2026 Minnesota Senate election explained

Election Name:2026 Minnesota Senate election
Type:legislative
Election Date:November 3, 2026
Country:Minnesota
Vote Type:popular
Party Colour:yes
Previous Election:2022 Minnesota Senate election
Previous Year:2022
Next Election:2030 Minnesota Senate election
Next Year:2030
Party1:Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
Leaders Seat1:64th–St. Paul
Leader Since1:February 6th, 2024[1]
Image1 Size:x160px
Image1:2017ErinMurphy (cropped).jpg
Leader1:Erin Murphy
Leaders Seat2:1st–East Grand Forks
Party2:Republican Party of Minnesota
Leader Since2:January 3rd, 2023
Last Election1:34
Last Election2:33
Seats Before1:33
Seats Before2:33
Image2 Size:x160px
Leader2:Mark Johnson
Before Party:Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
Before Election:Erin Murphy
Majority Leader
Seats For Election:All 67 seats in the Minnesota Senate
Majority Seats:34

The 2026 Minnesota Senate election will be held in the U.S. state of Minnesota on November 3, 2026,[2] to elect members of the Senate of the 95th Minnesota Legislature to a four-year term. A primary election will be held in several districts on August 11, 2026. The election coincides with the election of the other house of the Legislature, the Minnesota House of Representatives, and all other statewide elections.

Going into the election, the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is defending a majority of 34 out of 67 seats, after winning control of the chamber in 2022.

Background

The last election in 2022 resulted in the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party attaining a majority in the chamber for the first time since 2012, gaining the DFL a trifecta.[3] Minnesota Senate seats follow a 2,4,4 term length schedule;[4] there is no regularly-scheduled Minnesota Senate election in 2024.[5]

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of March 31, 2024
CommitteeRaisedSpentCash on hand
Senate Victory Fund (R)[6] $247,239$129,064$1,355,858
DFL Senate Caucus[7] $385,391$184,523$1,078,290
Source: Minnesota Campaign Finance Board[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Member Record: Murphy, Erin P. . Minnesota Legislative Reference Library . 12 April 2024 . She was elected Majority Leader by the DFL caucus on February 6, 2024 due to the resignation of Senator Kari Dziedzic of her leadership position..
  2. Web site: Elections Calendar . Minnesota Secretary of State . 12 April 2024.
  3. Web site: Minnesota Democrats win Capitol ‘trifecta’ . 2023-04-29 . MPR News . en.
  4. Web site: Frequently Asked Questions About the Minnesota Legislature . Minnesota Legislature . 12 April 2024 . Senators are elected for a four-year term and representatives are elected for a two-year term. However, in election years ending in 0, such as 2010 or 2020, Senators serve for a two-year term in order to provide for the redistricting process done in conjunction with the United States census..
  5. Web site: Senate Member Information 2023 - 2024 . Minnesota Legislature . 12 April 2024 . Current Members of the Minnesota State Senate are serving a four-year term. Elections occur in years ending with 0, 2 or 6..
  6. Web site: Campaign finance report, Senate Victory Fund . MN Campaign Finance Board . 16 April 2024.
  7. Web site: Campaign finance report, DFL Senate Caucus . MN Campaign Finance Board . 16 April 2024.
  8. Web site: Campaign Finance Viewer, Party Unit . cfb.mn.gov . February 23, 2024.