David Gaither Republican 21,464 44.04
45 Ann Rest DFL 28,608 65.45 DFL
Blair Tremere Republican 15,036 34.40
46 Ron Latz DFL 29,755 66.82 DFL
Paul Scofield Republican 14,680 32.97
47 Julianne Ortman Republican 27,128 63.76 Republican
James Weygand DFL 15,297 35.96
48 David Hann Republican 23,730 51.32 Republican
Laurie McKendry DFL 22,459 48.58
49 Melisa Franzen DFL 26,893 52.74 DFL
Keith Downey Republican 24,045 47.15
50 Melissa Halvorson Wiklund DFL 25,300 60.85 DFL
Vern Wilcox Republican 16,193 38.95
51 Jim Carlson DFL 23,969 53.09 DFL
Ted Daley Republican 21,096 46.73
52 James Metzen DFL 27,149 62.00 DFL
Dwight Rabuse Republican 16,542 37.78
53 Susan Kent DFL 22,781 52.13 DFL
Ted Lillie Republican 20,857 47.73
54 Katie Sieben DFL 26,998 63.80 DFL
Janis Quinlan Republican 15,256 36.05
55 Eric Pratt Republican 22,254 55.11 Republican
Kathy Busch DFL 18,070 44.75
56 Dan Hall Republican 22,226 53.92 Republican
Leon Thurman DFL 18,922 45.90
57 Greg Clausen DFL 23,890 54.09 DFL
Pat Hall Republican 20,199 45.73
58 Dave Thompson Republican 24,097 57.60 Republican
Andrew Brobston DFL 17,686 42.28
59 Bobby Joe Champion DFL 28,441 82.02 DFL
Jim Lilly Republican 6,082 17.54
60 Kari Dziedzic DFL 29,014 77.06 DFL
Mark Lazarchic Republican 6,400 17.00
Rahn Workcuff Independence 2,077 5.52
61 Scott Dibble DFL 41,075 98.08 DFL
62 Jeff Hayden DFL 27,516 86.84 DFL
Eric Blair Independence 4,025 12.70
63 Patricia Torres Ray DFL 36,866 80.81 DFL
Patrick Marron Republican 8,636 18.93
64 Dick Cohen DFL 33,008 69.67 DFL
Sharon Anderson Republican 9,069 19.14
Scott Larson Independent 5,196 10.97
65 Sandy Pappas DFL 27,365 81.72 DFL
Rick Karschnia Republican 5,998 17.91
66 John Marty DFL 27,735 73.82 DFL
Wayde Brooks Republican 9,718 25.87
67 Foung Hawj DFL 21,630 72.46 DFL
Mike Capistrant Republican 8,094 27.11

See also

References

  1. ^ Brooks, Jennifer (November 7, 2012). "DFLers end GOP control in Legislature after two years". Star Tribune. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  2. ^ "Results for All State Senate Races". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  3. ^ SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV
  4. ^ SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV
  5. ^ SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV
  6. ^ Public Policy Polling
  7. ^ Public Policy Polling
  8. ^ SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV
  9. ^ SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV
  10. ^ Public Policy Polling
  11. ^ Public Policy Polling
  12. ^ Public Policy Polling Archived 2013-05-12 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Minnesota election statistics 1950-2014" (PDF). Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved August 13, 2016.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "Results for All State Senate Races". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  15. ^ "Party Control of the Minnesota Senate, 1951-present". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved December 6, 2012.