The 2012 United States Senate election in Minnesota took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the U.S. presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar faced Republican State Representative Kurt Bills. Klobuchar was reelected in a landslide, defeating Bills by a greater than 2-to-1 margin and carrying all but two of the state's 87 counties by double digits, only narrowly losing the counties of Pipestone and Rock in the state's southwest corner. This was the first time since 1996 that an incumbent Democratic senator was reelected, and the first time since 1976 that an incumbent Democratic senator was reelected to this seat.

Background Incumbent Amy Klobuchar was first elected in 2006 to succeed retiring DFL incumbent Mark Dayton. She beat Republican nominee Mark Kennedy, 58% to 38%. Klobuchar served as Minnesota's only senator between January 3 and July 7, 2009, due to the contested results of Minnesota's senatorial election held the previous year, finally decided in favor of DFLer Al Franken.

DFL primary The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party held its Senate primary on August 14, 2012.

Candidates

Declared Dick Franson, perennial candidate Amy Klobuchar, incumbent U.S. senator Jack Shepard, dentist, convicted felon, fugitive and perennial candidate Darryl Stanton

Results

Republican primary The Republican Party of Minnesota held its nominating convention in May 2012 and its Senate primary on August 14, 2012.

Candidates

Declared Kurt Bills, state representative; won May 2012 convention nomination David Carlson, former Marine Corps sergeant; candidate in August 2012 primary Bob Carney Jr., inventor, independent businessman; finished 2nd in 2010 GOP primary for governor of Minnesota, candidate in August 2012 primary

Withdrew Joe Arwood, St. Bonifacius city councilman; withdrew before May 2012 convention Pete Hegseth, executive director of Vets for Freedom; withdrew after May 2012 convention Anthony Hernandez, former state senate candidate; withdrew before May 2012 convention to run for Congress against Betty McCollum Dan Severson, former state representative; withdrew after May 2012 convention

Results

Independence primary Campaign The Independence Party of Minnesota did not plan to run a candidate in the general election. Party chairman Mark Jenkins said in November 2011 that he saw the Senate election as "a distraction from having our best and brightest engaged in state legislative races". At the party's convention in June 2012, neither candidate was endorsed. Williams won a majority of the votes and came within two votes of the required 60% needed for the party's endorsement. He proceeded with his Senate campaign but the party focused on state legislative races.

Candidates Glen R. Anderson Menze, accountant and Republican nominee in 2008 and Independence Party nominee in 2010 for the 7th congressional district Stephen Williams, farmer and Independence Party endorsed candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2008

Results

General election

Candidates Kurt Bills (Republican), state representative Michael Cavlan (Minnesota Open Progressives), registered nurse Tim Davis (Grassroots), environmental activist Amy Klobuchar (DFL), incumbent U.S. senator Stephen WilliamsStephen Williams (Independence), farmer

Debates On August 29, Klobuchar and Bills held their second debate at the State Fair, sponsored by MPR News.

Their third debate, on September 16 in Duluth, was about the nation's struggle with deficit spending and unemployment. The audience was assembled by the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce and Duluth News Tribune.

External links Complete video at Minnesota Public Radio, second debate, August 29, 2012 Audio from Minnesota Public Radio, third debate, September 18, 2012

Fundraising Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt Current throughAmy Klobuchar (DFL) $6,301,413 $2,530,567 $5,393,798 $0 July 25, 2012Kurt Bills (R) $394,547 $388,720 $5,841 $0 July 25, 2012 Source: Federal Election Commission

Top contributors This section lists the top contributors by employer. These organizations themselves did not donate, but these numbers include donations from their PACs, members, employees, owners, and their immediate families.

Amy Klobuchar Contribution Kurt Bills Contribution Dorsey & Whitney $61,100 Liberty PAC $10,000 Target Corp $56,050 Craw $10,000 General Mills $51,750 Primera Technology $10,000 U.S. Bancorp $51,139 Minnesota Limited Pipeline $7,500 Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi $49,150 Ameriprise Financial $5,000 Medtronic Inc. $41,025 Bachmann for Congress $5,000 Toys R Us $36,500 Exactdrive $5,000 Leonard, Street & Deinard $34,350 New Spark Holdings $5,000 Comcast Corp $33,623 TACPAC $5,000 Wells Fargo $32,400 Twin City Fan Companies $5,000 Source: OpenSecrets, current through: March 9, 2012

Top industries Amy Klobuchar Contribution Kurt Bills Contribution Lawyers/law firms $989,929 Leadership PACs $17,850 Retired $447,082 Republican/Conservative $13,750 Leadership PACs $302,150 Financial institutions $13,250 Lobbyists $282,430 Real Estate $12,550 Financial institutions $269,033 Retired $10,350 Entertainment industry $256,711 Energy industry $10,250 Women's issues $196,866 Electronics manufacturing $10,000 Retail industry $181,850 Misc. business $9,450 Commercial banks $159,139 Manufacturing & distributing $7,850 Pharmaceuticals/health products $149,725 Computers/Internet $7,350 Source: OpenSecrets, current through: March 9, 2012

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 1, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 Rothenberg Political Report November 2, 2012 Real Clear Politics November 5, 2012

