2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election

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v t e

The 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 6, to elect the 41st governor of Minnesota, as incumbent Democratic (DFL) Governor Mark Dayton chose not to run for re-election for a third term. The Democratic nominee was U.S. Representative Tim Walz from Minnesota's 1st congressional district, while the Republican Party nominated Hennepin County commissioner Jeff Johnson for a second consecutive time. The Independence Party of Minnesota did not field a candidate for the first time since 1994. Going into the election polls showed Walz ahead; the race was characterized as lean or likely DFL.

Walz went on to defeat Johnson by the largest margin for a DFL candidate since 1986, receiving more votes than any other gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota history. This was the first Minnesota gubernatorial election since 1958 in which any party won more than two consecutive elections, as well as the first time since 1998 where the party of the incumbent president lost.

• Tim Walz, U.S. representative
  • Running mate: Peggy Flanagan, state representative

• Tim Holden, real estate investor and candidate for mayor of Saint Paul in 2017
  • Running mate: James P. Mellin II
• Erin Murphy, State Representative
  • Running mate: Erin Maye Quade, State Representative
• Olé Savior, perennial candidate
  • Running mate: Chris Edman
• Lori Swanson, Attorney General of Minnesota
  • Running mate: Rick Nolan, U.S. representative

• Chris Coleman, former mayor of Saint Paul
• Tina Liebling, State Representative
• Rebecca Otto, Minnesota State Auditor
  • Running mate: Zarina Baber, IT professional
• Paul Thissen, state representative, former House Minority Leader, and former Speaker of the House

• Tom Bakk, Minority Leader of the Minnesota Senate and candidate for governor in 2010
• Mark Dayton, incumbent governor
• Debra Hilstrom, state representative and candidate for Secretary of State in 2014 (running for Minnesota Attorney General)
• Amy Klobuchar, U.S. senator (running for re-election)
• Rick Nolan, U.S. representative (running for Lieutenant Governor)
• R. T. Rybak, former vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, former mayor of Minneapolis and candidate for governor in 2010
• Tina Smith, U.S. senator (running for re-election)

On February 6, 2018, the DFL conducted a statewide straw poll among registered Democrats in Minnesota. Caucus-goers were scheduled to elect delegates to their party's Senate district and county conventions, which in turn would elect state convention delegates who would endorse candidates for governor, two U.S. Senate seats, attorney general, state auditor and secretary of state. Congressional district delegates would endorse U.S. House candidates. Since the straw poll, the three lowest performing candidates withdrew from the race (Paul Thissen, Chris Coleman, and Tina Liebling).

Results by county

  Walz

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%

  Murphy

•   40–50%

  Swanson

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%

Results by congressional district

  Walz

•   40–50%
•   70–80%

  Murphy

•   40–50%

  Swanson

•   40–50%

• Jeff Johnson, Hennepin County Commissioner, former state representative, and nominee for governor in 2014
  • Running mate: Donna Bergstrom, retired Marine Corps intelligence officer

• Mathew Kruse
  • Running mate: Theresa Loeffler
• Tim Pawlenty, former governor and candidate for president of the United States in 2012
  • Running mate: Michelle Fischbach, incumbent lieutenant governor

• Christopher Chamberlin (running for MN-05)
• Matt Dean, state representative
• Keith Downey, former chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota and former state representative
• Blake Huffman, Ramsey County Commissioner
• David Osmek, state senator
• Phillip Parrish, Naval Reserve intelligence officer and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014
• Mary Giuliani Stephens, mayor of Woodbury
  • Running mate: Jeff Backer, state representative

• Sarah Anderson, state representative
• Michele Bachmann, former U.S. representative and candidate for president in 2012
• Michelle Benson, state senator and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2014
• Kurt Daudt, Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives (endorsed Pawlenty)
• Tom Emmer, U.S. representative and nominee for governor in 2010 (running for re-election)
• Karin Housley, state senator (running for the U.S. Senate)
• Amy Koch, former Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
• Mike Lindell, CEO of My Pillow
• Mike McFadden, businessman and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2014
• Carla Nelson, state senator
• Erik Paulsen, U.S. representative (running for re-election)
• Julie Rosen, state senator (endorsed Pawlenty)
• Rich Stanek, Hennepin County sheriff and former state representative (running for reelection)

Results by county

  Johnson

•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%

  Pawlenty

•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%

Results by congressional district

  Johnson

•   40–50%
•   50–60%

  Pawlenty

•   40–50%

• Josh Welter (Libertarian Party)
• Chris Wright (Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis Party), Grassroots Party nominee for governor in 1998, 2010 and 2014

The debate season began only three days after the primaries, with Johnson and Walz participating in two debates on Friday, August 17. A third debate was held on Friday, August 31.

Swing by county

Legend

•   Democratic — +>15%
•   Democratic — +12.5-15%
•   Democratic — +10-12.5%
•   Democratic — +7.5-10%
•   Democratic — +5-7.5%
•   Democratic — +2.5-5%
•   Democratic — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +2.5-5%
•   Republican — +5-7.5%
•   Republican — +7.5-10%
•   Republican — +10-12.5%
•   Republican — +12.5-15%
•   Republican — +>15%

Trend by county

Legend

•   Democratic — +>15%
•   Democratic — +12.5-15%
•   Democratic — +10-12.5%
•   Democratic — +7.5-10%
•   Democratic — +5-7.5%
•   Democratic — +2.5-5%
•   Democratic — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +2.5-5%
•   Republican — +5-7.5%
•   Republican — +7.5-10%
•   Republican — +10-12.5%
•   Republican — +12.5-15%
•   Republican — +>15%

• Aitkin (largest city: Aitkin)
• Big Stone (largest city: Ortonville)
• Chippewa (largest city: Montevideo)
• Grant (largest city: Elbow Lake)
• Itasca (largest city: Grand Rapids)
• Kittson (largest city: Hallock)
• Lac qui Parle (largest city: Madison)
• Marshall (largest city: Warren)
• Norman (largest city: Ada) (became tied)
• Pennington (largest city: Thief River Falls)
• Pine (largest city: Pine City)
• Pope (largest city: Glenwood)
• Red Lake (largest city: Red Lake Falls)
• Stevens (largest city: Morris)
• Swift (largest city: Benson)
• Traverse (largest city: Wheaton)
• Watonwan (largest city: St. James)

• Anoka (largest city: Blaine)
• Dakota (largest city: Lakeville)
• Olmsted (largest city: Rochester)
• Washington (largest city: Woodbury)

Walz won five of eight congressional districts, with the remaining three going to Johnson. Each candidate won a district that elected a representative of the other party.

• 2018 Minnesota elections
• 2018 Minnesota House of Representatives election
• 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota
• 2018 United States Senate special election in Minnesota
• 2018 United States Senate election in Minnesota

• Elections & Voting - Minnesota Secretary of State
• Candidates at Vote Smart
• Candidates at Ballotpedia

Official campaign websites

• Jeff Johnson (R) for Governor
• Tim Walz (DFL) for Governor
• Josh Welter (L) for Governor
• Chris Wright (G-LC) for Governor