The 2020 United States Senate election in Minnesota was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Minnesota, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the U.S. Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and other state and local elections. Some Republican pundits and strategists believed Minnesota to be a potential pickup opportunity due to its perceived increasingly favorable demographics and unexpectedly close result in the 2016 presidential election, along with potential backlash from the 2020 George Floyd protests, originating after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. However, every poll showed incumbent Democratic Senator Tina Smith in the lead by varying degrees.

Smith was reelected to a full term in office by a margin of 5.2 points, making this the closest Senate election in Minnesota since 2008. The primary took place on August 11.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Tina Smith, incumbent U.S. senator

Eliminated in primary Steve Carlson, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018 and write-in candidate for president in 2016 Ahmad Hassan Paula Overby, Green Party nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018 Christopher Seymore Sr.

Withdrawn W. D. "Bill" Hamm Alexandra Marie Holker

Endorsements

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jason Lewis, former U.S. representative for Minnesota's 2nd congressional district

Eliminated in primary John L. Berman Bob Carney Jr. Cynthia Gail, art teacher James Reibestein

Withdrawn Rob Barrett Jr., assistant professor at North Central University Christopher Chamberlin, candidate for governor, U.S. senator, and U.S. representative in 2018 and Libertarian activist Forest Hyatt, Republican candidate for the 2018 United States Senate special election in Minnesota Theron Preston Washington

Declined Donna Bergstrom, nominee for lieutenant governor of Minnesota in 2018 Kurt Daudt, minority leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives Bill Guidera, attorney and former 21st Century Fox executive Karin Housley, state senator and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018 Mike Lindell, CEO of My Pillow Doug Wardlow, former state representative and Republican nominee for attorney general of Minnesota in 2018

Endorsements

Results

Other candidates

Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis

Nominee Oliver Steinberg

Results

Legal Marijuana Now Nominee Kevin O'Connor

Primary results

Independent write-in candidate Declared George Dennis Jr. Josh D. Ondich, perennial candidate

General election Debate

Two general election debates were held. The first, on October 2, 2020, was hosted by Minnesota Public Radio and was attended by Smith and Lewis. The second debate was hosted by Twin Cities PBS on October 23, 2020, and was attended only by Lewis.

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2020 Inside Elections October 28, 2020 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 2, 2020Daily Kos October 30, 2020PoliticoNovember 2, 2020RCPOctober 23, 2020DDHQNovember 3, 2020538November 2, 2020EconomistNovember 2, 2020

Additional general election endorsements

Polling

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TinaSmith (DFL) JasonLewis (R) Other UndecidedResearch Co.October 31 – November 1, 2020450 (LV) 4.6%50%39%2%9%Data for ProgressOctober 27 – November 1, 20201,259 (LV)± 2.8%54%44%2% –SwayableOctober 23 – November 1, 2020430 (LV)± 6.1%55%46% – –Public Policy PollingOctober 29–30, 2020770 (V) –51%42% –6%Targoz Market Research/PollSmartOctober 25–30, 20201,138 (LV) –53%44%3% –St. Cloud State UniversityOctober 10–29, 2020372 (A)± 6.7%53%36% – –SurveyUSAOctober 23–27, 2020649 (LV)± 4.3%45%42%3%10%Gravis MarketingOctober 24–26, 2020657 (LV)± 3.8%53%39% –8%Civiqs/Daily KosOctober 17–20, 2020840 (LV)± 3.6%54%43%2%1%SurveyUSAOctober 16–20, 2020625 (LV)± 5%43%42%3%12%Change ResearchOctober 12–15, 20201,021 (LV)± 3.1%48%44%4%5%SurveyUSAOctober 1–6, 2020929 (LV)± 3.9%44%37%4%16%Suffolk University September 20–24, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4%45%35%6%14%Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy September 21–23, 2020 800 (LV) ± 3.5%49% 41% – 10%Redfield & Wilton Strategies September 12–17, 2020 718 (LV) ± 3.7%51%36%2%11%CBS News/YouGovSeptember 9–11, 20201,087 (LV)± 3.9%47%40%2%10%Siena College/NYT UpshotSeptember 8–10, 2020814 (LV)± 3.9%49%40%0%11%SurveyUSASeptember 4–7, 2020553 (LV)± 5.2%47%36%3%14%Public Policy PollingSeptember 3–4, 2020877 (V)± 3.3%49%41%3%7%Harper Polling (R)August 30 – September 1, 2020501 (LV)± 4.4%43%41% –10%Emerson CollegeAugust 8–10, 2020733 (LV)± 3.6%48%45% –7%Public Policy Polling (D)July 22–23, 20201,218 (V)± 3.2%48%39% –13%Harper Polling (R)May 26–28, 2020510 (LV) –46%35% –20%

with Generic Democrat and Generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericDemocrat GenericRepublican Other UndecidedPPPSep 3–4, 2020877 (V)± 3.3%51%44% –4%Harper Polling/Jason LewisAug 30 – Sep 1, 2020501 (LV)± 4.38%45%43%3%9%Emerson CollegeAug 8–10, 2020733 (LV)± 3.6%48%46% –7%Harper Polling (R)May 26–28, 2020510 (LV) –44%40% – –

Results

By county