2014 Minnesota elections explained

Election Name:2014 Minnesota general election
Country:Minnesota
Flag Year:1983
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2012 Minnesota elections
Previous Year:2012
Next Election:2016 Minnesota elections
Next Year:2016
Election Date:November 4, 2014

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Minnesota on November 4, 2014. All of Minnesota's executive officers were up for election as well as all the seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives, several state judicial seats, a United States Senate seat, all of Minnesota's eight seats in the United States House of Representatives, and several seats for local offices. A primary election was held on August 12, 2014, to nominate major political party candidates for partisan offices and candidates for nonpartisan offices.

State elections

Governor

See main article: 2014 Minnesota gubernatorial election.

Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor Governor Mark Dayton sought re-election. Other candidates included Republican Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson,[1] Hannah Nicollet of the Independence Party,[2] Chris Wright of the Grassroots Party, and Libertarian Chris Holbrook. Republicans Merrill Anderson, Scott Honour, former state House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, former state House Speaker Kurt Zellers, and Democrats Bill Dahn and Leslie Davis were defeated in the primary election.[3] [4] Republicans St. Louis County Commissioner Rob Farnsworth and state Senator Dave Thompson withdrew after failing to win their party's endorsement at the Republican state convention.[5] Dayton was re-elected to a second term.

Attorney General

See main article: 2014 Minnesota Attorney General election.

Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor Attorney General Lori Swanson sought re-election.[6] Other candidates included Republican state Senator Scott Newman,[7] Brandan Borgos of the Independence Party,[8] Libertarian Mary O'Connor, former DFL state Representative Andy Dawkins of the Green Party,[9] and Dan Vacek running under the label "Legal Marijuana Now." Republican Sharon Anderson was defeated in the primary election.[10] Swanson was re-elected to a third term.

Secretary of State

See main article: 2014 Minnesota Secretary of State election.

Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor Secretary of State Mark Ritchie announced on June 4, 2013, that he would not seek re-election.[11] Candidates that sought election include DFL state Representative Steve Simon,[12] former Republican state Representative Dan Severson,[13] Bob Helland of the Independence Party,[14] and Libertarian Bob Odden. Democrats Dick Franson and Gregg Iverson, and David Singleton of the Independence Party were defeated in the primary election.[15] Democrats Rachel Bohman[16] and former state Representative Jeremy Kalin[17] withdrew in 2013 several months following their announcements. Republican Dennis Nguyen withdrew in mid-March 2014 following reports of an alleged strip club visit.[18] DFL state Representative Debra Hilstrom[19] and former Republican state Senator John Howe[20] withdrew after failing to win their party's endorsement at their party's state convention. Simon was elected.

State Auditor

See main article: 2014 Minnesota State Auditor election.

Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor State Auditor Rebecca Otto announced on August 20, 2013, that she would seek re-election. Other candidates included Republican Randy Gilbert,[21] Pat Dean of the Independence Party, Judith Schwartzbacker of the Grassroots Party, and Libertarian Keegan Iversen. Former DFL state House Minority Leader Matt Entenza was defeated in the primary election.[22] Otto was re-elected to a third term.

Minnesota House of Representatives

See main article: 2014 Minnesota House of Representatives election.

All 134 seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives were up for election. The Republican Party of Minnesota won a majority of seats.

Judiciary

Minnesota Supreme Court justices Wilhelmina Wright and David Lillehaug sought election to six-year terms following their respective appointments in 2012 and 2013 by Governor Mark Dayton. Several seats on the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Minnesota District Courts were up for election as well.[23] Both Wright and Lillehaug were elected.

Federal elections

United States Senate

See main article: 2014 United States Senate election in Minnesota.

See also: 2014 United States Senate elections.

Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor Senator Al Franken sought re-election. Other candidates included Republican Mike McFadden,[24] Steve Carlson of the Independence Party,[25] and Libertarian Heather Johnson.[26] Republicans state Representative Jim Abeler,[27] David Carlson, Patrick Munro, and Ole Savior; Democrat Sandra Henningsgard; and Tom Books, Jack Shepard, Kevin Terrell, and Stephen Williams of the Independence Party were defeated in the primary election.[28] Republicans Chris Dahlberg,[29] Monti Moreno,[30] state Senator Julianne Ortman,[31] and Phillip Parrish[32] withdrew after failing to win their party's endorsement at the Republican state convention. Franken was re-elected to a second term.

United States House of Representatives

See main article: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota.

See also: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections.

