2012 Minnesota Senate election

Last updated

2012 Minnesota Senate election
Flag of Minnesota (1983-2024).svg
  2010 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2016  

All 67 seats in the Minnesota Senate
34 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
  TomBakk cropped.JPG 2016Senjem (cropped).jpg
Leader Tom Bakk Dave Senjem
Party Democratic (DFL) Republican
Leader sinceNovember 4, 2010December 27, 2011
Leader's seat3rd–Cook 25th–Rochester
Last election30 seats, 48.91%37 seats, 49.72%
Seats won3928
Seat changeIncrease2.svg9Decrease2.svg9
Popular vote1,532,0651,193,356
Percentage55.83%43.49%
SwingIncrease2.svg6.92 ppDecrease2.svg6.23 pp

2012 Minnesota Senate seats gains and holds.svg
2012 Minnesota Senate election results by voteshare.svg
Results:
     DFL hold     DFL gain
     Republican hold     Republican gain
Vote share:
     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
     50–60%     60–70%

Majority Leader before election

Dave Senjem
Republican

Elected Majority Leader

Tom Bakk
Democratic (DFL)

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.

Contents

The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) won a majority of seats, defeating the majority of the Republican Party of Minnesota. [1]

The new Legislature convened on January 8, 2013.

Special elections

District 59

A special election was held on January 12, 2012 to fill Senate district 59, which had been vacated by the resignation of DFLer Larry Pogemiller, who had been appointed to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. DFL nominee Kari Dziedzic defeated Republican Ben Schwanke by a wide margin.

Senate District 59 Special Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic (DFL) Kari Dziedzic 1,965 32.11
Democratic (DFL) Mohamud Noor 1,62626.57
Democratic (DFL) Peter Wagenius1,08917.80
Democratic (DFL) Paul Ostrow79212.94
Democratic (DFL) Jacob Frey 4737.73
Democratic (DFL) Alicia Frosch360.59
Total votes5,981 100.0
Senate district 59 Special Election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic (DFL) Kari Dziedzic 3,393 79.41
Republican Ben Schwanke82419.28
Write-in 561.31
Total votes4,273 100.0

District 20

A special election was held on April 20, 2012 to fill Senate district 20, which had been vacated by the death of DFLer Gary Kubly. DFL nominee Lyle Koenen defeated Republican Gregg Kulberg by a 14-point margin.

Senate District 20 Special Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic (DFL) Lyle Koenen 1,874 66.43
Democratic (DFL) John Schultz94733.57
Total votes2,821 100.0
Senate district 20 Special Election [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic (DFL) Lyle Koenen 3,914 54.41
Republican Gregg Kulberg2,91240.48
Independence Leon Greenslit3645.06
Write-in 30.04
Total votes7,193 100.0

Primary election results

DistrictPartyCandidatesVotes%
1RepublicanSteve Nordhagen1,57472.77
Jual Carlson58927.23
DFL LeRoy Stumpf 3,218100.00
5Republican John Carlson 2,654100.00
DFL Tom Saxhaug 3,98172.39
Laverne Pederson1,51827.61
10Republican Carrie Ruud 2,350100.00
DFLTaylor Stevenson2,87357.38
Anne Marcotte2,13442.62
13Republican Michelle Fischbach 1,48490.27
Fadumo Yusuf1609.73
DFLPeggy Boeck765100.00
15Republican Dave Brown 1,725100.00
DFLSally Knox1,18362.56
Ron Thiessen70837.44
17Republican Joe Gimse 1,490100.00
DFL Lyle Koenen 3,01957.20
Larry Rice2,25942.80
20RepublicanMike Dudley2,59086.62
Gene Thomas Kornder40013.38
DFL Kevin Dahle 2,323100.00
30Republican Mary Kiffmeyer 1,62073.44
Paul Bolin58626.56
DFLPaul Perovich806100.00
33Republican David Osmek 2,88550.94
Connie Doepke 2,77849.06
DFLJudy Rogosheske1,187100.00
39Republican Karin Housley 1,94167.26
Eric Michael Langness94532.74
DFL Julie Bunn 2,235100.00
40DFL Chris Eaton 2,00581.01
Timothy Davis47018.99
45RepublicanBlair Tremere97854.36
Timothy Hall82145.64
DFL Ann Rest 3,851100.00
46RepublicanPaul Scofield54456.43
Roger Champagne42043.57
DFL Ron Latz 3,205100.00
47Republican Julianne Ortman 2,11458.43
Bruce Schwichtenberg1,50441.57
DFLJames Weygand824100.00
55Republican Eric Pratt 1,666100.00
DFLKathy Busch1,05987.52
Josh Ondich15112.48
57RepublicanPat Hall1,937100.00
DFL Greg Clausen 1,45678.66
Mike Germain39521.34
64RepublicanSharon Anderson632100.00
DFL Dick Cohen 5,79789.43
Alexander Jeffries68510.57
67RepublicanMike Capistrant425100.00
DFL Foung Hawj 2,14244.21
Robert Humphrey1,89739.15
Tom Dimond80616.64

