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

Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor Governor Mark Dayton sought re-election. Other candidates included Republican Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson, Hannah Nicollet of the

Independence Party Independence Party may refer to: Active parties Outside United States * Independence Party (Egypt) * Estonian Independence Party * Independence Party (Finland) * Independence Party (Iceland) * Independence Party (Mauritius) * Independence Part ...

, Chris Wright of the Grassroots Party, and

Libertarian Libertarianism (from french: libertaire, "libertarian"; from la, libertas, "freedom") is a political philosophy that upholds liberty as a core value. Libertarians seek to maximize autonomy and political freedom, and minimize the state's e ...

Chris Holbrook. Republicans Merrill Anderson, Scott Honour, former state House Minority Leader

Marty Seifert Martin John "Marty" Seifert (born April 23, 1972) is a former Republican Minority Leader and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He represented District 21A, a predominantly rural district in southwestern Minnesota that inc ...

, former state

House Speaker The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerfo ...

Kurt Zellers Kurt Zellers (born October 16, 1969) is an American politician who served as speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013 and minority leader from 2009 to 2011. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, he represente ...

, and Democrats Bill Dahn and Leslie Davis were defeated in the primary election. 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. Dayton was re-elected to a second term.

Attorney General

Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor

Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...

Lori Swanson sought re-election. Other candidates included Republican state Senator Scott Newman, Brandan Borgos of the

Mary O'Connor, former DFL state Representative Andy Dawkins of the

Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as social justice, environmentalism and nonviolence. Greens believe that these issues are inherently related to one another as a foundation ...

, and Dan Vacek running under the label "

Legal Marijuana Now The Legal Marijuana Now Party is a political Third party (United States), third party in the United States. The party’s platform includes abolishing the Drug Enforcement Administration and legalizing hemp and cannabis (drug), marijuana. As of ...

." Republican Sharon Anderson was defeated in the primary election. Swanson was re-elected to a third term.

Secretary of State

Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor Secretary of State

Mark Ritchie Mark Ritchie may refer to: *Mark Ritchie (politician), Minnesota Secretary of State, 2007–2015 *Mark Ritchie (pinball designer) Mark Ritchie (born August 20, 1958) is an American pinball designer and video game producer. He is best known for hi ...

announced on June 4, 2013, that he would not seek re-election. Candidates that sought election include DFL state Representative Steve Simon, former Republican state Representative

Dan Severson Daniel Mark "Doc" Severson (born August 31, 1954) is an American Republican Party of Minnesota, Republican politician. He is a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives who represented District 14A, which includes portions of Bento ...

, Bob Helland of the

, and

Bob Odden. Democrats Dick Franson and Gregg Iverson, and David Singleton of the Independence Party were defeated in the primary election. Democrats Rachel Bohman and former state Representative

Jeremy Kalin Jeremy N. Kalin (born January 3, 1975) is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represented District 17B, northeast of the Twin ...

withdrew in 2013 several months following their announcements. Republican Dennis Nguyen withdrew in mid-March 2014 following reports of an alleged strip club visit. DFL state Representative

Debra Hilstrom Debra J. Hilstrom (born June 21, 1968) is an American politician and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represented District 40B, which included portions ...

and former Republican state Senator John Howe withdrew after failing to win their party's endorsement at their party's state convention. Simon was elected.

State Auditor

Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor

State Auditor State auditors (also known as state comptrollers, state controllers, state examiners, or inspectors general) are fiscal officers lodged in the executive or legislative branches of U.S. state governments who serve as external auditors, financial ...

Rebecca Otto announced on August 20, 2013, that she would seek re-election. Other candidates included Republican Randy Gilbert, Pat Dean of the

, Judith Schwartzbacker of the Grassroots Party, and

Keegan Iversen. Former DFL state House Minority Leader

Matt Entenza Matthew "Matt" Keating Entenza (born October 4, 1961) is a Minnesota lawyer and former politician who served six terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives. He served as House Minority Leader from 2003 to 2006. After leaving the legislature, ...

was defeated in the primary election. Otto was re-elected to a third term.

Minnesota House of Representatives

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 The Minnesota Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It began operating on November 1, 1983. Jurisdiction The Court of Appeals has jurisdiction over most appeals from the state trial courts, includ ...

and the Minnesota District Courts were up for election as well. Both Wright and Lillehaug were elected.

Federal elections

United States Senate

Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor Senator Al Franken sought re-election. Other candidates included Republican

Mike McFadden Michael Frederick McFadden (born September 7, 1964) is an American businessperson and the co-CEO of Lazard Middle Market, a Minneapolis-based investment bank. McFadden was the 2014 Republican nominee for the United States Senate in Minnesota again ...

, Steve Carlson of the

, and

Heather Johnson. Republicans state Representative

Jim Abeler James J. Abeler II ( ; born May 18, 1954) is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, he represents District 35 in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area. He formerly represente ...

, 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. Republicans Chris Dahlberg, Monti Moreno, state Senator

Julianne Ortman Julianne E. Ortman (born August 29, 1962) is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, she represented District 47, which included portions of Carver County in the southwester ...

, and Phillip Parrish 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

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

References

External links

Elections & Voting - Minnesota Secretary of State
{{2014 United States elections Minnesota