The Green Papers: Minnesota 2012 General Election
 
Flag images courtesy of The World Flag Database. Copyright http://www.flags.net/ Minnesota
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
Primary: Tuesday 14 August 2012
General Election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Senators:2(Electoral Classes 1 and 2)
Governor:1 
2010 Census:5,314,879 (1.72% of 309,785,186)
2012, 2016, 2020 Electoral Votes:10(1.86% of 538)
2012-2020 Representatives:8(1.84% of 435)
2000 Census:4,925,670 (1.75% of 281,998,273)
2004, 2008 Electoral Votes:10(1.86% of 538)
2002-2010 Representatives:8(1.84% of 435)
Capital:St. Paul
Tuesday 14 August 2012 polling hours 7:00a CDT (1200 UTC) to 8:00p CDT (0100 UTC). Voting begins at 10:00 AM in some townships.
Tuesday 6 November 2012 polling hours 7:00a CST (1300 UTC) to 8:00p CST (0200 UTC). Voting begins at 10:00 AM in some townships.
 

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Minnesota State and Local Government

Minnesota 2012 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats, Republicans, Third Parties

           
U.S. Senate  6 year term. No Term Limit. 112th Senate  Senate Electoral Classes
Class 1
Seat up for election		 Democratic Senator  Amy J. Klobuchar
• First elected: 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     Richard "Dick" Franson
• FEC S6MN00101; 31 Dec 11; Tot $18,261; Dsb $18,261
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     Senator  Amy J. Klobuchar
• FEC S6MN00267; 31 Dec 11; Tot $4,194,000; Dsb $1,196,426
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     Jack Edward "Doc" Shepard
• FEC S2MN00159; 31 Dec 11; Tot $15,470; Dsb $335
  Candidate Republican     St. Bonifacius City Councilman  Joe Edward Arwood, III
• FEC S2MN00233; 31 Dec 11; Tot $11,704; Dsb $9,820
  Candidate Republican     state Representative  Kurt Patrick Bills
• 19 May 2012: Received his party's nomination.
• FEC S2MN00266
  Candidate Republican     Pete Hegseth
• FEC S2MN00258
  Candidate Republican     former state Representative Daniel Mark "Dan" "Doc" Severson
• FEC S2MN00225; 31 Dec 11; Tot $88,447; Dsb $54,288
  Candidate Republican     Harold Shudlick
Class 2 Democratic Senator  Al Franken
• First elected: 2008 in a contested election resolved 30 June 2009 by the Minnesota Supreme Court. Sworn 7 July 2009.
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014. Term Limit: None, All Governors
  Democratic Governor  Mark Dayton
• First elected: 2010
• Chair up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
Lieutenant Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014. Elected on a ticket with the Governor.
  Democratic Lieutenant Governor  Yvonne Prettner Solon
• First elected: 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
112th U.S. House of Representatives  2-year term. Election Cycle 2010, 2012. No Term Limit. 112th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition):
4 Democratic (4 Undetermined);
4 Republican (3 Undetermined, 1 Open)
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 1
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman  Timothy J. "Tim" Walz
• First elected: 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     Congressman  Timothy J. "Tim" Walz
• FEC H6MN01174; 31 Dec 11; Tot $1,020,081; Dsb $421,366
    Republican     former state Representative  Randy Lee Demmer - apparently not a candidate
• 15 October 2011: Announced he will not run due to business commitments.
• FEC H8MN01220; 31 Dec 11; Tot $5,682; Dsb $5,631
  Candidate Republican     state Senator  Mike Parry
• FEC H2MN01132; 31 Dec 11; Tot $32,585; Dsb $3,402
  Candidate Republican     Allen Quist
• FEC H0MN01037; 31 Dec 11; Tot $6,220; Dsb $858
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 2
Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman  John Paul Kline, Jr.
• First elected: 2002
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     Northfield City Council Member  Patrick Ganey
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     Dakota County commissioner Kathleen A. Gaylord
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     former state Representative Mike Obermueller
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     Daniel Keith "Dan" Powers
  Candidate Republican     Congressman  John Paul Kline, Jr.
• FEC H8MN06047; 31 Dec 11; Tot $1,022,103; Dsb $319,270
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 3
Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman  Erik Paulsen
• First elected: 2008
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     Brian Patrick Barnes
• FEC H2MN03070; 31 Dec 11; Tot $53,319; Dsb $24,856
    Democratic-Farmer Labor     Sharon Roberson Sund - apparently not a candidate
• 14 April 2012: "I want to thank all my supporters, volunteers and staff. We've had a great run. Today, Brian was endorsed on the first ballot (87-58). I want to congratulate Brian on a his endorsement!"
• FEC H2MN03062; 31 Dec 11; Tot $41,748; Dsb $27,149
  Candidate Republican     John Whitman Howard, III