All of Minnesota's eight seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election. No political party gained or lost seats.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson announces he will seek GOP nomination for governor . . May 5, 2013 . May 5, 2013 . Meersman, Tom.
  2. Web site: Full Independence Party slate set for November elections . . May 18, 2014 . June 26, 2014 . Cox, Peter.
  3. Web site: Statewide Results for Governor & Lt Governor, Primary Election . . September 30, 2014 . October 6, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006080029/http://minnesotaelectionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/Governor/19?officeInElectionId=5525 . dead .
  4. Web site: Jeff Johnson is GOP pick to challenge Gov. Dayton . . August 13, 2014 . September 30, 2014 . Condon, Patrick.
  5. Web site: Republicans endorse Johnson for governor . . May 31, 2014 . June 26, 2014 . Carlson, Heather J..
  6. Web site: State Auditor Rebecca Otto to run for a third term . . August 20, 2013 . August 20, 2013 . Stassen-Berger, Rachel E..
  7. Web site: GOP Sen. Scott Newman jumps into race for Minnesota Attorney General . . May 29, 2014 . June 27, 2014 . Bierschbach, Briana.
  8. Web site: Race for Minnesota attorney general gets crowded . . June 3, 2014 . June 27, 2014 . Condon, Patrick.
  9. Web site: St. Paul DFLer Andy Dawkins announces Green Party bid for Minnesota attorney general . . June 2, 2014 . June 27, 2014 . Grow, Doug.
  10. Web site: Statewide Results for Attorney General, Primary Election . . September 30, 2014.
  11. Web site: Secretary of State Ritchie won't run again in 2014 . . June 4, 2013 . June 5, 2013 . Pugmire, Tim.
  12. Web site: Democrat Simon says he’s running for secretary of state . . August 6, 2013 . August 8, 2013 . Scheck, Tom.
  13. Web site: Severson plans second run at Secretary of State seat . St. Cloud Times . March 27, 2014 . June 26, 2014 . Sommerhauser, Mark.
  14. Web site: Independence Party endorses Nicollet for governor; Terrell for U.S. Senate . . May 19, 2014 . June 26, 2014 . Kimball, Joe.
  15. Web site: Statewide Results for Secretary of State, Primary Election . . September 30, 2014.
  16. Web site: First in, first out. DFL Secretary of State candidate ends her campaign . . August 2, 2013 . August 3, 2013 . Stassen-Berger, Rachel E..
  17. Web site: Former state Rep. Jeremy Kalin withdraws from secretary of state race . . October 7, 2013 . October 9, 2013 . Kimball, Joe.
  18. Web site: Candidate drops out of race after alleged strip club visit with Rochester lawmaker . . March 11, 2014 . June 26, 2014 . Carlson, Heather J..
  19. Web site: DFLers endorse Dayton, Franken for 2nd terms . . June 2, 2014 . June 26, 2014.
  20. Web site: John Howe withdraws from Minnesota secretary of state race . . June 5, 2014 . June 26, 2014 . Salisbury, Bill.
  21. Web site: Randy Gilbert gets out early in GOP bid for state auditor . . April 11, 2013 . April 30, 2013 . Brucato, Cyndy.
  22. Web site: Otto trounces Entenza in auditor race . . August 13, 2014 . September 30, 2014 . Grow, Doug.
  23. Web site: 2014 State General Election Candidate Filings, Judicial Offices . . June 27, 2014.
  24. Web site: Businessman Mike McFadden to challenge Al Franken . . May 29, 2013 . May 29, 2013 . Henry, Devin.
  25. Web site: Voters pick for Independence Party Senate candidate throws party into disarray . . August 14, 2014 . September 30, 2014 . Scheck, Tom.
  26. Web site: 2014 State General Election Candidate Filings, U.S. Senate . . June 27, 2014.
  27. Web site: Political newcomer McFadden wins big in GOP Senate primary . . August 13, 2014 . September 30, 2014 . Sherry, Allison and Ricardo Lopez.
  28. Web site: Statewide Results for U.S. Senator, Primary Election . . September 30, 2014.
  29. Web site: State GOP endorses investment banker McFadden as Franken challenger . . June 1, 2014 . June 27, 2014 . Condon, Patrick.
  30. Web site: Second ballot: Abeler, Moreno out, Dahlberg retains lead . . May 30, 2014 . June 27, 2014 . Simons, Abby.
  31. Web site: McFadden wins Minnesota GOP U.S. Senate endorsement on 10th ballot . . May 31, 2014 . June 27, 2014 . Brucato, Cyndy.
  32. Web site: Parrish: Senate campaign a success . . June 11, 2014 . June 27, 2014 . Hudson, Matt.