The Republican Revolution of 1994 left a moderate footprint on major offices in Minnesota. Governor Arne Carlson easily won reelection with his new running mate Joanne Benson and Minneapolis attorney Judi Dutcher won the open seat for state Auditor. But three incumbent DFLers were all reelected to what would be their final terms: the sixth for Secretary of State Joan Anderson Growe, the fourth for Attorney General Skip Humphrey, and the third for Treasurer Michael McGrath.
Congressman Rod Grams held the open U.S. Senate seat for his party with a plurality of the vote after the retirement of scandal-plagued three-term Independent-Republican Dave Durenberger.
For the second consecutive cycle, the two parties each picked up one U.S. House seat. The IR flipped Tim Penny’s open 1st CD behind state Representative Gil Gutknecht and the DFL captured Rod Gram’s open 6th CD with state Senator Bill Luther as their nominee.
The GOP also netted 13 seats in the state House to reduce the DFL advantage to 71-63.
Elections
Date
Office
Stage
Winners
Details
12/29/1994
State Senate, District 16
Special
Dave Kleis (Independent-Republican) won with 3,136 votes (42.44%) and a winning margin of +4.51
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Dave Kleis
Man
Independent-Republican
3,136
42.44
Joe Opatz
Man
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
2,803
37.93
Donald H. (Don) Landwehr
Man
Independent
1,402
18.97
Don Koenig
Man
Independence
47
0.64
Scattering
Write-In
1
0.01
Special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Independent-Republican Senator Joanne Benson who was elected Lieutenant Governor on November 8, 1994.
Don Kramer (Independent-Republican) won with 4,203 votes (52.26%) and a winning margin of +4.51
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Don Kramer
Man
Independent-Republican
4,203
52.26
Linda J. Scheid
Woman
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
3,840
47.74
Special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of DFL Senate Bill Luther effective January 1, 1995 after winning election to the U.S. House on November 8, 1994.
Linda J. Scheid (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 1,250 votes (60.10%) and a winning margin of +23.22
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Linda J. Scheid
Woman
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
1,250
60.10
Todd Paulson
Man
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
767
36.88
Jeanette Meyer
Woman
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
63
3.03
Special primary election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of DFL Senate Bill Luther effective January 1, 1995 after winning election to the U.S. House on November 8, 1994.
Don Kramer (Independent-Republican) won with 2,064 votes (74.92%) and a winning margin of +49.84
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Don Kramer
Man
Independent-Republican
2,064
74.92
Jim Peppe
Man
Independent-Republican
691
25.08
Special primary election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of DFL Senate Bill Luther effective January 1, 1995 after winning election to the U.S. House on November 8, 1994.
Joe Opatz (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 718 votes (37.97%) and a winning margin of +4.87
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Joe Opatz
Man
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
718
37.97
John D. Ellenbecker
Man
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
626
33.10
Sonja H. Berg
Woman
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
547
28.93
Special primary election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Independent-Republican Senator Joanne Benson who was elected Lieutenant Governor on November 8, 1994.