Source: Minnesota Secretary of State [6]

General election

Opinion polling

Polling firm/clientPolling periodSample
size
Margin of
error (pp)
RepublicanDFLIndependenceOtherUndecided
SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV [7] November 1–3, 2012556 LV±4.240%48%6%6%1%
SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV [8] October 26–28, 2012574 LV±4.240%45%8%6%1%
SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV [9] October 12–14, 2012550 LV±4.336%45%8%3%9%
Public Policy Polling [10] October 5–8, 2012937 LV±3.240%52%8%
Public Policy Polling [11] September 10–11, 2012824 LV±3.444%47%9%
SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV [12] September 6–9, 2012551 LV±4.338%45%6%3%9%
SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV [13] July 17–19, 2012552 LV±4.340%45%8%2%6%
Public Policy Polling [14] May 31 – June 3, 2012973±3.136%48%16%
Public Policy Polling [15] January 21–22, 20121,236±2.839%48%14%
Public Policy Polling [16] May 27–30, 20111,179±2.940%49%11%

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
Governing [17] TossupOctober 24, 2012

Results

Districts won 2012 Minnesota Senate seats won by party.svg
Districts won
Summary of the November 6, 2012 Minnesota Senate election results
PartyCandidatesVotesSeats
No.%ppNo.No.%
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party 671,532,06555.83Increase2.svg6.9239Increase2.svg958.21
Republican Party of Minnesota 631,193,35643.49Decrease2.svg6.2328Decrease2.svg941.79
Independence Party of Minnesota 26,1020.22Decrease2.svg0.470Steady2.svg0.00
Independent 15,1960.19Decrease2.svg0.120Steady2.svg0.00
Write-in N/A7,2510.26Decrease2.svg0.070Steady2.svg0.00
Total2,743,970100.00±0.0067±0100.00
Invalid/blank votes206,8107.01Increase Negative.svg3.78
Turnout (out of 3,861,043 eligible voters) [18] 2,950,78076.42Increase2.svg20.59
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State, [19] Minnesota Legislative Reference Library [20]