• FEC H2MN03088
  Candidate Republican     Congressman  Erik Paulsen
• FEC H8MN03077; 31 Dec 11; Tot $1,394,661; Dsb $472,030
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 4
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman  Betty McCollum
• First elected: 2000
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     former Maplewood Mayor Diana Longrie
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     Congressman  Betty McCollum
• FEC H0MN04049; 31 Dec 11; Tot $430,141; Dsb $313,518
  Candidate Republican     Daniel M. "Dan" Flood
• FEC H2MN04102; 31 Dec 11; Tot $3,822; Dsb $2,548
  Candidate Independence     Steve Carlson
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 5
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman  Keith Maurice Ellison
• First elected: 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     Congressman  Keith Maurice Ellison
• FEC H6MN05183; 31 Dec 11; Tot $822,921; Dsb $844,484
  Candidate Republican     Chris Fields
• FEC H2MN05133; 31 Dec 11; Tot $32,412; Dsb $23,975
  Candidate Republican     Anthony John "Tony" Hernandez
• FEC S2MN00241; 31 Dec 11; Tot $9,024; Dsb $7,785
  Candidate Republican     Lynne Torgerson
• Ran as an Independent in 2010.
• FEC H0MN05103; 31 Mar 12; Tot $39,240; Dsb $34,420
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 6
Seat up for election
Open		 Republican Congressman  Michele M. Bachmann
• First elected: 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
• Open Seat - 13 June 2011: Announced she is a candidate for President in 2012.
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     Jim Graves
• Received his party's endorsement
    Democratic-Farmer Labor     Brian Joseph McGoldrick - apparently not a candidate
• FEC H2MN06180
    Democratic-Farmer Labor     Anne C. Nolan - apparently not a candidate
• FEC H2MN06172
  Candidate Republican     Congressman  Michele M. Bachmann
• 14 June 2011: The Bachmann campaign has stated that Minnesota state law does not allow a candidate to concurrently run for President and Congress.
4 January 2012: Suspended her Presidential campaign the day after placing 6th in the Iowa Caucuses.
25 January 2012: Announced she will seek a 4th term in the U.S. House.
• FEC H6MN06074; 25 Jan 12; Tot $14,055,855; Dsb $15,500,558
  Candidate Independent     Aubrey Immelman
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 7
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman  Collin Clark Peterson
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     Congressman  Collin Clark Peterson
• FEC H2MN07014; 31 Dec 11; Tot $447,637; Dsb $173,786
  Candidate Republican     Vidar Lee "Lee" Byberg
• FEC H0MN07059; 31 Dec 11; Tot $154,045; Dsb $42,854
  Candidate Republican     state Senator  Gretchen M. Hoffman
• FEC H2MN07089
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 8
Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman  Raymond J. "Chip" Cravaack
• First elected: 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     Duluth Councilor at Large  Jeff Anderson
• FEC H2MN08103; 31 Dec 11; Tot $74,427; Dsb $61,238
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     former state Senator  Tarryl Lynn Clark
• FEC H0MN06127; 31 Dec 11; Tot $550,792; Dsb $302,519
    Democratic-Farmer Labor     Daniel Michael Fanning - apparently not a candidate
• FEC H2MN08129; 31 Dec 11; Tot $7,655; Dsb $6,226
  Candidate Democratic-Farmer Labor     former Congressman  Richard Michael "Rick" Nolan
• FEC H2MN08111; 31 Dec 11; Tot $125,663; Dsb $78,241
  Candidate Republican     Congressman  Raymond J. "Chip" Cravaack
• FEC H0MN08115; 31 Dec 11; Tot $759,303; Dsb $273,343
Secretary of State  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014
  Democratic-Farmer Labor Secretary of State  Mark Ritchie
• First elected: 2006; re-elected: 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
Attorney General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014
  Democratic-Farmer Labor Attorney General  Lori Swanson
• First elected: 2006; re-elected: 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
Auditor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014
  Democratic-Farmer Labor Auditor  Rebecca Otto
• First elected: 2006; re-elected: 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
 
Political Parties    Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.
Major Parties
 • Democratic (affiliates): 8 incumbents
 • Democratic-Farmer Labor (affiliate of Democratic): 3 incumbents, 17 candidates
 • Republican: 4 incumbents, 18 candidates
Major Third Parties
 • Constitution (affiliates)
 • Green (affiliates)
 • Libertarian
Other Third Parties
 • Conservative USA
 • Independence (affiliates): 1 candidate
 • Progressive
 • Right to Life
 • Unity
Independents
 • Independent: 1 candidate
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
 • Not readily classifiable
 
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.
Notes
Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.

