1996 Election Cycle

There was little partisan change in Minnesota during the 1996 cycle. The Democratic presidential ticket of Bill Clinton and Al Gore cruised to a 16-point victory – carrying the state for a party-record the sixth consecutive win.

U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone won a second term defeating his predecessor Rudy Boschwitz in a rematch of the 1990 race.

All eight members of Minnesota’s U.S. House delegation were reelected – six DFLers and three Republicans.

There was no change in DFL control of the state Senate (42-24 with one independent) and the DFL netted one seat in the state House (bringing their advantage to 70-64).

Appointed Associate Justices Paul H. Anderson and Edward Stringer were each elected to the Supreme Court.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/05/1996 State Senate, District 08 General Becky Lourey (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 19,172 votes (59.16%) and a winning margin of +37.99
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Becky Lourey Woman Democratic-Farmer-Labor 19,172 59.16
Bruce Kasden Man Republican 6,862 21.17
Steve Keillor Man Independent Christian Pro-Life 6,015 18.56
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11/05/1996 State Senate, District 09 General Keith Langseth (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 17,189 votes (60.41%) and a winning margin of +20.93
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Keith Langseth Incumbent Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 17,189 60.41
Cliff Dyrud Man Republican 11,235 39.49
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11/05/1996 State Senate, District 10 General Calvin R. (Cal) Larson (Republican) won with 18,494 votes (54.99%) and a winning margin of +10.07
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Calvin R. (Cal) Larson Incumbent Man Republican 18,494 54.99
Hal Leland Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 15,109 44.93
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11/05/1996 State Senate, District 11 General Dallas C. Sams (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 18,549 votes (60.59%) and a winning margin of +21.23
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Dallas C. Sams Incumbent Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 18,549 60.59
Wayne Hoffert Man Republican 12,050 39.36
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11/05/1996 State Senate, District 07 General Sam G. Solon (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 19,314 votes (65.38%) and a winning margin of +37.59
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Sam G. Solon Incumbent Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 19,314 65.38
Paul R. Couillard Man Republican 8,209 27.79
Gary J. Nelson Man Reform 2,017 6.83
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