Minnesota 2012 General Election

The Green Papers: Minnesota 2012 General Election

This page is for offices up for election in 2012. Find 2013 elections here.

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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

Minnesota Secretary of State: 2012 State General Election Candidate Filings. The 14 August Primary is for the Republican, Democratic-Farmer-Labor, and Independence parties.

6 November 2012 General Election Candidate Filings from the Minnesota Secretary of State.

6 November 2012 returns and write-in votes from the Minnesota Secretary of State,



President 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2012, 2016. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime. Electors: 10 (Winner-take-all), How Appointed, Meeting Place, Duly Appointed Presidential Electors, List of Presidential Candidates.


		Democratic-Farmer Labor	1,546,167	52.65%	President Barack Hussein Obama (10 Electoral Votes) • Vice President: Vice President Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. • FEC P80003338; 26 Nov 12; Tot $732,741,988; Dsb $729,647,987

		Republican	1,320,225	44.96%	former Massachusetts Governor Willard "Mitt" Romney • Vice President: Wisconsin Congressman Paul D. Ryan • FEC P80003353; 26 Nov 12; Tot $478,704,347; Dsb $465,787,141

		Libertarian	35,098	1.20%	former New Mexico Governor Gary Earl Johnson • Vice President: James P. "Jim" Gray • FEC P20002671; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,575,529; Dsb $2,572,585

		Green	13,023	0.44%	Jill E. Stein • Vice President: Cheri Honkala • FEC P20003984; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,005,788; Dsb $1,093,022

		Scattering	10,533	0.36%	Write-In • Excludes write-in votes cast for Roseanne Cherri Barr, Barbara Ann K. "Barb" Prokopich, Thomas "Tom" Hoefling, Jill Ann Reed, Andre Nigel Barnett, Will Christensen.

		Constitution	3,722	0.13%	former Congressman Virgil Hamlin Goode, Jr. • Vice President: James N. "Jim" Clymer • FEC P20004685; 26 Nov 12; Tot $202,258; Dsb $202,253

		Grassroots	3,149	0.11%	Jim Carlson • For Vice President: George McMahon • FEC P20005237

		Justice Party	1,996	0.07%	former Salt Lake City Mayor Ross Carl "Rocky" Anderson • Vice President: Luis J. Rodriguez • FEC P20004263; 31 Dec 11; Tot $7,954; Dsb $10,084

		Constitutional	1,092	0.04%	Dean Daniel Morstad • Vice President: Josh Franke-Hyland • FEC P20004172; 26 Nov 12; Tot $11,372; Dsb $11,371

		Socialist Workers Party	1,051	0.04%	James E. Harris, Jr. • Vice President: Maura DeLuca • FEC P20005112

		Socialism and Liberation	397	0.01%	Peta Lindsay • Vice President: Yari Osorio • FEC P20004636; 26 Nov 12; Tot $30,903; Dsb $31,019

		Write-in; (Peace And Freedom)	46	0.00%	Roseanne Cherri Barr • Vice President: Cindy Lee Sheehan • FEC P20002804
		Write-in	35	0.00%	Barbara Ann K. "Barb" Prokopich • Vice President: Rick Santorum
		Write-in; (America's Party)	14	0.00%	Thomas "Tom" Hoefling • Vice President: Jonathan D. "J.D." Ellis • FEC P20005260
		Write-in	8	0.00%	Jill Ann Reed • Twelve Visions Party. Vice President: Thomas Allen "Tom" Cary • FEC P20003208
		Write-in; (Reform)	4	0.00%	Andre Nigel Barnett • Vice President: Kenneth R. "Ken" Cross • FEC P20002697
		Write-in; (Constitution)	1	0.00%	Will Christensen • Vice President: Kenneth "Ken" L. Gibbs • FEC P20005245
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Dennis Andrew Ball • Vice President: Stephan Kates
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Joshua Cahanin • Vice President: Mike Perez
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Richard Austin Duncan • Vice President: Ricky Johnson • FEC P20005252
		Write-in; (Freedom)	0	0.00%	Stephen Gaylord Durham • Freedom Socialist Party. Vice President: Christina Gloria López • FEC P20004651
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Levi Chevarim Hurt • Vice President: Eric Holder
		Write-in; (Independent)	0	0.00%	Joseph Andrew "Joe" Jensen • Vice President: Joe Henry • FEC P20004164
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Nelson Keyton, Jr. • Vice President: Jay Jennelle
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Platt Allen Robertson • Vice President: Scott Clayborn Falls
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Beverly Simmons-Miller • Vice President: Thomas Miller, Jr.
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Kevin M. "Kev Thorn" Thorne • Vice President: Colin H. Thorne
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Gerald Legarde "Jerry" Warner • Vice President: Ricky Allen Hood
Total			2,936,561	100.00%

U.S. Senate 6 year term. No Term Limit. 112^th Senate Senate Electoral Classes

Class 1		Democratic	Senator Amy J. Klobuchar • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	1,854,595	65.23%	Senator Amy J. Klobuchar • FEC S6MN00267; 26 Nov 12; Tot $7,245,123; Dsb $6,878,962

		Republican	867,974	30.53%	state Representative Kurt Patrick Bills • 19 May 2012: Received his party's nomination. • FEC S2MN00266; 26 Nov 12; Tot $950,369; Dsb $952,379

		Independence	73,539	2.59%	Stephen Williams • FEC S6MN00382

		Grassroots	30,531	1.07%	Tim Davis • Grassroots • FEC S6MN00234

		Progressive	13,986	0.49%	Michael James Cavlan • Minnesota Open Progressives • FEC S6MN00408

