History has been made in Minnesota, with Sen. Amy Klobuchar elected the state’s first female governor. Klobuchar defeated Republican state Rep. Lisa Demuth. DFL Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan will replace retiring DFL Sen. Tina Smith and become the first Indigenous US Senator, after besting Republican Michele Tafoya in the race for US Senate.
Minnesota will see a Democratic trifecta once again. Democrats took the House, which had been tied 67-67 for the last two years, and they kept the Senate, which they had only held by one vote, 34-33, heading into the midterm.
Check back here as we wait for Minnesota’s CD-1 race to be called.
US Senate race
Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is projected to be the next US Senator for Minnesota, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Flanagan at 11:03 p.m. CT. Flanagan currently leads Republican Michele Tafoya 54% to 44% with more than 95% of the vote counted.
“You better believe that change is going to come from new voices that weren’t picked by establishment politicians or party leaders. We were picked by the people. We fought back against the money. We took on our own party–and we are the ones who are going to shake up the status quo,” Flanagan said in a statement.
It had been neck and neck in the race for Minnesota’s US Senate seat between Flanagan and Tafoya. Retiring DFL Sen. Tina Smith is leaving the seat after eight years to “prioritize her family.”
Cook Political Report moved the race from Likely Democrat to Leans Democrat on Oct. 20, and polls throughout the campaigning season had kept them mostly even, with Flanagan always leading by a few points. The most recent poll–and the only nonpartisan poll–by New York Times and Siena University, puts Flanagan ahead by double digits, 54% to 40%.
A key topic in most Minnesota races—immigration and Operation Metro Surge—was a huge talking point for both candidates heading into the election. Flanagan wants to “rip ICE apart” and demands the Trump administration and offending officials be brought to justice. Tafoya supports ICE and believes the department is doing its job effectively, even saying that detainees are treated humanely by ICE.
Flanagan is for Medicare for All while Tafoya believes in ending the Affordable Care Act for doing “the opposite” of making healthcare cheaper and more accessible. Flanagan agrees with Minnesota’s abortion laws, which allow abortion at all stages of pregnancy, while Tafoya supports a ban on abortion after 12-15 weeks.
You can read more about their stances here, and read the five key moments from their only debate here.
Governor’s race
Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar is projected to be the next governor of Minnesota, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Klobuchar at 11:03 p.m. CT. Klobuchar currently leads Republican state Rep. Lisa Demuth 56% to 43% with more than 95% of the vote counted. She will be the state’s first female governor.
“As your next Governor, I will work my heart out for you. I promise that. And I will be a transformative governor. In Minnesota, trust is not given. It is earned. It comes with an expectation: Results. We will deliver results – results you can see and feel in your life,” Klobuchar said in a statement.
Klobuchar led in the polls for months, outraised Demuth, and gained endorsements from both parties across the nation. This will be the largest margin of victory for any Minnesota governor since Republican Arne Carlson in 1994, and the biggest for any Minnesota Democrat since Rudy Perpich in 1986, Klobuchar’s campaign pointed out in a statement.
Fraud was by far the biggest issue talked about in this race, with Republicans blaming Democratic officials for the fraud. Klobuchar says she will run a top-to-bottom audit of the state government on her first day to root out fraud and create prevention measures.
You can read more about their stances here, and read the three key moments from their only debate here.
Attorney General’s race
Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison is projected to win reelection as Attorney General of Minnesota, according to NBC News, which called the race for Ellison at 12:25 a.m. CT. Ellison currently leads Republican Ron Schutz 54% to 46% with more than 95% of the vote counted.
“My mission as Attorney General is simple: help Minnesotans afford their lives and live with dignity, safety, and respect. It’s easy to feel helpless when those with power and keep pockets rip you off, whether it’s a predatory corporation or the Trump administration. I’m here to balance those scales, put power back in your hands, and fight for you,” Ellison said in a statement.
