Minnesota Attorney General election, 2018 (August 14 Democratic primary)

Elections in Minnesota, 2018

* General election: Nov. 6
* Voter registration deadline: Oct. 16 , or in-person on Nov. 6
* Early voting: Sept. 21 - Nov. 5
* Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6

* Online registration: Yes
* Same-day registration: Yes
* Voter ID: No
* Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

* * *

On the ballot: U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Congressional special elections • Governor • Attorney General • Secretary of State • State executive offices • State House • Special state legislative • Supreme court • Appellate courts • Local judges • Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • Recalls • Democratic primaries • Republican primaries • U.S. Senate special election

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Minnesota Attorney General

Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election

Election details
Filing deadline: June 5, 2018
Primary: August 14, 2018
General: November 6, 2018

* * *

Pre-election incumbent(s):
Lori Swanson (Democrat)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting in Minnesota
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2018
Impact of term limits in 2018
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Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
Minnesota
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Rep. Keith Ellison (D) defeated four opponents for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) attorney general nomination. Absent from the list of contenders was the incumbent, Lori Swanson (D), who bowed out of the race at the party convention and chose instead to run for the DFL gubernatorial nomination.[1]

The DFL endorsed attorney Matt Pelikan (D) at the convention after Swanson's departure. Pelikan criticized Swanson in his nomination speech, saying, "A progressive leader does not have an A+ rating from the NRA," and promised to make guns, drugs, and antitrust his top priorities.[2]

A late entry into the race, Ellison campaigned with the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I), and the endorsement of 1984 presidential nominee Walter Mondale (D).[3] Ellison, the nation’s first Muslim congressman, said he could do more as attorney general to oppose the Trump administration than he could in Congress. “I will join with the attorneys general to defend the Affordable Care Act. I will be the public voice to argue and defend the right for people to be covered,” he said.[4] Ellison led all candidates in funds raised as of August 6 with $212,000[5]

Former Ramsey County Attorney Tom Foley (D) had name recognition in southern Minnesota and St. Paul, where his private practice was based at the time of the election. Foley was a vice chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission under President Bill Clinton (D) and has been was a candidate for numerous offices. Foley said he didn't view the attorney general’s office as a platform "to just attack the Trump administration." "That’s a waste of resources," Foley said, adding he "would be very selective in the types of cases I would take on."[6]

State Rep. Debra Hilstrom (D) campaigned on her 18 years of experience in the Minnesota State Legislature and was endorsed by Women Winning and several labor unions.[7]

Mike Rothman (D) ran on his experience as Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce. "I am the most experienced candidate in the field ... no other candidate has statewide experience, no other candidate has been the state's consumer watchdog," he said.

## Contents

* 1 Candidates and election results
* 2 Top Candidates
* 2.1 Keith Ellison
* 2.2 Tom Foley
* 2.3 Matt Pelikan
* 3 Endorsements
* 4 Campaign themes and policy stances
* 4.1 Keith Ellison
* 4.2 Matt Pelikan
* 4.3 Mike Rothman
* 5 Noteworthy events
* 5.1 Allegations of abuse against Ellison
* 6 Context of the 2018 election
* 6.1 Past elections
* 6.1.1 2014
* 7 Voter information
* 7.1 How the primary works
* 7.2 Poll times
* 7.3 Registration requirements
* 7.4 Automatic registration
* 7.5 Online registration
* 7.6 Same-day registration
* 7.7 Residency requirements
* 7.8 Verification of citizenship
* 7.9 Verifying your registration
* 7.10 Voter ID requirements
* 7.11 Early voting
* 7.12 Absentee voting
* 8 State profile
* 8.1 Presidential voting pattern
* 8.1.1 Pivot Counties (2016)
* 8.1.2 Pivot Counties (2020)
* 9 Pivot Counties
* 9.1 Presidential results by legislative district
* 10 See also
* 11 External links
* 12 Footnotes

## Candidates and election results[edit]

Keith Ellison defeated Debra Hilstrom, Tom Foley, Matt Pelikan, and Mike Rothman in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Minnesota on August 14, 2018.

#### Democratic primary election

#####  Democratic primary for Attorney General of Minnesota

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

| Keith Ellison |

49.8

| 281,142

| Debra Hilstrom|

19.1

| 108,048

| Tom Foley|

12.5

| 70,786

| Matt Pelikan|

10.6

| 59,876

| Mike Rothman|

7.9

| 44,522

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 564,374

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Lori Swanson (D)
* Ryan Winkler (D)
* Sam Clark (D)

## Top Candidates[edit]

### Keith Ellison[edit]

Ellison was born in 1963 in Detroit, Michigan. He earned his B.A. from Wayne State University in 1986 and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1990. Prior to his political career, Ellison worked as an attorney.[8]

### Tom Foley[edit]

Foley attended the University of Minnesota as an ungraduate and a law student, earning his law degree in 1972. From 1973 to 1976 he served as an Assistant Minnesota Attorney General. In 1976 he was named a Deputy Commissioner of Corrections for the State of Minnesota. In 1978 Foley was elected as Ramsey County attorney, a position which he held for four terms. In 1992 he acted as the chair of the Clinton/Gore presidential campaign in Minnesota, and later acted as a vice chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission under Clinton.[9][10]

### Matt Pelikan[edit]

Pelikan attended the Univerity of Minnesota Law School and earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 2012. After law school, he worked as a clerk in the Minnesota Supreme Court. In 2016, Pelikan worked as the deputy director of voter protection for the Ohio Democratic Party. His 2018 campaign website states, "There is no doubt that Minnesotans—and our Minnesota values—are under attack like never before under the Trump administration," and that he "believes that we need a strong, progressive Attorney General now more than ever."[11]

## Endorsements[edit]

The table below summarizes the endorsements Ballotpedia identified for Democratic candidates in the primary for Minnesota's attorney general.