Polling Poll source Amy KurtBills (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 31 – June 3, 2012 973 ±3.1% 55% 29% — 16%Survey USASurvey USA July 17–19, 2012 552 ±4.3% 55% 31% 5% 9%KSTP/Survey USAKSTP/Survey USA September 6–9, 2012 551 ±4.2% 55% 34% — 11%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling September 10–11, 2012 824 ±3.4% 55% 36% — 10%Star Tribune/Mason-DixonStar Tribune/Mason-Dixon September 17–19, 2012 800 ±3.5% 57% 28% 7% 8%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 5–8, 2012 937 ±3.2% 57% 31% — 12%SurveyUSA/KSTPSurveyUSA/KSTP October 12–14, 2012 550 ±4.2% 58% 30% 5% 7%St. Cloud State U.St. Cloud State U. October 15–21, 2012 600 ±5% 63% 36% 1% —Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 21, 2012 500 ±4.5% 56% 33% 2% 9%Star Tribune/Mason-DixonStar Tribune/Mason-Dixon October 23–25, 2012 800 ±3.5% 65% 22% — 13%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 26–28, 2012 574 ±4.1% 60% 29% 4% 7%KSTP/SurveyUSAKSTP/SurveyUSA November 1–3, 2012 556 ±4.2% 60% 30% 3% 7%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 2–3, 2012 1,164 ±2.9% 62% 32% — 6%

Republican primary Poll source MicheleBachmann LauraBrod NormColeman ChipCravaack TomEmmer JohnKline ErikPaulsen TimPawlenty Other/UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling December 4–5, 2010 387 ±5.0% 36% 4% 14% 7% 6% 5% 2% 20% 6%

General election Poll source AmyKlobuchar (DFL) JoeArwood (R) Other UndecidedSurvey USASurvey USA November 2–6, 2011 543 ±4.3% 56% 22% — 22%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling January 21–22, 2012 1,236 ±2.8% 55% 30% — 15%Survey USASurvey USA January 31 – February 2, 2012 542 ±4.2% 59% 28% — 14%Public Policy Polling May 31 – June 3, 2012 973 ±3.1% 56% 29% — 15%

Poll source AmyKlobuchar (DFL) MicheleBachmann (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling December 4–5, 2010 949 ±3.2% 56% 39% — 4%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 27–30, 2011 1,179 ±2.9% 57% 37% — 5%Public Policy Polling January 21–22, 2012 1,236 ±2.8% 58% 35% — 7%

Poll source AmyKlobuchar (DFL) NormColeman (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling December 4–5, 2010 949 ±3.2% 54% 40% — 6%Survey USA November 2–6, 2011 543 ±4.3% 50% 37% — 14%

Poll source AmyKlobuchar (DFL) TomEmmer (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling December 4–5, 2010 949 ±3.2% 56% 38% — 6%

Poll source AmyKlobuchar (DFL) PeteHegseth (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling May 31 – June 3, 2012 973 ±3.1% 56% 28% — 16%

Poll source AmyKlobuchar (DFL) AnthonyHernandez (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling January 21–22, 2012 1,236 ±2.8% 55% 29% — 16%

Poll source AmyKlobuchar (DFL) ErikPaulsen (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling December 4–5, 2010 949 ±3.2% 52% 34% — 14%

Poll source AmyKlobuchar (DFL) TimPawlenty (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling December 4–5, 2010 949 ±3.2% 53% 43% — 4%Public Policy Polling May 27–30, 2011 1,179 ±2.9% 54% 41% — 5%Survey USA November 2–6, 2011 543 ±4.3% 49% 37% — 14%Public Policy Polling January 21–22, 2012 1,236 ±2.8% 54% 39% — 7%

Poll source AmyKlobuchar (DFL) DanSeverson (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling May 27–30, 2011 1,179 ±2.9% 56% 28% — 16%Survey USA November 2–6, 2011 543 ±4.3% 55% 23% — 22%Public Policy Polling January 21–22, 2012 1,236 ±2.8% 55% 32% — 13%Survey USA January 31 – February 2, 2012 542 ±4.3% 56% 29% — 15%Public Policy Polling May 31 – June 3, 2012 973 ±3.1% 55% 27% — 19%

Poll source AmyKlobuchar (DFL) DaveThompson (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling May 27–30, 2011 1,179 ±2.9% 55% 28% — 17%

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Carver (largest city: Chaska) Redwood (largest city: Redwood Falls) Wright (largest city: Otsego) Sherburne (largest city: Elk River) Otter Tail (largest city: Fergus Falls) Wadena (largest city: Wadena)

By congressional district Klobuchar won all eight congressional districts, including three held by Republicans.

District Klobuchar Bills Representative 62% 32%Tim Walz 62% 34%John Kline63% 34%Erik Paulsen71% 25%Betty McCollum79% 17%Keith Ellison 59% 37%Michele Bachmann 61% 34%Collin Peterson 65% 31%Rick Nolan

See also 2012 United States Senate elections 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

References

External links Election Center from the Minnesota Secretary of State Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org Outside spending at the Sunlight Foundation Candidate issue positions at On the Issues U.S. Senate election coverage at Minnesota Public Radio

Official campaign websites (archived) Kurt Bills for U.S. Senate Amy Klobuchar for U.S. Senate Stephen Williams for U.S. Senate