2026 Minnesota Senate election
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November 3, 2026
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All 67 seats in the Minnesota Senate 34 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Map of the incumbents: DFL incumbent DFL incumbent retiring Republican incumbent Republican incumbent retiring or lost renomination | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Minnesota |
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The 2026 Minnesota Senate election will take place on November 3, 2026. All 67 districts in the Minnesota Senate will be up for election to a four-year term. Primary elections were held on August 11, 2026.[1] Currently, 34 seats are held by DFLers and 33 seats are held by Republicans.
The election will coincide with the election of the State House of Representatives as well as various federal, state, and local elections.
Background
[edit]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 from 2023 until 2025.[2] As Minnesota Senate seats follow a 2,4,4 term length schedule, there was no regularly scheduled Minnesota Senate election in 2024.[3][4]
Outgoing members
[edit]Retiring
[edit]- Jim Carlson (DFL–Eagan), representing district 52 since 2023,[a] is retiring.[5]
- Steve Cwodzinski (DFL–Eden Prairie), representing district 49 since 2017, is retiring.[6]
- Gary Dahms (R–Redwood Falls), representing district 15 since 2011, is retiring.[7]
- Rich Draheim (R–Madison Lake), representing district 22 since 2023,[b] is retiring.[8]
- Steve Drazkowski (R–Mazeppa), representing district 20 since 2023 is retiring.[9]
- Jeff Howe (R–Rockville), representing district 13 since 2019, is retiring.[10]
- Warren Limmer (R–Maple Grove), representing district 37 since 2022,[c] is retiring.[11]
- Alice Mann (DFL–Edina), representing district 50 since 2023, is retiring.[12]
- Jeremy Miller (R–Winona), representing district 26 since 2023,[d] is retiring.[13]
- Carla Nelson (R–Rochester), representing district 24 since 2023,[e] is retiring.[14]
- Sandy Pappas (DFL–St. Paul), representing district 65 since 1991, is retiring.[15]
- Ann Rest (DFL–New Hope), representing district 43 since 2023,[f] is retiring.[16]
- Bill Weber (R–Luverne), representing district 21 since 2023,[g] is retiring.[17]
- Melissa Wiklund (DFL–Bloomington), representing district 51 since 2023,[h] is retiring.[18]
- Tou Xiong (DFL–Maplewood), representing district 44 since 2023, is retiring.[19]
Lost Renomination
[edit]- Paul Utke (R–Park Rapids), representing district 5 since 2022,[i] lost renomination to district 5B representative Mike Wiener.[20]
Seeking other office
[edit]- Matt Klein (DFL–Mendota Heights), representing district 53 since 2023,[j] is running for district 2 of the U.S. House of Representatives.[21]
- Eric Pratt (R–Prior Lake), representing district 54 since 2023,[k] is running for district 2 of the U.S. House of Representatives.[22]
Primary election results
[edit]A primary election will be held on August 11, 2026 in 15 districts to nominate Republican and DFL candidates.[23] Six Republican nominations and 10 DFL nominations will be contested, with six incumbents challenged for their party's nomination.[24]
| District | Party | Candidates | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Republican | Mike Wiener | 5,803 | 50.84 |
| Paul Utke (inc) | 5,611 | 49.16 | ||
| 10 | Republican | Nathan Wesenberg (inc) | 9,069 | 74.21 |
| Deb Holthaus | 3,152 | 25.97 | ||
| 13 | Republican | Jared J. Gapinski | 6,449 | 65.87 |
| Aaron Brutger | 3,341 | 34.13 | ||
| 19 | Republican | John R. Jasinski (inc) | 6,088 | 88.22 |
| Crystal Alan | 813 | 11.78 | ||
| DFL | Sam Powell | 3,856 | 79.24 | |
| Adama Youhn Doumbouya | 1,010 | 20.76 | ||
| 20 | Republican | Steven E. Jacob | 6,586 | 83.43 |
| Theodore "Teddy" Kimble | 1,308 | 16.57 | ||
| 23 | DFL | Angie Hanson | 4,667 | 86.55 |
| Jennifer Ney | 725 | 13.45 | ||
| 29 | DFL | Louis McNutt | 2,967 | 58.56 |
| Dan Fiskum | 2,100 | 41.44 | ||
| 37 | DFL | Kristy Janigo | 8,468 | 84.17 |
| Austin Chanen | 1,593 | 15.83 | ||
| 38 | DFL | Susan Pha (inc) | 5,623 | 74.89 |
| Nehemiah Garley | 1,885 | 25.11 | ||
| 44 | DFL | Sam Rosemark | 4,596 | 51.90 |
| Teresa Miller | 4,260 | 48.10 | ||
| 46 | DFL | Ron Latz (inc) | 10,876 | 59.77 |
| Lynette Lungay Dumalag | 7,321 | 40.23 | ||
| 50 | DFL | Karla Hult | 9,472 | 58.88 |
| Nelly Korman | 3,467 | 21.55 | ||
| John McClellan | 2,103 | 13.07 | ||
| Amal Ibrahim | 1,046 | 6.50 | ||
| 56 | Republican | Raymond David Petersen | 2,938 | 59.34 |
| Julida Alter | 2,013 | 40.66 | ||
| 62 | DFL | Omar Fateh (inc) | 12,827 | 78.29 |
| Jeanelle Austin | 2,355 | 14.37 | ||
| Brenda Short | 1,202 | 7.34 | ||
| 65 | DFL | Robyn Gulley | 7,652 | 70.69 |
| Natasha Bennett | 3,173 | 29.31 | ||
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State[25] | ||||
Predictions
[edit]| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[26] | Tossup | January 22, 2026 |
| State Navigate[27] | Safe D | January 22, 2026 |
Fundraising
[edit]| Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025[l] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Committee | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Senate Victory Fund (R)[28] | $1,571,172 | $681,307 | $2,375,563 |
| DFL Senate Caucus[29] | $2,071,357 | $1,346,046 | $2,889,445 |
| Source: Minnesota Campaign Finance Board[30] | |||
Notes
[edit]- ↑ Previously elected to the 38th district in 2006, defeated for re-election in 2010, and elected to the 51st district in 2012
- ↑ Previously elected to the 20th district in 2016 and 2020
- ↑ Previously elected to the 33rd district in 1995, 1996, and 2000, elected to the 32nd district in 2002, 2006, and 2010, and elected to the 34th district in 2012, 2016, and 2020
- ↑ Previously elected to the 31st district in 2010 and the 28th district in 2012
- ↑ Previously elected to the 30th district in 2010, and elected to the 30th district in 2012, 2016, and 2020
- ↑ Previously elected to the 46th district in 2000 and the 45th district in 2012
- ↑ Previously elected to the 22nd district in 2012, 2016, and 2020
- ↑ Previously elected to the 50th district in 2012
- ↑ Previously elected to the 2nd district in 2016, and 2020.
