The2012 Minnesota Senate election was held in theU.S. state ofMinnesota on November 6, 2012, to elect members to theSenate of the88th and89th Minnesota Legislatures . A primary election was held in several districts on August 14, 2012.
TheMinnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) won a majority of seats, defeating the majority of theRepublican Party of Minnesota .[ 1]
The new Legislature convened on January 8, 2013.
A special election was held on January 12, 2012 to fill Senate district 59, which had been vacated by the resignation of DFLerLarry Pogemiller , who had been appointed to theMinnesota Office of Higher Education . DFL nomineeKari Dziedzic defeated Republican Ben Schwanke by a wide margin.
A special election was held on April 20, 2012 to fill Senate district 20, which had been vacated by the death of DFLerGary Kubly . DFL nomineeLyle Koenen defeated Republican Gregg Kulberg by a 14-point margin.
Primary election results [ edit ] District Party Candidates Votes % 1 Republican Steve Nordhagen 1,574 72.77 Jual Carlson 589 27.23 DFL LeRoy Stumpf 3,218 100.00 5 Republican John Carlson 2,654 100.00 DFL Tom Saxhaug 3,981 72.39 Laverne Pederson 1,518 27.61 10 Republican Carrie Ruud 2,350 100.00 DFL Taylor Stevenson 2,873 57.38 Anne Marcotte 2,134 42.62 13 Republican Michelle Fischbach 1,484 90.27 Fadumo Yusuf 160 9.73 DFL Peggy Boeck 765 100.00 15 Republican Dave Brown 1,725 100.00 DFL Sally Knox 1,183 62.56 Ron Thiessen 708 37.44 17 Republican Joe Gimse 1,490 100.00 DFL Lyle Koenen 3,019 57.20 Larry Rice 2,259 42.80 20 Republican Mike Dudley 2,590 86.62 Gene Thomas Kornder 400 13.38 DFL Kevin Dahle 2,323 100.00 30 Republican Mary Kiffmeyer 1,620 73.44 Paul Bolin 586 26.56 DFL Paul Perovich 806 100.00 33 Republican David Osmek 2,885 50.94 Connie Doepke 2,778 49.06 DFL Judy Rogosheske 1,187 100.00 39 Republican Karin Housley 1,941 67.26 Eric Michael Langness 945 32.74 DFL Julie Bunn 2,235 100.00 40 DFL Chris Eaton 2,005 81.01 Timothy Davis 470 18.99 45 Republican Blair Tremere 978 54.36 Timothy Hall 821 45.64 DFL Ann Rest 3,851 100.00 46 Republican Paul Scofield 544 56.43 Roger Champagne 420 43.57 DFL Ron Latz 3,205 100.00 47 Republican Julianne Ortman 2,114 58.43 Bruce Schwichtenberg 1,504 41.57 DFL James Weygand 824 100.00 55 Republican Eric Pratt 1,666 100.00 DFL Kathy Busch 1,059 87.52 Josh Ondich 151 12.48 57 Republican Pat Hall 1,937 100.00 DFL Greg Clausen 1,456 78.66 Mike Germain 395 21.34 64 Republican Sharon Anderson 632 100.00 DFL Dick Cohen 5,797 89.43 Alexander Jeffries 685 10.57 67 Republican Mike Capistrant 425 100.00 DFL Foung Hawj 2,142 44.21 Robert Humphrey 1,897 39.15 Tom Dimond 806 16.64
Source:Minnesota Secretary of State [ 6]
Polling firm/client Polling period Sample Margin ofpp) Republican DFL Independence Other Undecided SurveyUSA /KSTP-TV [ 7] November 1–3, 2012 556LV ±4.2 40% 48% 6% 6% 1% SurveyUSA /KSTP-TV [ 8] October 26–28, 2012 574LV ±4.2 40% 45% 8% 6% 1% SurveyUSA /KSTP-TV [ 9] October 12–14, 2012 550LV ±4.3 36% 45% 8% 3% 9% Public Policy Polling [ 10] October 5–8, 2012 937LV ±3.2 40% 52% — — 8% Public Policy Polling [ 11] September 10–11, 2012 824LV ±3.4 44% 47% — — 9% SurveyUSA /KSTP-TV [ 12] September 6–9, 2012 551LV ±4.3 38% 45% 6% 3% 9% SurveyUSA /KSTP-TV [ 13] July 17–19, 2012 552LV ±4.3 40% 45% 8% 2% 6% Public Policy Polling [ 14] May 31 – June 3, 2012 973 ±3.1 36% 48% — — 16% Public Policy Polling [ 15] January 21–22, 2012 1,236 ±2.8 39% 48% — — 14% Public Policy Polling [ 16] May 27–30, 2011 1,179 ±2.9 40% 49% — — 11%
