A new poll shows DFL Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Republican Michele Tafoya are effectively tied in the race for U.S. Senate in Minnesota. Additionally, the same poll showed the race for governor of Minnesota is close.
Conducted by co/efficient, a Republican-aligned market research firm, the poll surveyed 833 likely general election voters in Minnesota between Sept. 14 and 15. The poll has a margin of error of ±3.38 percentage points and asked about the top two races in the North Star State.
In the hotly contested race for U.S. Senate, 43% of respondents chose Flanagan when asked who they would vote for in the Senate race if the election were held today. Meanwhile, Tafoya received support from 42% of those surveyed, and 11% of respondents said were undecided.
Today’s poll is not the first survey to show a close Senate race. Last week, TIPP released a poll showing Tafoya trailing Flanagan by two points. As such, the contest between Flanagan and Tafoya could prove to be one of the closest Minnesota Senate races in recent years.
In addition to the Senate poll, co/efficient surveyed likely voters on the Minnesota governor’s race, President Donald Trump’s approval rating in Minnesota, and other issues.
In the Minnesota gubernatorial election, DFL U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is facing Republican state House Speaker Lisa Demuth. While Klobuchar has led significantly in polling thus far, today’s co/efficient poll showed the race within the margin of error.
According to co/efficient, 47% of respondents said they would vote for Klobuchar in the race if the election were held today. Meanwhile, 45% of those surveyed said they would vote for Demuth. Another 9% of respondents said they were undecided.
Republicans have not won a statewide race in Minnesota since 2006 when then-GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty won reelection by less than one point. Many believe Tafoya and Demuth are the Republican Party’s best chance in years to win a statewide race in Minnesota.
However, the pair will face an uphill battle given Minnesota’s leftward lean and the fact that midterms are typically difficult for the party that controls the White House. In the co/efficient poll, 55% of respondents disapproved of Trump’s job performance while 37% approved.
Respondents were also asked about the most important issue facing the country.
According to co/efficient, 24% said “Government corruption” was the most important issue, 21% said “Saving our democracy,” 12% said “Lowering the cost of living,” 10% said “Cutting taxes and government spending,” and 10% said “Immigration and border security.”
In total, 39% of the 833 likely voters that were surveyed identified as a Democrat, 38% identified as a Republican, and 23% identified as independent or “other.”
Additionally, 38% of those surveyed described themselves as conservative, 38% described themselves as moderate, and 24% described themselves as liberal. According to co/efficient, 52% of the respondents were female while 48% were male.
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.