"FEC" indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary.

When available, we post each candidate's FEC identification number, the date of their most recently filed Report of Receipts and Disbursements, their "Tot" [Total Receipts (contributions received or what came in: FEC Form 3, Line 16, Column B)] and their "Dsb" [Total Disbursements (expenditures or what was spent: FEC Form 3, Line 23, Column B)]. A link is provided to the Federal Election Commission's Summary Report for those who might wish to explore the details.

If a candidate raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not subject to FEC reporting requirements.

Links Links to other web sites
Constitution   Links to State Constitutions
 • http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cco/rules/mncon/preamble.htm
Election Authority
 • Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board
 • Minnesota Secretary of State Elections and Voting
Legislature   Links to State Legislatures
 • Minnesota House of Representatives
 • Minnesota Senate
 • Minnesota State Legislature
Democratic
 • Minnesota Democratic-Farmer Labor Party
 • Minnesota House of Representatives - Democratic/DFL Caucus
Republican
 • Minnesota House of Representatives - Republican Caucus
 • Republican Party of Minnesota
Third Party
 • Communist Party USA - Central and Southern Minnesota District
 • Conservative Party USA Minnesota
 • Constitution Party of Minnesota
 • Green Party of Minnesota
 • Independence Party of Minnesota The Independence Party of Minnesota voted to affiliate with the Independence Party of America on 26 January 2008.
 • Libertarian Party of Minnesota
 • Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life
 • Minnesota Open Progressive Party Committee
 • New Union Party
 • The Unity Party of Minnesota
Media & others
 • Anoka County Union - Coon Rapids
 • Austin Daily Herald
 • Brainerd Dispatch
 • Cannon Falls Beacon
 • Checks & Balances
 • Coon Rapids Herald
 • DC's Political Report - Minnesota
 • Duluth News Tribune- Duluth
 • Echo Press - Alexandria
 • KSTP TV - ABC - Saint Paul
 • Lee Helgen for St. Paul, Minnesota City Council
 • Minnesota E-Democracy - Minneapolis
 • Minnesota Progressive Project
 • Minnesota Public Radio
 • Morrison County Record - Little Falls
 • Northfield.org
 • Pioneer Press - Minneapolis - St. Paul
 • Politics in Minnesota - St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report
 • Politics1.com - Minnesota
 • Southwest Journal
 • St. Paul Legal Ledger
 • Star Tribune - Minneapolis
 • The Annandale Advocate
 • The Austin Daily Herald
 • The Free Press - Mankato
 • The Journal - New Ulm
 • The West Central Tribune - Willmar
 • Thisweek Newspapers - Burnsville
 • Winona Daily News
 

  2012 General Election Home  
 
  U.S. Senate Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Gubernatorial Popular Vote by Party  
  U.S. House Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Close Contests Summary - Decision by 2% or less  
  Contests Where No Candidate Received a Majority  
 
2012 Primaries and Runoffs for Statewide offices/Congress
  Alphabetically   --   Chronologically   --   Poll Closing Times  
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General Election Poll Closing Times
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  Polling Hours  
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  Governors     Senate     House  
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  Senators by 'Class'  
  Governors by election 'cycle'  
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  Gubernatorial Primaries at a Glance   --   Senatorial Primaries at a Glance  
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  Open Governor's Chairs, Senate and House Seats (the incumbent is not running for re-election)  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with no incumbent running for them  
  Uncontested Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats (one candidate running for office)  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with multiple incumbents running for them  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with only one major party candidate running for office  
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  2012 Partisan Composition by State  
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  Political Parties  
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  Senate Electoral Classes  
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History
  Political Party Floor Leaders in the Congress of the United States  
  Dates of DIRECT PRIMARY Elections re: Major Party Nominations for Statewide and/or Federal Office  
  Length of Terms of Office of STATE Governors throughout American History  

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