Ellison has been AG since 2019, after spending years representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. The latest pre-election polling showed Ellison up 49% to 41%, with 10% of voters undecided.
Congressional District 1
Democrat Jake Johnson is taking on Republican US Rep. Brad Finstad in the race for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District. The latest KAAL News/Survey US poll ahead of the election placed Johnson ahead 46% to 43% in a district that Finstad had previously won by 17 points. Cook Political Report made the change official, moving the district from Likely Republican to Leans Republican on Oct. 16.
Being present in the district has been a contention point in this race, with Johnson doing a 21-county town hall tour as Finstad was called out for refusing to hold in-person town halls.
The two’s priorities mainly fall on party lines, with Johnson prioritizing affordability and healthcare, and Finstad prioritizing tax cuts and support of armed forces.
Congressional District 6
Republican US Rep. Tom Emmer has won the race for Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, according to AP, which called the race for Emmer at 12:42 a.m. CT. Emmer currently leads Democrat Doug Chapin 55.7% to 44.2% with 99% of the vote counted.
Emmer was heavily favored over Chapin in the race for Minnesota’s 6th historically red congressional district. Cook Political Report put it in the Solid Republican category, where it has stayed for years.
However, Chapin has been putting up a fight, with the latest poll showing him just 10 points behind Emmer, the closest the numbers had gotten since 2014 by 14 points.
On the campaign trail, Chapin was at town halls, promoting the replacement of ICE, Medicare for All, the protection of democracy, and affordability. Emmer’s priorities have only been stated on his website, like securing the border and law enforcement support, as he has not come to Minnesota to campaign.
The only debate schedule between the two, which was answering moderator questions as a panel at Minnesota Farm Fest 2026, was effectively cancelled. Chapin answered all the questions, but Emmer did not show up, despite confirming he would be there.
Congressional District 8
Republican US Rep. Pete Stauber has won the race for Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, according to AP, which called the race for Stauber at 1:11 a.m. CT. Stauber currently leads Democrat Trina Swanson 53.1% to 46.8% with 99% of the vote counted.
Swanson mounted a significant challenge against longtime Republican US Rep. Pete Stauber in the race for Minnesota’s 8th congressional district. Despite Cook Political Report’s Solid Republican district rating, Swanson was only six points down.
Sulfide-ore copper-nickel mining in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) was a big issue for Minnesotans due to the environmental impacts it will cause. Stauber is the US Rep. that introduced the bill–now law–to reverse a 20-year mining ban on the area of the Superior National Forest that the BWCA resides in.
Swanson has been deeply outspoken about the issues the mining will cause, saying she wants the Iron Range to continue supporting the state, just not while destroying a national landmark to do so. Stauber has attacked Swanson for this view, saying the mining will bring in new jobs and money to the local economy.
Minnesota House
Democrats have won the majority in the Minnesota House, according to State Navigate, which projected the majority at 12:33 a.m. CT.
“Minnesotans choose leaders who will work for them, who ran on making their lives better and more affordable. These leaders will put the good of their neighbors first in everything they do. We’re honored to earn Minnesotans’ trust, and we’re ready to deliver,” House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson said in a statement. “We set out to make Speaker [Melissa] Hortman proud, and that’s what we did. She taught us to win elections to better peoples’ lives, and that’s what we’ll do.”
The Minnesota House has been tied 67-67 for the last two years, leading to high conflicts and the blockage of many partisan bills. Twenty-six House members are leaving their positions this year. Ten retired and nine sought election in other offices.
Minnesota Senate
Democrats have maintained the majority in the Minnesota Senate, according to State Navigate, which projected the majority at 12:33 a.m. CT.
Before election night, the Minnesota Senate was led by Democrats, but only by a razor-thin margin, 34-33. Seventeen Senate members are leaving their positions this year. Fifteen retired and two sought election in other offices.
Democrats’ retaking of the House and keeping their majority in the Senate, coupled with Klobuchar’s win in the governor’s race, means that Minnesota will once again see a Democratic trifecta.