District results

DistrictCandidatesPartyVotes%Winner
Party
1 LeRoy Stumpf DFL22,29860.59DFL
Steve NordhagenRepublican14,47539.33
2 Rod Skoe DFL21,26954.92DFL
Dennis MoserRepublican17,42344.99
3 Tom Bakk DFL28,42764.59DFL
Jennifer HavlickRepublican15,50935.24
4 Kent Eken DFL19,83352.17DFL
Phil Hansen Republican18,13247.70
5 Tom Saxhaug DFL21,30152.33DFL
John Carlson Republican19,36247.56
6 David Tomassoni DFL30,88271.58DFL
Brandon AndersonRepublican12,22028.32
7 Roger Reinert DFL32,68476.90DFL
Tyler VerryRepublican9,62122.64
8 Bill Ingebrigtsen Republican22,69352.86Republican
Dan Skogen DFL20,19747.04
9 Paul Gazelka Republican20,52753.65Republican
Al Doty DFL17,68746.22
10 Carrie Ruud Republican22,84853.88Republican
Taylor StevensonDFL19,49045.96
11 Tony Lourey DFL24,34264.22DFL
Bill SaumerRepublican13,50535.63
12 Torrey Westrom Republican25,27961.49Republican
John SchultzDFL15,80138.44
13 Michelle Fischbach Republican26,01563.53Republican
Peggy BoeckDFL14,87136.32
14 John Pederson Republican19,35152.47Republican
Jerry McCarterDFL17,43447.27
15 Dave Brown Republican21,91756.55Republican
Sally KnoxDFL16,78743.31
16 Gary Dahms Republican20,92253.01Republican
Ted SussDFL18,49646.87
17 Lyle Koenen DFL21,62155.40DFL
Joe Gimse Republican17,35044.46
18 Scott Newman Republican22,55658.15Republican
Steven SchirooDFL16,18041.71
19 Kathy Sheran DFL33,29197.52DFL
20 Kevin Dahle DFL20,62750.02DFL
Mike DudleyRepublican20,55649.85
21 Matt Schmit DFL21,93752.43DFL
John Howe Republican19,84647.44
22 Bill Weber Republican19,54852.76Republican
Alan OberlohDFL17,45747.11
23 Julie Rosen Republican25,83863.97Republican
Paul MarquardtDFL14,51635.94
24 Vicki Jensen DFL19,24852.60DFL
Vern SwedinRepublican17,28647.23
25 Dave Senjem Republican22,29953.72Republican
Judy OhlyDFL19,14946.13
26 Carla Nelson Republican22,26355.62Republican
Kenneth MoenDFL17,69244.20
27 Dan Sparks DFL26,55268.22DFL
Linden AndersonRepublican12,33431.69
28 Jeremy Miller Republican23,12257.12Republican
Jack KrageDFL17,30342.74
29 Bruce Anderson Republican24,48660.56Republican
Brian DoranDFL15,86739.25
30 Mary Kiffmeyer Republican25,20562.41Republican
Paul PerovichDFL15,12537.45
31 Michelle Benson Republican24,77458.64Republican
Mike StarrDFL17,42341.24
32 Sean Nienow Republican21,95554.25Republican
Jeske NoordergraafDFL18,45045.59
33 David Osmek Republican28,19558.92Republican
Judy RogosheskeDFL19,54740.85
34 Warren Limmer Republican25,84757.04Republican
Sharon BahenskyDFL19,40642.83
35 Branden Petersen Republican22,87454.21Republican
Peter PerovichDFL19,25345.63
36 John Hoffman DFL22,19453.10DFL
Benjamin Kruse Republican19,52246.71
37 Alice Johnson DFL22,81453.23DFL
Pam Wolf Republican19,96246.57
38 Roger Chamberlain Republican23,81753.22Republican
Timothy HendersonDFL20,84946.59
39 Karin Housley Republican23,38550.62Republican
Julie Bunn DFL22,75449.25
40 Chris Eaton DFL25,16596.93DFL
41 Barb Goodwin DFL25,84262.82DFL
Gina BaumanRepublican15,20036.95
42 Bev Scalze DFL25,60755.57DFL
April KingRepublican20,40044.27
43 Chuck Wiger DFL26,76762.25DFL
Duane JohnsonRepublican16,13737.53
44 Terri Bonoff DFL27,20355.81DFL
David Gaither Republican21,46444.04
45 Ann Rest DFL28,60865.45DFL
Blair TremereRepublican15,03634.40
46 Ron Latz DFL29,75566.82DFL
Paul ScofieldRepublican14,68032.97
47 Julianne Ortman Republican27,12863.76Republican
James WeygandDFL15,29735.96
48 David Hann Republican23,73051.32Republican
Laurie McKendryDFL22,45948.58
49 Melisa Franzen DFL26,89352.74DFL
Keith Downey Republican24,04547.15
50 Melissa Halvorson Wiklund DFL25,30060.85DFL
Vern WilcoxRepublican16,19338.95
51 Jim Carlson DFL23,96953.09DFL
Ted Daley Republican21,09646.73
52 James Metzen DFL27,14962.00DFL
Dwight RabuseRepublican16,54237.78
53 Susan Kent DFL22,78152.13DFL
Ted Lillie Republican20,85747.73
54 Katie Sieben DFL26,99863.80DFL
Janis QuinlanRepublican15,25636.05
55 Eric Pratt Republican22,25455.11Republican
Kathy BuschDFL18,07044.75
56 Dan Hall Republican22,22653.92Republican
Leon ThurmanDFL18,92245.90
57 Greg Clausen DFL23,89054.09DFL
Pat HallRepublican20,19945.73
58 Dave Thompson Republican24,09757.60Republican
Andrew BrobstonDFL17,68642.28
59 Bobby Joe Champion DFL28,44182.02DFL
Jim LillyRepublican6,08217.54
60 Kari Dziedzic DFL29,01477.06DFL
Mark LazarchicRepublican6,40017.00
Rahn WorkcuffIndependence2,0775.52
61 Scott Dibble DFL41,07598.08DFL
62 Jeff Hayden DFL27,51686.84DFL
Eric BlairIndependence4,02512.70
63 Patricia Torres Ray DFL36,86680.81DFL
Patrick MarronRepublican8,63618.93
64 Dick Cohen DFL33,00869.67DFL
Sharon AndersonRepublican9,06919.14
Scott LarsonIndependent5,19610.97
65 Sandy Pappas DFL27,36581.72DFL
Rick KarschniaRepublican5,99817.91
66 John Marty DFL27,73573.82DFL
Wayde BrooksRepublican9,71825.87
67 Foung Hawj DFL21,63072.46DFL
Mike CapistrantRepublican8,09427.11

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 State Senator District 59". Office of the Secretary of State. December 7, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  3. "Results for State Senator District 59". Office of the Secretary of State. January 12, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  4. "Results for State Senator District 20". Office of the Secretary of State. April 3, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  5. "Results for State Senator District 20". Office of the Secretary of State. April 20, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  6. "Results for All State Senate Races". Minnesota Secretary of State . Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  7. SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV
  8. SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV
  9. SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV
  10. Public Policy Polling
  11. Public Policy Polling
  12. SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV
  13. SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV
  14. Public Policy Polling
  15. Public Policy Polling
  16. Public Policy Polling Archived 2013-05-12 at the Wayback Machine
  17. Daigneau, Elizabeth; Jacobson, Louis (October 23, 2012). "The Latest Chamber-by-Chamber Analysis of the 2012 State Legislative Elections". Governing. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  18. "Minnesota election statistics 1950-2014" (PDF). Minnesota Secretary of State . Retrieved August 13, 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  19. "Results for All State Senate Races". Minnesota Secretary of State . Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  20. "Party Control of the Minnesota Senate, 1951-present". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved December 6, 2012.