Election of Minnesota's senator to the U.S. Senate
County resultsSmith: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70%Lewis: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70%
The 2020 United States Senate election in Minnesota was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Minnesota , concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election , as well as other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives and other state and local elections . Some Republican pundits and strategists believed Minnesota to be one of the few states Republicans should've aimed to flip due to its increasingly Republican-favorable demographics and unexpectedly close result in the 2016 presidential election , although every single poll showed incumbent Democratic Senator Tina Smith in the lead. Smith won re-election to a full term in office by a margin of 5.2 points, making this the closest Senate election in Minnesota since 2008 , likely because two pro-marijuana legalization parties (Legal Marijuana Now Party and Grassroots Party ) unexpectedly took a combined 7.69% of the vote. The filing deadline for all candidates was June 2, 2020.[1] The primary took place on August 11.[2]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Steve Carlson, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018 and write-in candidate for President in 2016[4] [5] [1]
Ahmad Hassan[1]
Paula Overby, Green Party nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018[6] [1]
Christopher Seymore, Sr.[1]
Withdrawn
Endorsements
Tina Smith
U.S. Senators
Amy Klobuchar , U.S. Senator from Minnesota; former 2020 presidential candidate[9]
Organizations
Labor unions
Results
Results by county:
Smith—>90%
Smith—80–90%
Smith—70–80%
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
John L. Berman[1]
Bob Carney Jr.[1] [33]
Cynthia Gail, art teacher[34]
James Reibestein[1]
Withdrawn
Declined
Endorsements
Jason Lewis
U.S. President
Political Organizations
Results
Results by county:
Lewis—80–90%
Lewis—70–80%
Lewis—60–70%
Lewis—50–60%
Other candidates
Grassroots - Legalize Cannabis
Nominee
Results
Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis primary results[31]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Grassroots
Oliver Steinberg
3,275
100.00%
Total votes
3,275
100.00%
Legal Marijuana Now
Nominee
Primary results
Legal Marijuana Now primary results[31]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Legal Marijuana Now
Kevin O'Connor
6,996
100.00%
Total votes
6,996
100.00%
Independent write-in candidate
Declared
George Dennis Jr.[47]
Josh D. Ondich, perennial candidate[48] [49]
General election
Debate
Two General Election debates were held. The first on October 2, 2020, was hosted by Minnesota Public Radio and was attended by Smith and
Lewis.[50] The Second debate was hosted by Twin Cities PBS on October 23, 2020, and was attended only by Lewis.[51]
Predictions
Endorsements
Tina Smith (D)
U.S. Senators
Organizations
Labor unions
Newspapers
Jason Lewis (R)
U.S. Executive Branch officials
U.S. Representatives
Other Individuals
Organizations
Newspapers
Polling
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Tina Smith (D)
Jason Lewis (R)
Other
Undecided
Research Co.
