1982 Election Cycle

After a disastrous midterm cycle four years prior, the DFL responded with former Governor Rudy Perpich winning back his old job in the open seat race with Marlene Johnson on the ticket. Johnson became the first woman Lieutenant Governor in state history. Fellow DFLers Secretary of State Joan Anderson Growe won a third term, Skip Humphrey won the open seat for Attorney General, and former Auditor Bob Mattson, Jr. won the open seat for Treasurer. Auditor Arne Carlson was reelected and the only Independent-Republican to win a constitutional office.

After redistricting, the DFL flipped two U.S. House seats and to control five in the eight seat delegation: Tim Penny defeated Tom Hagedorn in the 1st CD and Gerry Sikorski unseated Arlen Erdahl in the 6th CD.

The DFL did lose two seats in the state Senate (still retaining a 44-23 advantage) while netting seven in the state House for a 77-57 partisan split over the GOP.

Appointed Associate Justice John Simonett won a full term to the Supreme Court.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/02/1982 U.S. Senate General Dave Durenberger (Independent-Republican) won with 949,207 votes (52.60%) and a winning margin of +6.03
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Dave Durenberger Incumbent Man Independent-Republican 949,207 52.60
Mark Dayton Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 840,401 46.57
Bill Onasch Man Socialist Workers 5,897 0.33
Fred G. Hewitt Man Libertarian 5,870 0.33
Jeffrey M. Miller Man New Union 3,300 0.18

Senator Durenberg was reelected to a second term. He was the first Republican to win reelection to the U.S. Senate since Edward J. Thye in 1952.

Dayton was a resident of Minneapolis, former legislative aide to U.S. Senator Walter Mondale, former aide to Governor Rudy Perpich, and Minnesota Department of Economic Development Commissioner.

Onasch was a machine operator for Litton Microwave Cooking from St. Paul. Onasch was nominated by petition.

Hewitt was a staff scientist for Sperry Univac from Eagan and nominee for U.S. Senate in 1978's special election. Hewitt was nominated by petition.

Miller was a self-employed groundskeeper from Minneapolis, New Union nominee for the 5th CD in 1980, and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1984. Miller was nominated by petition.

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11/02/1982 State House, District 57A General James I. Rice (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 9,018 votes (72.37%) and a winning margin of +44.74
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
James I. Rice Incumbent Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 9,018 72.37
Don Hansen Man Independent-Republican 3,443 27.63
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11/02/1982 State House, District 56B General Pat Beard (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 7,165 votes (60.07%) and a winning margin of +20.15
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Pat Beard Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 7,165 60.07
Aldon (Al) Enstad Man Independent-Republican 4,762 39.93
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11/02/1982 State House, District 56A General Leonard (Len) Price (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 6,961 votes (51.35%) and a winning margin of +2.69
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Leonard (Len) Price Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 6,961 51.35
Dianne Northrup Woman Independent-Republican 6,596 48.65
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11/02/1982 State House, District 67B General John Tomlinson (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 7,920 votes (72.93%) and a winning margin of +45.86
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
John Tomlinson Incumbent Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 7,920 72.93
Viola Maehren Woman Independent-Republican 2,940 27.07
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