Districts won Summary of the November 6, 2012Minnesota Senate election results Party Candidates Votes Seats No. % ∆pp No. ∆No. % Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party 67 1,532,065 55.83 39 58.21 Republican Party of Minnesota 63 1,193,356 43.49 28 41.79 Independence Party of Minnesota 2 6,102 0.22 0 0.00 Independent 1 5,196 0.19 0 0.00 Write-in N/A 7,251 0.26 0 0.00 Total 2,743,970 100.00 ±0.00 67 ±0 100.00 Invalid/blank votes 206,810 7.01 Turnout (out of 3,861,043 eligible voters)[ 18] 2,950,780 76.42 Source:Minnesota Secretary of State ,[ 19] [ 20]
District Candidates Party Votes % Winner 1 LeRoy Stumpf DFL 22,298 60.59 DFL Steve Nordhagen Republican 14,475 39.33 2 Rod Skoe DFL 21,269 54.92 DFL Dennis Moser Republican 17,423 44.99 3 Tom Bakk DFL 28,427 64.59 DFL Jennifer Havlick Republican 15,509 35.24 4 Kent Eken DFL 19,833 52.17 DFL Phil Hansen Republican 18,132 47.70 5 Tom Saxhaug DFL 21,301 52.33 DFL John Carlson Republican 19,362 47.56 6 David Tomassoni DFL 30,882 71.58 DFL Brandon Anderson Republican 12,220 28.32 7 Roger Reinert DFL 32,684 76.90 DFL Tyler Verry Republican 9,621 22.64 8 Bill Ingebrigtsen Republican 22,693 52.86 Republican Dan Skogen DFL 20,197 47.04 9 Paul Gazelka Republican 20,527 53.65 Republican Al Doty DFL 17,687 46.22 10 Carrie Ruud Republican 22,848 53.88 Republican Taylor Stevenson DFL 19,490 45.96 11 Tony Lourey DFL 24,342 64.22 DFL Bill Saumer Republican 13,505 35.63 12 Torrey Westrom Republican 25,279 61.49 Republican John Schultz DFL 15,801 38.44 13 Michelle Fischbach Republican 26,015 63.53 Republican Peggy Boeck DFL 14,871 36.32 14 John Pederson Republican 19,351 52.47 Republican Jerry McCarter DFL 17,434 47.27 15 Dave Brown Republican 21,917 56.55 Republican Sally Knox DFL 16,787 43.31 16 Gary Dahms Republican 20,922 53.01 Republican Ted Suss DFL 18,496 46.87 17 Lyle Koenen DFL 21,621 55.40 DFL Joe Gimse Republican 17,350 44.46 18 Scott Newman Republican 22,556 58.15 Republican Steven Schiroo DFL 16,180 41.71 19 Kathy Sheran DFL 33,291 97.52 DFL 20 Kevin Dahle DFL 20,627 50.02 DFL Mike Dudley Republican 20,556 49.85 21 Matt Schmit DFL 21,937 52.43 DFL John Howe Republican 19,846 47.44 22 Bill Weber Republican 19,548 52.76 Republican Alan Oberloh DFL 17,457 47.11 23 Julie Rosen Republican 25,838 63.97 Republican Paul Marquardt DFL 14,516 35.94 24 Vicki Jensen DFL 19,248 52.60 DFL Vern Swedin Republican 17,286 47.23 25 Dave Senjem Republican 22,299 53.72 Republican Judy Ohly DFL 19,149 46.13 26 Carla Nelson Republican 22,263 55.62 Republican Kenneth Moen DFL 17,692 44.20 27 Dan Sparks DFL 26,552 68.22 DFL Linden Anderson Republican 12,334 31.69 28 Jeremy Miller Republican 23,122 57.12 Republican Jack Krage DFL 17,303 42.74 29 Bruce Anderson Republican 24,486 60.56 Republican Brian Doran DFL 15,867 39.25 30 Mary Kiffmeyer Republican 25,205 62.41 Republican Paul Perovich DFL 15,125 37.45 31 Michelle Benson Republican 24,774 58.64 Republican Mike Starr DFL 17,423 41.24 32 Sean Nienow Republican 21,955 54.25 Republican Jeske Noordergraaf DFL 18,450 45.59 33 David Osmek Republican 28,195 58.92 Republican Judy Rogosheske DFL 19,547 40.85 34 Warren Limmer Republican 25,847 57.04 Republican Sharon Bahensky DFL 19,406 42.83 35 Branden Petersen Republican 22,874 54.21 Republican Peter Perovich DFL 19,253 45.63 36 John Hoffman DFL 22,194 53.10 DFL Benjamin Kruse Republican 19,522 46.71 37 Alice Johnson DFL 22,814 53.23 DFL Pam Wolf Republican 19,962 46.57 38 Roger Chamberlain Republican 23,817 53.22 Republican Timothy Henderson DFL 20,849 46.59 39 Karin Housley Republican 23,385 50.62 Republican Julie Bunn DFL 22,754 49.25 40 Chris Eaton DFL 25,165 96.93 DFL 41 Barb Goodwin DFL 25,842 62.82 DFL Gina Bauman Republican 15,200 36.95 42 Bev Scalze DFL 25,607 55.57 DFL April King Republican 20,400 44.27 43 Chuck Wiger DFL 26,767 62.25 