October 31 – November 1, 2020
450 (LV)
4.6%
50%
39%
2%[a]
9%
Data for Progress
October 27 – November 1, 2020
1,259 (LV)
± 2.8%
54%
44%
2%[b]
–
Swayable
October 23 – November 1, 2020
430 (LV)
± 6.1%
55%
46%
–
–
Public Policy Polling
October 29–30, 2020
770 (V)
–
51%
42%
–
6%
Targoz Market Research/PollSmart
October 25–30, 2020
1,138 (LV)
–
53%
44%
3%[c]
–
St. Cloud State University
October 10–29, 2020
372 (A)
± 6.7%
53%
36%
–
–
SurveyUSA
October 23–27, 2020
649 (LV)
± 4.3%
45%
42%
3%[d]
10%
Gravis Marketing
October 24–26, 2020
657 (LV)
± 3.8%
53%
39%
–
8%
Civiqs/Daily Kos
October 17–20, 2020
840 (LV)
± 3.6%
54%
43%
2%[e]
1%
SurveyUSA
October 16–20, 2020
625 (LV)
± 5%
43%
42%
3%[f]
12%
Change Research
October 12–15, 2020[g]
1,021 (LV)
± 3.1%
48%
44%
4%[h]
5%
SurveyUSA
October 1–6, 2020
929 (LV)
± 3.9%
44%
37%
4%[i]
16%
Suffolk University
September 20–24, 2020
500 (LV)
± 4.4%
45%
35%
6%[j]
14%
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy
September 21–23, 2020
800 (LV)
± 3.5%
49%
41%
–
10%
Redfield & Wilton Strategies
September 12–17, 2020
718 (LV)
± 3.7%
51%
36%
2%[k]
11%
CBS News/YouGov
September 9–11, 2020
1,087 (LV)
± 3.9%
47%
40%
2%[l]
10%
Siena College/NYT Upshot
September 8–10, 2020
814 (LV)
± 3.9%
49%
40%
0%[m]
11%[n]
SurveyUSA
September 4–7, 2020
553 (LV)
± 5.2%
47%
36%
3%[o]
14%
Public Policy Polling
September 3–4, 2020
877 (V)
± 3.3%
49%
41%
3%[p]
7%
Harper Polling (R) [A]
August 30 – September 1, 2020
501 (LV)
± 4.4%
43%
41%
–
10%
Emerson College
August 8–10, 2020
733 (LV)
± 3.6%
48%
45%
–
7%
Public Policy Polling (D) [B]
July 22–23, 2020
1,218 (V)
± 3.2%
48%
39%
–
13%
Harper Polling (R) [A]
May 26–28, 2020
510 (LV)
–
46%
35%
–
20%
Hypothetical polling
with Generic Democrat and Generic Republican
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Generic Democrat
Generic Republican
Other
Undecided
PPP
Sep 3–4, 2020
877 (V)
± 3.3%
51%
44%
–
4%
Harper Polling/Jason Lewis [C]
Aug 30 – Sep 1, 2020
501 (LV)
± 4.38%
45%
43%
3%[q]
9%
Emerson College
Aug 8–10, 2020
733 (LV)
± 3.6%
48%
46%
–
7%
Harper Polling (R) [D]
May 26–28, 2020
510 (LV)
–
44%
40%
–
–
County Results for Kevin O'Connor:
Results
United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2020[87]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic (DFL)
Tina Smith (incumbent)
1,566,522
48.74%
-4.23%
Republican
Jason Lewis
1,398,145
43.50%
+1.15%
Legal Marijuana Now
Kevin O'Connor
190,154
5.91%
+2.21%
Grassroots
Oliver Steinberg
57,174
1.78%
N/A
Write-in
2,261
0.07%
+0.03%
Total votes
3,214,256
100.00%
N/A
Democratic (DFL) hold
See also
Notes
^ "Someone else" with 2%
^ "Other candidate or write-in" with 2%
^ "Not sure/Someone else/Undecided" with 3%
^ "Some other candidate" with 3%
^ O'Connor (LMN) and Steinberg (GLC) with 1%; "Someone else" with 0%
^ "Some other candidate" with 3%
^ Additional data sourced from FiveThirtyEight
^ O'Connor (LMN) with 3%; Steinberg (GLC) with 1%; would not vote with 0%
^ "Some other candidate" with 4%
^ O'Connor (LMN) and "Refused" with 2%; Steinberg (GLC) and "Other" with 1%
^ "Another Third Party/Write-in" with 2%
^ "Someone else" with 2%
^ "Someone else" and would not vote with 0%
^ Includes "Refused"
^ "Some other candidate" with 3%
^ "Someone else" with 3%
^ "Someone else" with 3%
Partisan clients
^ a b Poll sponsored by Lewis' campaign
^ Giffords endorsed Tina Smith prior to the sampling period
^ Poll sponsored by Lewis' campaign
^ Poll sponsored by Lewis' campaign
References
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Minnesota 2020 Senate Candidate List" . June 2, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2020 .
