Former President Donald Trump didn’t win Minnesota in Tuesday’s election, but he delivered another shock to Democrats, flipping four counties from blue to red—including Gov. Tim Walz’s home turf, Blue Earth County.
The narrow flips tightened Trump’s margin of defeat in the state to just four points—an improvement from his 7-point loss to Joe Biden in 2020.
While Vice President Kamala Harris and Walz claimed victory statewide with 50.88% of the vote to Trump’s 46.66%, the results reveal a growing divide between Minnesota’s urban and rural voters.
The Democrats’ stronghold in the Twin Cities metro area—particularly Hennepin and Ramsey counties—ultimately secured the state. But Trump’s gains outside the metro area, where he flipped Winona, Nicollet, Carlton, and Blue Earth counties, provide further evidence of Greater Minnesota’s continued shift away from the Democratic Party.
Another long streak ends tonight in Carlton County, Minnesota. Trump becomes the first Republican since Herbert Hoover in 1928 to win the working-class county in the Arrowhead.
— Cook Political Report (@CookPolitical) November 6, 2024
Here’s a breakdown of the results from 2020 to 2024:
- Carlton County: Biden (49.58%) v. Trump (48.07%); Harris (47.59%) v. Trump (50.13%)
- Blue Earth County: Biden (50.84%) v. Trump (46.41%); Harris (48.18%) v. Trump (49.40%)
- Nicollet County: Biden (50.31%) v. Trump (47.15%); Harris (48.62%) v. Trump (49.13%)
- Winona County: Biden (49.07%) v. Trump (48.68%); Harris (46.51%) v. Trump (51.41%)
A blow to the governor at home
Among the flips, Blue Earth County stands out. Not only is it Walz’s home county, but it’s also where he taught at Mankato West High School for years before transitioning to politics and representing the region in Congress.
Last week, Alpha News traveled to Blue Earth County to talk to voters in Mankato and gauge the political climate. At the time, Doug Hitzemann, treasurer of the Blue Earth County Republicans, hinted at the momentum building behind Trump.
“We’ve had a lot of activity with Trump. It just drives people to come in to get signs, just to talk, communicate and just have a good time talking about it,” Hitzemann said.
According to Hitzemann, the enthusiasm was unmatched, with volunteers handing out more campaign signs this election cycle than ever before.
“It was a lot of hard work,” added Yvonne Simon, chair of the Blue Earth County Republicans, in an interview with KARE 11. “We did a lot of phone calling, door-knocking, and events to create awareness. What we were hearing in the campaign office was what you heard at the national level too—economy, economy, economy.”
The Minnesota Secretary of State’s website offers a closer look at the election results across all 87 counties.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
