1994 Election Cycle

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 47 Special 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.

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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

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.

Landwehr was nominated by petition.

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12/15/1994 State Senate, District 47 Special Primary 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.

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12/15/1994 State Senate, District 47 Special Primary 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.

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12/15/1994 State Senate, District 16 Special Primary Don Koenig (Independence) won with 9 votes (100.00%) and a winning margin of +100.00
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Don Koenig Man Independence 9 100.00

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.

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