^ Montgomery, David H. "Primary primer: What you need to know about Minnesota's August election" . MPR News . Retrieved July 15, 2020 .
^ Keen, Judy (July 9, 2018). "Tina Smith faces tough challengers in fight to keep U.S. Senate seat" . Star Tribune . Retrieved December 7, 2018 .
^ a b c "Minnesota Senate 2020 race" . Open Secrets . Retrieved May 15, 2020 .
^ "Minnesota" . The Washington Times . Retrieved May 17, 2020 .
^ "Former Green Party candidate Overby to seek DFL endorsement" . www.wtip.org .
^ "Bill Hamm announces candidacy for US Senate" . Kanabec County Times . December 6, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2020 .
^ "The Green Papers: Minnesota 2020 General Election" . The Green Papers . May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020 .
^ a b "The Win Big Project" . The Win Big Project .
^ a b Brown, Kris (September 12, 2019). "Brady Endorses Sen. Tina Smith, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, and Rep. Ben Ray Luján for U.S. Senate" . Brady .
^ a b "Senate Candidates - Council for a Livable World" . Council for a Livable World .
^ a b "EMILY's List Endorses Senator Tina Smith for Re-Election" . Emily's List. January 31, 2019.
^ a b Muller, Tiffany (August 27, 2019). "End Citizens United Endorses Four U.S. Senators for Reelection" . End Citizens United .
^ a b "Everytown For Gun Safety Action Fund Endorses Tina Smith For U.S. Senate in Minnesota" . Everytown . June 9, 2020.
^ a b "2020 – Feminist Majority PAC" . feministmajoritypac.org .
^ a b "Giffords Endorses Slate of Senators Running to Bring a Gun Safety Majority to the US Senate" . Giffords . May 8, 2020.
^ a b Acosta, Lucas (August 26, 2019). "HRC Endorses Senator Tina Smith for Reelection| Human Rights Campaign" . Human Rights Campaign .
^ a b "JStreetPAC Candidates" . JStreetPAC .
^ a b "Meet the 2020 Candidates" . Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs .
^ a b Burke, Holly (June 18, 2019). "LCV Action Fund Endorses Senator Tina Smith for Re-Election" . League of Conservation Voters . Retrieved June 20, 2019 .
^ a b "NARAL Pro-Choice America Endorses Senator Tina Smith for Re-election- NARAL Pro-Choice America" . NARAL Pro-Choice America . September 23, 2019.
^ a b "Candidates We Endorse and Support" . NCPSSM .
^ a b "2020 Federal Endorsements - NOW PAC" . nowpac.org .
^ a b Axelrod, Tal (October 10, 2019). "Planned Parenthood issues first wave of 2020 House, Senate endorsements" . TheHill .
^ a b "2020 Endorsements" . Population Connection .
^ a b "2020 Endorsed Candidates - Stonewall DFL" . Stonewall DFL .
^ a b "Federal Endorsed Candidates 2019-2020" . Women's Political Committee .
^ a b "2020 Endorsed Candidates - Women Winning" . Women Winning .
^ a b "Education Minnesota endorses Tina Smith for U.S. Senate" . Education Minnesota.
^ a b "Minnesota AFL-CIO makes first round of 2020 election endorsements" . mnaflcio.org . March 11, 2020.
^ a b c d "Official Canvassing Report" . Minnesota Secretary of State . Retrieved September 13, 2020 .
^ "Jason Lewis to challenge Tina Smith for U.S. Senate seat" . Star Tribune . Retrieved August 22, 2019 .
^ "Calling all (reasonable) Republicans to take your party back" . Star Tribune . Retrieved June 6, 2020 .
^ Gail, Cynthia (July 19, 2020). "Candidate's View: Pandemic has been particularly hard on students" . Duluth News Tribune . Retrieved August 27, 2020 .
^ Van Oot, Torey. "Morning Hot Dish" . Star Tribune.
^ Lewerenz, Jennifer (May 14, 2020). "STATE GOP CONVENTION TO BE HELD VIRTUALLY ON SATURDAY" . KNSI Radio . Retrieved May 15, 2020 .
