The 2022 Minnesota Senate election was held in the U.S. state of Minnesota on November 8, 2022, to elect members of the Senate of the 93rd Minnesota Legislature. A primary election was held in several districts on August 9, 2022. The election coincided with the election of the other house of the Legislature, the Minnesota House of Representatives, and all other statewide elections.
Democrats (DFL) gained two seats, giving them a majority of 34 out of 67 seats and winning control of the chamber for the first time since 2012. Simultaneously with Democrats retaining control of the state house, and Governor Tim Walz winning re-election, the DFL won a trifecta in the state for the first time since 2012.
Background The last election in 2020 resulted in the Republican Party of Minnesota retaining a majority of seats, after winning a majority from the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) only four years earlier in the previous election in 2016. Control of the Senate had alternated between the Republicans and the DFL in every election since 2010. All-Republican control of the Legislature ended when the DFL won a majority in the House in 2018.
Electoral system The 67 members of the Senate were elected from single-member districts via first-past-the-post voting for four-year terms. Contested nominations of recognized major parties (DFL, Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis, Legal Marijuana Now, and Republican) for each district were determined by an open primary election. Minor party candidates were to be nominated by petition. Write-in candidates had to file a request with the Secretary of State's office for votes for them to be counted. Candidates for the state Senate in 2022 were required to file to run between May 17, 2022, and May 31, 2022.
Reapportionment
Due to the 2020 United States Census, the law required redistricting to occur before February 15, 2022, in order to give candidates ample notice before the legislative filing window in late May. Historically, the legislature has often been unable to agree on redistricting, leading to a court decision on the issue.
In August 2021, hearings began in both the House and Senate Redistricting Committee, with the Senate committee members having their first meeting in Bemidji on August 9, and the House committee members having their first meeting on August 18.
A legal challenge was filed against the congressional and legislative maps, predicting that the state legislature would not draw valid maps and would malapportion the districts.
On March 22, 2021, the Minnesota Supreme Court appointed a special redistricting panel, but issued a stay on its proceedings; on June 30, the Supreme Court appointed judges to the panel and allowed it to proceed with its appointed business.
On February 15, 2022, after the Minnesota Legislature missed the redistricting deadline, the special redistricting panel released its own congressional and legislative maps.
Retiring members
Republican Bill Ingebrigsten, 8th Paul Gazelka, 9th Carrie Ruud, 10th Scott Newman, 18th Mike Goggin, 21st Julie Rosen, 23rd Dave Senjem, 25th Mary Kiffmeyer, 30th Michelle Benson, 31st David Osmek, 33rd
DFL Kent Eken, 4th Jerry Newton, 37th Chris Eaton, 40th Chuck Wiger, 43rd Ann Johnson Stewart, 44th Melisa Lopez Franzen, 49th Susan Kent, 53rd Karla Bigham, 54th Greg Clausen, 57th Patricia Torres Ray, 63rd
Independent Tom Bakk, 3rd David Tomassoni, 6th (died before election)
Predictions SourceRankingAs of Sabato's Crystal Ball May 19, 2022CNalysisSeptember 12, 2022
Results
PartyCandidatesVotesSeats%+/−+/−%Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party631,239,68250.70+0.88 34+350.75Republican Party of Minnesota611,180,25448.27–1.55 33–149.25Legal Marijuana Now Party310,3480.42–0.520±0 0.00Independent11,4850.01N/A0–20.00Libertarian Party1 1,0610.01N/A0±0 0.00Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis Party16690.01–0.540±0 0.00Write-inN/A11,5500.47+0.350±0 0.00Total2,445,07910067±0100Invalid/blank votesTotal100.00Registered voters/turnoutSource: Minnesota Secretary of State
Close races Districts where the margin of victory was under 10%: District 35, 0.54% District 41, 0.75% District 3, 1.62% (gain) District 14, 4.70% District 33, 5.64% District 58, 5.68% District 36, 5.68% (gain) District 4, 5.69% District 32, 5.98% District 7, 6.99% (gain) District 48, 8.72% District 34, 9.82% District 37, 9.84%
District results 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 • 51 • 52 • 53 • 54 • 55 • 56 • 57 • 58 • 59 • 60 • 61 • 62 • 63 • 64 • 65 • 66 • 67__NOTOC__ Source: Minnesota Secretary of State
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
District 56
District 57
District 58
District 59
District 60
District 61
District 62
District 63
District 64
District 65
District 66
District 67
See also 2022 Minnesota gubernatorial election 2022 Minnesota House of Representatives election 2022 Minnesota elections List of Minnesota state legislatures
References
External links Elections & Voting - Minnesota Secretary of State