2024 election guide: Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming elections in Minnesota 

For the last two years, Democrats in Minnesota have controlled the governorship, the Minnesota House of Representatives, and the Minnesota Senate. This “trifecta” has given Democrats complete control of state government and allowed them to bring many sweeping changes to Minnesota.

This Election Day, Nov. 5, Minnesotans will decide whether they want to continue living under this “trifecta,” or whether it’s time for a change. The presidential election, and contests for Minnesota congressional seats and local offices, will all be on the ballot this year.

As such, Alpha News has compiled a list of what to know about the upcoming elections in Minnesota.

The race for control of the Minnesota House of Representatives 

All 134 seats of the Minnesota House of Representatives are up for election this year; the Democrats currently have a 70-64 majority.

While most of the seats in the chamber are either solidly Republican or Democrat, control of the House will be determined by several close races in just a few seats. Here’s some of the key contests. (An asterisk indicates incumbency.)

• House District 3A – Northeastern Minnesota: Republican Roger Skraba* vs. Democrat Harley Droba vs. Forward Party Independent Rich Tru
  • Three-person legislative race in northeastern Minnesota could determine who controls House

• House District 3B – Hermantown, Rice Lake, Two Harbors, and other communities north of Duluth: Republican Natalie Zeleznikar* vs. Democrat Mark Munger
  • DFL candidate Mark Munger loosened probation requirements for felon later convicted of murder
  • ‘Mark Munger failed us’: Brother of murderer speaks out against DFL House candidate

• House District 14A – St. Cloud area: Republican Bernie Perryman* vs. Democrat Abdi Daisane
  • Repeated violations listed for DFL House candidate’s childcare business

• House District 18A – Nicollet County/Mankato area: Republican Erica Schwartz vs. Democrat Jeff Brand*
  • DFLer Jeff Brand supported services for illegals, GOP challenger wants tax relief for Minnesotans

• House District 26A – Winona area: Republican Aaron Repinski vs. Democrat Sarah Kruger
  • Residency of Democrat Sarah Kruger questioned in Winona legislative race

• House District 32B – Blaine/Lexington: Republican Alex Moe vs. Democrat Matt Norris*
  • Alex Moe blasts DFL opponent as ‘terrible representative,’ says tax burden needs to be reduced

• House District 35B – Coon Rapids/Andover: Republican Steve Pape vs. Democrat Kari Rehrauer
  • Republican Steve Pape hopes to be a check on DFL’s ‘reckless disregard for our hard-earned tax dollars’

• House District 36A – Lino Lakes, White Bear Township, and nearby communities: Republican Elliott Engen* vs. Democrat Janelle Calhoun
  • State Rep. Engen slams DFL trifecta’s spending, tax increases in bid for second term

• House District 41A – Cottage Grove, Lake Elmo, and other nearby communities: Republican Wayne Johnson vs. Democrat Lucia Wroblewski
  • EXCLUSIVE: Retired police officer says Democrat Lucia Wroblewski tried to ruin her career with ‘vicious,’ unfounded attacks
  • DFL-endorsed candidate Lucia Wroblewski has ties to ‘defund the police’ group

• House District 41B – Cottage Grove, Hastings, and other nearby communities: Republican Tom Dippel vs. Democrat Jen Fox
• • Complaint: Mailer made false statement about GOP candidate’s position on IVF
  • Race for Minnesota House majority runs through ultra-competitive southeast metro district
  • Hastings City Council unanimously approves resolution calling for ceasefire in Gaza

• House District 48B – Chanhassen, Chaska, Shorewood: Republican Caleb Steffenhagen vs. Democrat Lucy Rehm*
  • Lucy Rehm supported sanctuary policy, unlimited abortion in House tenure

Other races that will shape the future House majority include House District 14B, where Democrat Dan Wolgamott is seeking reelection, and House District 11A, where Republican Jeff Dotseth is seeking reelection.

To find the House district you reside in, please click here.

The race for control of the Minnesota Senate 

While the full Minnesota Senate is not up for election this year, one special election for an open seat in the Senate will determine whether Republicans or Democrats control the chamber for the next two years.

This contest, which occurs on the same date as the regularly scheduled Nov. 5 general election, pits Republican Kathleen Fowke against Democrat Ann Johnson Stewart. The pair are running to win Senate District 45 which includes Lake Minnetonka and many of its surrounding communities.

• FACT CHECK: Change in Minnesota Senate will not give GOP power to determine abortion law
• DFL candidate Ann Johnson Stewart supported bail reform, Mary Moriarty, and bill to study reparations

Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District

Considered the closest congressional election in Minnesota this year, the race for Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District features incumbent Democrat Angie Craig and Republican challenger Joe Teirab. Craig is seeking her fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Second District contains much of the south metro area, encompassing Dakota County, Scott County, Le Sueur County, and parts of Washington and Rice Counties:

• Angie Craig drops campaign cash on luxury hotels across the country
• Trump endorses Republican Joe Teirab in Second District race
• Teirab campaign slams Angie Craig for ‘blatantly lying’ about his position on abortion
• FACT CHECK: The cost of goods and services has increased by roughly 20% since January 2021
• Angie Craig voted against bill to establish protections for babies who survive attempted abortions
• Teirab ties Craig to ‘status quo’ of high inflation, open borders at Second District debate
• Third-party ‘spoiler’ candidate in Second District race endorses Teirab, suspends campaign
• Teirab touts Fraternal Order of Police endorsement, says congressional race is close
• Angie Craig opposed legislation to keep male athletes out of female sports programs

Minnesota’s Third Congressional District 

Encompassing much of Minneapolis’ western suburbs, Minnesota’s Third Congressional District has been represented by Congressman Dean Phillips since January of 2019. However, Phillips announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection.