^ Murphy, Esme (February 9, 2020). "Talking Points: Former Congressman Jason Lewis Discusses Senate Run" . CBS Minnesota . Retrieved May 17, 2020 .
^ "Financial summary" . Retrieved October 24, 2019 .
^ Cohen, Zach C. (December 5, 2018). "Recent LG Nominee Considering Smith Challenge" . National Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2018 .
^ Croman, John (July 5, 2019). "Sen. Smith's next opponent is still unclear" . Kare 11. Retrieved July 8, 2019 .
^ Olson, Blois (August 19, 2019). "Bill Guidera announces he's not running for #mnsen" . @bloisolson . Retrieved August 19, 2019 .
^ Bakst, Brian (July 2, 2019). "Housley passes on U.S. Senate rematch in 2020" . Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved July 2, 2019 .
^ Coolican, J. Patrick (March 7, 2019). "Morning Hot Dish" . Star Tribune. Retrieved March 7, 2019 .
^ Keith, Theo (August 22, 2019). "Theo Keith on Twitter: "Republican Doug Wardlow, who was once considering his own bid for U.S. Senate in 2020, throws his support behind Jason Lewis, who announced his candidacy this morning." " . Twitter . Retrieved August 22, 2019 .
^ a b Donald J. Trump. ".Jason Lewis (@LewisForMN) will be an incredible Senator for the State of Minnesota! He is a proven leader who will help us Lower your Taxes, Protect our Communities and Defend your Second Amendment…" . Twitter .
^ a b Darouni, Christian. "U.S. Senate Endorsement" . mngop.com . Republican Party of Minnesota. Retrieved June 1, 2020 .
^ George Dennis Jr. (October 11, 2020). "WRITE - IN CANDIDATE VOTE GEORGE DENNIS JR. FOR U.S. SENATOR MINNESOTA" . Retrieved October 12, 2020 .
^ "Ondich, Josh D." Our Campaigns . June 23, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2020 .
^ "MINNESOTA" . PoliticsOne . October 10, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020 .
^ https://www.c-span.org/video/?476504-1/minnesota-us-senate-debate
^ https://www.tpt.org/almanac/video/us-senate-candidate-jason-lewis-38101/
^ "2020 Senate Race Ratings for April 19, 2019" . The Cook Political Report . Retrieved September 20, 2019 .
^ "2020 Senate Ratings" . Senate Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved July 17, 2020 .
^ "2020 Senate race ratings" . Sabato's Crystal Ball . Retrieved August 28, 2019 .
^ "Daily Kos Elections releases initial Senate race ratings for 2020" . Daily Kos Elections . Retrieved February 28, 2020 .
^ "2020 Election Forecast" . Politico . November 19, 2019.
^ "Battle for White House" . RCP . April 19, 2019.
^ "2020 Negative Partisanship and the 2020 Congressional Elections" . Niskanen Center . April 28, 2020.
^ "2020 Senate Elections Model" . Decision Desk HQ . September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020 .
^ Silver, Nate (September 18, 2020). "Forecasting the race for the Senate" . FiveThirtyEight . Retrieved September 18, 2020 .
^ Kirsten Gillibrand (February 5, 2020). "Off the Sidelines Endorsed Candidates" .
^ "Endorsements | Warren Democrats" . elizabethwarren.com .
^ "NRDC Action Fund Endorses 11 House, Senate Candidates" . nrdcactionfund.org . June 15, 2020.
^ "2020 Endorsed Candidates" . Rachel's Action Network .
^ "2020 Election Endorsements" . AFSCME Council 5 .
^ "U.S. Senate - Education Votes" . educationvotes.nea.org .
^ "SEIU 2020 Endorsements" . seiumn.org . February 27, 2020.
^ "Minnesota – Official UAW Endorsements" . uawendorsements.org . United Automobile Workers.