		Scattering	2,582	0.09%	Write-In

		Write-in; (Socialist Workers Party)	9	0.00%	Frank Forrestal
		Write-in	4	0.00%	Andrew Thomas Schuler • Ecology Democracy Party • FEC S2MN00274
		Write-in	1	0.00%	Jack Shephard
Total			2,843,221	100.00%

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

112^th U.S. House of Representatives 2-year term. Election Cycle 2010, 2012. No Term Limit. 112^th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition): 4 Democratic (4 Renominated); 4 Republican (4 Renominated)

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 1		Democratic	Congressman Timothy J. "Tim" Walz • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	193,211	57.52%	Congressman Timothy J. "Tim" Walz • FEC H6MN01174; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,974,751; Dsb $1,864,765

		Republican	142,164	42.33%	Allen Quist • FEC H0MN01037; 22 Dec 12; Tot $640,215; Dsb $640,312

		Scattering	505	0.15%	Write-In

		Write-in	0	0.00%	Charles Aldrich
Total			335,880	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 2		Republican	Congressman John Paul Kline, Jr. • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First elected: 2002 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Republican	193,587	54.01%	Congressman John Paul Kline, Jr. • FEC H8MN06047; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,299,436; Dsb $1,915,690

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	164,338	45.85%	former state Representative Michael E. "Mike" Obermueller • FEC H2MN02122; 26 Nov 12; Tot $722,123; Dsb $707,399

		Scattering	521	0.15%	Write-In

		Write-in	1	0.00%	Josh D. Ondich
Total			358,447	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 3		Republican	Congressman Erik Paulsen • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First elected: 2008 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Republican	222,335	58.10%	Congressman Erik Paulsen • FEC H8MN03077; 26 Nov 12; Tot $3,103,420; Dsb $2,483,393

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	159,937	41.79%	Brian Patrick Barnes • FEC H2MN03070; 26 Nov 12; Tot $400,305; Dsb $386,814

		Scattering	433	0.11%	Write-In
Total			382,705	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 4		Democratic	Congressman Betty McCollum • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First elected: 2000 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	216,685	62.27%	Congressman Betty McCollum • FEC H0MN04049; 26 Nov 12; Tot $931,914; Dsb $911,137

		Republican	109,659	31.51%	Anthony John "Tony" Hernandez • FEC H2MN04110; 26 Nov 12; Tot $66,697; Dsb $67,978

		Independence	21,135	6.07%	Steve Carlson • FEC H0MN04163

		Scattering	512	0.15%	Write-In

		Write-in	10	0.00%	Amber Garlan
Total			348,001	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 5		Democratic	Congressman Keith Maurice Ellison • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	262,102	74.47%	Congressman Keith Maurice Ellison • FEC H6MN05183; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,015,699; Dsb $2,064,179

		Republican	88,753	25.22%	Chris Fields • FEC H2MN05133; 26 Nov 12; Tot $347,221; Dsb $346,221

		Scattering	1,114	0.32%	Write-In

		Write-in; (Socialist Workers Party)	9	0.00%	Tony Lane
Total			351,978	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 6		Republican	Congressman Michele M. Bachmann • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary 13 June 2011: Announced she is a candidate for President in 2012 (but ultimately failed to win the Republican Presidential Nomination)
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Republican	179,240	50.47%	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; 26 Nov 12; Tot $25,514,918; Dsb $25,151,522

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	174,944	49.26%	James Joseph "Jim" Graves • Received his party's endorsement • FEC H2MN06198; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,578,983; Dsb $2,501,086

		Scattering	969	0.27%	Write-In

		Write-in	2	0.00%	Curtis Hed
		Write-in	1	0.00%	Derek Henkels
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Clayton James Hanks
Total			355,156	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 7		Democratic	Congressman Collin Clark Peterson • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	197,791	60.38%	Congressman Collin Clark Peterson • FEC H2MN07014; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,104,157; Dsb $1,464,925

		Republican	114,151	34.85%	Vidar Lee "Lee" Byberg • FEC H0MN07059; 26 Nov 12; Tot $616,460; Dsb $631,740

		Independence	15,298	4.67%	Adam Steele • FEC H2MN07097

		Scattering	336	0.10%	Write-In
Total			327,576	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 8		Republican	Congressman Raymond J. "Chip" Cravaack • First elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	191,976	54.28%	former Congressman Richard Michael "Rick" Nolan • FEC H2MN08111; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,219,685; Dsb $1,155,434

		Republican	160,520	45.39%	Congressman Raymond J. "Chip" Cravaack • FEC H0MN08115; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,374,053; Dsb $2,368,434

		Scattering	1,167	0.33%	Write-In
Total			353,663	100.00%

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, 10 candidates
	• Republican: 4 incumbents, 10 candidates
Major Third Parties
	• Constitution (affiliates): 2 candidates
	• Green (affiliates): 1 candidate
	• Libertarian: 1 candidate
	• Reform (affiliates): 1 candidate
Other Third Parties
	• America's Party: 1 candidate
	• Constitutional: 1 candidate
	• Freedom: 1 candidate
	• Grassroots: 2 candidates
	• Independence (affiliates): 3 candidates
	• Justice Party: 1 candidate
	• Socialism and Liberation: 1 candidate
	• Peace And Freedom: 1 candidate
	• Progressive: 1 candidate
	• Socialist Workers Party: 3 candidates
Independents
	• Independent: 1 candidate
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
	• Scattering: 10 candidates
	• Write-in: 27 candidates
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.