Running to represent the district in the U.S. House of Representatives is Republican Tad Jude and Democrat Kelly Morrison. Jude is a former state legislator, judge, and county commissioner. Morrison is a former state senator and state representative.

• ‘Biden strategy’: Tad Jude criticizes DFLer Kelly Morrison for lack of debates in CD3 race
• Presidential candidate Dean Phillips says he won’t seek fourth term in Congress

United States Senate election 

One of Minnesota’s two seats in the United States Senate is up for election this year. Incumbent Democrat Amy Klobuchar is seeking her fourth term representing Minnesotans in what is often referred to as the “World’s Greatest Deliberative Body.” Challenging Klobuchar is Republican Royce White. Klobuchar has won each of her previous three Senate elections by more than 20 points.

• Campaigns trade barbs, tout high-profile endorsements as GOP Senate primary heats up
• US Senate candidates Royce White and Joe Fraser square off in debate
• Ilhan Omar beats Don Samuels in primary night devoid of congressional upsets
• New poll sees Democrats’ lead in the race for Minnesota House cut in half
• Klobuchar, White set for second debate in U.S. Senate race this Sunday

Constitutional ballot question

Minnesotans will also be voting on an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution this fall. The text of the amendment question is here:

Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to protect drinking water sources and the water quality of lakes, rivers, and streams; conserve wildlife habitat and natural areas; improve air quality; and expand access to parks and trails by extending the transfer of proceeds from the state-operated lottery to the environment and natural resources trust fund, and to dedicate the proceeds for these purposes?

Voters will be asked to vote either “Yes” or “No” on this question.

• Ballot measure would create council charged with granting funds to ‘woke activist groups,’ critics say

Contested judicial elections 

Attorney Nathan Hansen is challenging sitting Judge Helen Brosnahan, who was appointed by Gov. Tim Walz in 2022, for a seat in the 10th Judicial District that covers eight counties. The race is one of six district court seats across Minnesota that will be contested this November, out of 93 total seats up for election. For comparison, in 2022, just one of 105 district judicial races on the general election ballot featured two candidates.

Additionally, attorney Matt Hanson is challenging Associate Justice Karl Procaccini, who was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court last fall by Gov. Walz after serving as Walz’s deputy chief of staff and general counsel.

• More than a half dozen contested judicial races will come before voters in November
• Justice Karl Procaccini, ‘chief architect’ of Walz’s 2020 executive orders, will face challenger
• Republican-recommended judicial candidate vies to unseat Walz appointee in 10th District

Local school board elections

Many voters across Minnesota will also be choosing who they want representing them on their local school boards. The chief managers of the school districts they serve, school board members set school policies and handle budgeting.

• Competitive school board races dot Minnesota map amid presidential election cycle

The Minnesota Parents Alliance, a pro-parent organization, has published their school board voter guide here.

Education Minnesota, the state’s largest (and only) teachers union, has published their school board voter guide here.

The sweeping changes brought by the Democratic trifecta during the 2023-24 session

After the Democrats won control of the Minnesota Legislature and governorship in the 2022 elections, they embarked on an unprecedented legislative agenda.

Democrats in St. Paul increased government spending by almost 40%, draining nearly all of the record $17.5 billion state surplus that existed at the beginning of 2023. Additionally, they authorized new laws that allow abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, created a paid family leave program, gave illegal immigrants access to state services, created a free school meals program, and made Minnesota a “trans refuge” state.

A comprehensive list of the new laws passed during just the 2023 session is available here. Some of the most significant changes to state law that occurred during 2023-24 are outlined below.

• Laws, spending, and taxes passed in 2023-24:

  • DFL ‘trifecta’ celebrates at Capitol as Walz signs 38 percent increase in state budget
  • Walz signs abortion-until-birth bill into law
  • Walz signs bill allowing illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses
  • Walz defends newly revealed $176M cost overrun for school meals program
  • Restaurant owner says new state mandates will be a ‘nightmare’ for small businesses
  • Prominent family rights group issues Minnesota travel advisory over anti-parent laws
  • Increased penalties for ‘swatting,’ straw purchases among new laws that take effect today
  • Red flag law among new legislation to take effect Jan. 1

• Laws that Democrats attempted to pass but were unsuccessful:

  • Sanctuary state and assisted suicide legislation appear to be dead — for now
  • Equal Rights Amendment dies in final hours of legislative session
  • Sen. Hauschild confirms he’s a ‘no’ vote on safe storage bill

Election Day is Nov. 5, but early voting is ongoing through Nov. 4

Minnesotans will go to the polls to decide these races, and many others, on Nov. 5. However, eligible voters have the option to vote early through Nov. 4. More information about early voting is available here.

You can find your polling place here. You can view a sample ballot here. You can view directions for registering to vote here. For further information about voting and the upcoming elections, please see the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.

This page will continue to be updated with new information from now until Election Day. 

Luke Sprinkel

Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.