2012 Election Cycle

Barack Obama and Joe Biden carried Minnesota – the 10th consecutive victory for a Democratic presidential nominee in the state. Minnesota became the first state in which both the Republican and Democratic parties have recorded 10-cycle winning streaks for the office.

DFL U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar was reelected to a second term by 34.7 points - the second largest victory margin in state history for the office behind DFLer Hubert Humphrey's 42.5-point victory in 1976.

The DFL also took back the 8th CD when former U.S. Representative Rick Nolan defeated freshman Chip Cravaack. The remaining seven incumbents were victorious leaving the DFL with a 5-3 majority in the delegation.

One cycle after losing control of both chambers, the DFL gained each of them back. The party netted nine seats for a 39-28 margin in the state Senate and 11 seats for a 73-61 margin in the state House.

Associate Justice Barry Anderson and appointed Associate Justice Davis Stras were both elected to another term.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/06/2012 State House, District 15A General Sondra Erickson (Republican) won with 10,027 votes (52.36%) and a winning margin of +4.81
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Sondra Erickson Incumbent Woman Republican 10,027 52.36
Joe Walsh Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 9,106 47.55
Scattering Write-In 16 0.08
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11/06/2012 State House, District 14B General Zachary (Zach) Dorholt (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 10,017 votes (56.22%) and a winning margin of +12.73
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Zachary (Zach) Dorholt Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 10,017 56.22
King Banaian Incumbent Man Republican 7,749 43.49
Scattering Write-In 53 0.30
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11/06/2012 State House, District 14A General Steve Gottwalt (Republican) won with 10,269 votes (53.90%) and a winning margin of +8.10
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Steve Gottwalt Incumbent Man Republican 10,269 53.90
Anne C. Nolan Woman Democratic-Farmer-Labor 8,726 45.80
Scattering Write-In 56 0.29

Rematch.

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11/06/2012 State House, District 13B General Tim O'Driscoll (Republican) won with 12,076 votes (60.22%) and a winning margin of +20.59
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Tim O'Driscoll Incumbent Man Republican 12,076 60.22
Shannon Schroeder Woman Democratic-Farmer-Labor 7,946 39.62
Scattering Write-In 32 0.16
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11/06/2012 State House, District 16A General Chris Swedzinski (Republican) won with 10,991 votes (56.72%) and a winning margin of +13.56
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Chris Swedzinski Incumbent Man Republican 10,991 56.72
Allen (Al) Kruse Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 8,363 43.16
Scattering Write-In 22 0.11
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