- ↑ Previously elected to the 52nd district in 2016, and 2020.
- ↑ Previously elected to the 55th district in 2012, 2016, and 2020.
- ↑ per the January 1 – December 31 Year-End Report
References
[edit]- ↑ "Elections Calendar". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
- ↑ "Minnesota Democrats win Capitol 'trifecta'". MPR News. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions About the Minnesota Legislature". Minnesota Legislature. Retrieved April 12, 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.
- ↑ "Senate Member Information 2023 – 2024". Minnesota Legislature. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
Current Members of the Minnesota State Senate are serving a four-year term. Elections occur in years ending with 0, 2 or 6.
- ↑ "State senator from Eagan to retire at end of term". KSTP. October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
- ↑ Cwodzinski, Steve (November 17, 2025). "Senator Steve Cwodzinski Announces Retirement After Serving Nearly a Decade in the Minnesota Senate". Minnesota Senate DFL. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
- ↑ Olson, Blois (January 22, 2026). "Morning Take: Fraud, Feds and Freezing". The Daily Agenda. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
New this morning, State Senator Gary Dahms will not seek re-election in 2026. Dahms told me in Marshall just a few weeks ago that running again was his plan.
- ↑ Staff, Fox 9 (November 17, 2025). "Sen. Draheim isn't seeking reelection, citing belief in term limits". Fox 9. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Minnesota Sen. Steve Drazkowski will not seek re-election in 2026". Rochester Post Bulletin. December 9, 2025. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
- ↑ Schmidt, Corey (November 24, 2025). "Republican Sen. Jeff Howe won't seek reelection to Minnesota Senate". Saint Cloud Times. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
- ↑ Ferguson, Dana (February 2, 2026). "Long-serving Republican Warren Limmer to retire from Minnesota Senate seat after this year". MPR News. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ↑ Brown, Kyle (December 1, 2025). "DFL Sen. Alice Mann will not run for a new term". KSTP. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
- ↑ Michaelson, Gavin (September 8, 2025). "Minn. state Sen. Jeremy Miller will not seek reelection in 2026". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
- ↑ Paris, Ryan (May 14, 2026). "Sen. Carla Nelson announces retirement, bringing career spanning three decades to a close". KTTC. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
- ↑ Bakst, Brian; Cox, Peter (November 6, 2025). "State Sen. Sandy Pappas to retire after 2026 legislative session". MPR News. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
- ↑ Griffith, Michelle (September 16, 2025). "Longtime DFL Sen. Ann Rest to retire after term ends in 2027 • Minnesota Reformer". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
- ↑ MNSRC (January 15, 2025). "Weber not seeking reelection in 2026". Minnesota Senate Republican Conference. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
- ↑ Hanks, Mike (December 18, 2025). "Wiklund will not seek reelection to Minnesota Senate". Bloomington-Richfield Sun Current. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ↑ Xiong, Tou (January 14, 2026). "Senator Tou Xiong Will Not Seek Re-Election". Minnesota Senate DFL. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
- ↑ Spewak, Danny (August 17, 2026). "State Senate candidate wins close GOP primary after overnight shift in results". Kare 11. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
- ↑ Kashiwagi, Sydney (May 6, 2025). "Minnesota state Sen. Matt Klein enters the Second Congressional District race". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
- ↑ Kashiwagi, Sydney (July 21, 2025). "Republican Eric Pratt will run for open congressional seat amid criticism over past Trump comments". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ↑ "Primary Election". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Candidate Filings". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Home - Election Results". Minnesota Secretary of State. August 11, 2026. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
- ↑ Jacobson, Louis (January 22, 2026). "Handicapping The 2026 State Legislative Map: A First Look". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
- ↑ "2025 Minnesota Forecasts". projects.statenavigate.com. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Campaign finance report, Senate Victory Fund". MN Campaign Finance Board. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ↑ "Campaign finance report, DFL Senate Caucus". MN Campaign Finance Board. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ↑ "Campaign Finance Viewer, Party Unit". cfb.mn.gov. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