^ "U.S. Senate endorsement: Tina Smith best reflects Minnesota values" . startribune.com . Minneapolis Star Tribune.
^ "Vice President Mike Pence Endorses Jason Lewis In Minnesota's U.S. Senate Race" . July 28, 2020.
^ "Hagedorn, Lewis rally supporters in Rochester campaigning in-person and says they're gaining ground" . KAAL . October 28, 2020.
^ "Donation Status [INCOMPLETE]" – via www.facebook.com.
^ Hagen, Matthew. (PDF) . Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police https://lewisformn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Lewis-FOP-Endorsement.pdf . Retrieved September 30, 2020 .
^ Peters, Brian. (PDF) . Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association https://lewisformn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Lewis-MPPOA-Endorsement.pdf . Retrieved September 30, 2020 .
^ https://www.nfib.com/content/press-release/elections/minnesota-small-businesses-endorse-jason-lewis-for-election-to-congress/ . Retrieved October 14, 2020 .
^ Donohue, Thomas. (PDF) https://lewisformn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Chamber-of-Commerce-Endorsement.pdf . Retrieved September 30, 2020 .
^ "Lewis for U.S. Senate" . echopress.com . Alexandria Echo Press. Retrieved September 30, 2020 .
^ bemidjipioneer.com/ . Bemidji Pioneer https://www.bemidjipioneer.com/opinion/editorials/6681687-Endorsement-Lewis-for-U.S.-Senate . Retrieved September 30, 2020 .
^ brainerddispatch.com . Brainerd Dispatch https://www.brainerddispatch.com/opinion/editorials/6681687-Endorsement-Lewis-for-U.S.-Senate . Retrieved September 30, 2020 .
^ dl-online.com . Detroit Lakes Tribune https://www.dl-online.com/opinion/editorials/6681687-Endorsement-Lewis-for-U.S.-Senate . Retrieved October 20, 2020 .
^ rivertowns.net . Duluth News Tribune https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/editorials/6681687-Endorsement-Lewis-for-U.S.-Senate . Retrieved September 30, 2020 .
^ parkrapidsenterprise.com . Park Rapids Enterprise https://www.parkrapidsenterprise.com/opinion/editorials/6681687-Endorsement-Lewis-for-U.S.-Senate . Retrieved September 30, 2020 .
^ "Endorsement: Lewis for U.S. Senate" . rivertowns.net . RiverTowns and Forum Communications Company. Retrieved September 30, 2020 .
^ "Endorsement: Lewis for U.S. Senate" . postbulletin.com . PostBulletin. Retrieved September 30, 2020 .
^ a b dglobe.com . Worthington Daily Globe https://www.dglobe.com/opinion/editorials/6681687-Endorsement-Lewis-for-U.S.-Senate . Retrieved September 30, 2020 .
^ www.wadenapj.com . Wadena Pioneer Journal https://www.wadenapj.com/opinion/editorials/6681687-Endorsement-Lewis-for-U.S.-Senate . Retrieved October 20, 2020 .
^ "Statewide Results for U.S. Senator" . Minnesota Secretary of State . Retrieved November 25, 2020 .
External links
Official campaign websites
U.S. President U.S. Senate U.S. House Governors State legislatures
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut Senate
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan House
Minnesota
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota Senate
Tennessee Senate
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Mayors
Bakersfield, CA
Baltimore, MD
Baton Rouge, LA
Clearwater, FL
Corpus Christi, TX
El Paso, TX
Fresno, CA
Honolulu, HI
Irvine, CA
Lubbock, TX
Miami-Dade County, FL
Milwaukee, WI
Phoenix, AZ
Portland, OR
Richmond, VA
Salt Lake County, UT
San Diego, CA
Stockton, CA
Virginia Beach, VA
Wilmington, DE
Winston-Salem, NC
Local State-wide Related
* Third party is endorsed by a major party
Presidential (since 1832)Senatorial (since 1950) Gubernatorial (since 1950)
This page was last edited on 25 February 2021, at 19:53