DFL Duane Johnson Republican 16,137 37.53 44 Terri Bonoff DFL 27,203 55.81 DFL David Gaither Republican 21,464 44.04 45 Ann Rest DFL 28,608 65.45 DFL Blair Tremere Republican 15,036 34.40 46 Ron Latz DFL 29,755 66.82 DFL Paul Scofield Republican 14,680 32.97 47 Julianne Ortman Republican 27,128 63.76 Republican James Weygand DFL 15,297 35.96 48 David Hann Republican 23,730 51.32 Republican Laurie McKendry DFL 22,459 48.58 49 Melisa Franzen DFL 26,893 52.74 DFL Keith Downey Republican 24,045 47.15 50 Melissa Halvorson Wiklund DFL 25,300 60.85 DFL Vern Wilcox Republican 16,193 38.95 51 Jim Carlson DFL 23,969 53.09 DFL Ted Daley Republican 21,096 46.73 52 James Metzen DFL 27,149 62.00 DFL Dwight Rabuse Republican 16,542 37.78 53 Susan Kent DFL 22,781 52.13 DFL Ted Lillie Republican 20,857 47.73 54 Katie Sieben DFL 26,998 63.80 DFL Janis Quinlan Republican 15,256 36.05 55 Eric Pratt Republican 22,254 55.11 Republican Kathy Busch DFL 18,070 44.75 56 Dan Hall Republican 22,226 53.92 Republican Leon Thurman DFL 18,922 45.90 57 Greg Clausen DFL 23,890 54.09 DFL Pat Hall Republican 20,199 45.73 58 Dave Thompson Republican 24,097 57.60 Republican Andrew Brobston DFL 17,686 42.28 59 Bobby Joe Champion DFL 28,441 82.02 DFL Jim Lilly Republican 6,082 17.54 60 Kari Dziedzic DFL 29,014 77.06 DFL Mark Lazarchic Republican 6,400 17.00 Rahn Workcuff Independence 2,077 5.52 61 Scott Dibble DFL 41,075 98.08 DFL 62 Jeff Hayden DFL 27,516 86.84 DFL Eric Blair Independence 4,025 12.70 63 Patricia Torres Ray DFL 36,866 80.81 DFL Patrick Marron Republican 8,636 18.93 64 Dick Cohen DFL 33,008 69.67 DFL Sharon Anderson Republican 9,069 19.14 Scott Larson Independent 5,196 10.97 65 Sandy Pappas DFL 27,365 81.72 DFL Rick Karschnia Republican 5,998 17.91 66 John Marty DFL 27,735 73.82 DFL Wayde Brooks Republican 9,718 25.87 67 Foung Hawj DFL 21,630 72.46 DFL Mike Capistrant Republican 8,094 27.11
^ Brooks, Jennifer (November 7, 2012)."DFLers end GOP control in Legislature after two years" .Star Tribune . RetrievedNovember 30, 2012 . ^ "Results for State Senator District 59" .Office of the Secretary of State . December 7, 2011. RetrievedSeptember 5, 2025 .^ "Results for State Senator District 59" .Office of the Secretary of State . January 12, 2012. RetrievedSeptember 5, 2025 .^ "Results for State Senator District 20" .Office of the Secretary of State . April 3, 2012. RetrievedSeptember 5, 2025 .^ "Results for State Senator District 20" .Office of the Secretary of State . April 20, 2012. RetrievedSeptember 5, 2025 .^ "Results for All State Senate Races" .Minnesota Secretary of State . RetrievedFebruary 18, 2014 .^ SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV ^ SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV ^ SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV ^ Public Policy Polling ^ Public Policy Polling ^ SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV ^ SurveyUSA/KSTP-TV ^ Public Policy Polling ^ Public Policy Polling ^ Public Policy Polling Archived 2013-05-12 at theWayback Machine ^ Daigneau, Elizabeth; Jacobson, Louis (October 23, 2012)."The Latest Chamber-by-Chamber Analysis of the 2012 State Legislative Elections" .Governing .Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. RetrievedJuly 13, 2024 . ^ "Minnesota election statistics 1950-2014" (PDF) .Minnesota Secretary of State . RetrievedAugust 13, 2016 .[permanent dead link ^ "Results for All State Senate Races" .Minnesota Secretary of State . RetrievedDecember 6, 2012 .^ "Party Control of the Minnesota Senate, 1951-present" . Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. RetrievedDecember 6, 2012 .
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