Do you know of an official or organization that endorsed a candidate in this race? Let Ballotpedia know by email at federal@ballotpedia.org.

Democratic candidate endorsements

Endorsement  | Ellison  | Foley  | Hilstrom  | Pelikan  | Rothman
Public Officials
Bernie Sanders (I)[12] | ✔ |  |  |  |
National Figures
Walter Mondale (D)[13] | ✔ |  |  |  |
Organizations
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party [14] |  |  |  | ✔ |
Democracy for America [15] | ✔ |  |  |  |
National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) [15] | ✔ |  |  |  |

## Campaign themes and policy stances[edit]

###  Keith Ellison[edit]

“  |

FAIRNESS FOR WORKERS

I am a champion for labor and workers’ rights, carrying the bill for a $15 minimum wage and leading the charge against wage theft at the federal level. As Attorney General, I will always be a friend to working men and women and their families. Period.

Wage Theft

While most employers pay workers what they earn and deserve, some do not pay workers their full pay for their hard work, cheating them out of overtime pay or the minimum wage. I will partner with the MN Department of Labor and Industry to enforce wage theft laws and hold offenders accountable by forcing them to repay any stolen wages, plus interest. Last month, the Supreme Court voted to take away workers' rights to file a class-action lawsuit for employment law violations. This decision tilts the playing field in favor of large companies and their armies of lawyers. As the People's Lawyer, I will level the field by filing cases on behalf of all workers who get cheated out of their hard-earned pay.

Health Care

Every American should have access to guaranteed, quality, affordable health care. That’s why I led the Medicare for All bill in Congress. It’s why as Attorney General I will fight to hold drug corporations accountable for price gouging and other dirty tricks to raise prices or keep generic-brand drugs off the market. In the midst of our nation’s opioid crisis, Attorneys General should lead the fight in taking on drug companies who have flooded our communities with narcotics, and ensure this continues to be treated as a public health crisis. This includes working in collaboration with tribes, whose communities have been hit particularly hard by this crisis. I will stand up for women’s reproductive freedom and access to abortion and contraception. I will also join my fellow Attorneys General nationwide in their fight to protect the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid from on-going legal attacks.

Workplace Safety

Minnesotans shouldn't have to choose between their health and safety and their paychecks. But that is exactly what the Trump administration has made them do by rolling back and delaying the rules that keep workers safe on the job. I will put a stop to multi-billion dollar companies taking shortcuts on worker health and safety just to squeeze a few extra dollars of profits. This is especially important in Greater Minnesota, because agricultural work, logging, fishing, and iron and steel work are some of the top 10 most dangerous and fatal jobs in the United States.

Union Rights and Employment Discrimination

If you’re working hard on your job, no matter who you are or what your background is, you should have an equal shot of getting hired and promoted. Things like your age, race, religion, nationality, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity should never be used against you. I will protect workers from employment discrimination. I will also protect workers who exercise their legal right to join together and fight for higher wages and better working conditions. With the Supreme Court poised to deliver a tough blow to state workers in the Janus v. AFSCME decision, state and local workers in Minnesota need an Attorney General with a long record of fighting for workers' collective bargaining rights. I have that record.

FAIR ECONOMY

Everyone wins—consumers, retirees, investors, workers and businesses—when we get rid of fraud and unfair competition. In Congress, I have passed laws to fight credit card abuse and to stand up for the rights of tenants and renters, and founded the Congressional Antitrust Caucus. As Attorney General, I stand up to companies that deceive Minnesotans and violate our antitrust laws.

Fair Student Loans

Americans who borrow money to get a better education deserve fair treatment when repaying those loans. A few big companies control this business and they are misleading consumers by steering them into programs that leave them on the hook for years of extra payments at a higher cost. For some former students, especially those who attended for-profit private trade schools, the loans were part of a fraud that left them owing money for a worthless degree. U. S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is siding with the fraudulent schools and the big lending companies. As Attorney General, I would side with consumers with student loans and fight for fairness and debt relief.

Fair Competition

Consumers and workers need a robust economy with businesses competing on a fair and level playing field, not an economy where more power is concentrated in the hands of fewer and fewer companies. Corporate concentration is killing small businesses. As Attorney General, I will work to crack down on the unfair competitive practices that stifle our economy by cheating workers and consumers. I will advocate for farmers throughout the state to stop supply and intermediary companies from violating antitrust laws that raise their costs and lower the prices they are paid. I will also fight employers who keep down wages by monopoly power even as profits improve, or who use anticompetitive practices like non-compete agreements to keep workers’ wages low.

Stop Predatory Lending and Financial Scams

No one should be subject to a loan with hidden and abusive terms when they need to fix their house or buy a car. All Minnesotans can agree it is wrong to use an internet solicitation to try circumventing our state protections and charge 500% interest on a payday loan. I have spent my career fighting against predatory lending and as Attorney General I will continue this work to stop predatory lenders who violate our consumer protection laws. As our state population ages, seniors are increasingly being targeted by scammers and crooks. As Attorney General, I will put a stop to the abhorrent exploitation of seniors. This type of behavior has no place in Minnesota.

Affordable and Fair Housing

When Minnesotans save their hard-earned money to buy a mobile home or a traditional home, the last thing they should be worried about is predatory and fraudulent mortgages. I’ll put a stop to mortgage fraud and abuse and fight back against lenders who trap senior citizens in reverse mortgages that erode their hard-earned home equity. I will also work to level the playing field between landlords and tenants and combat the eviction crisis that is putting too many Minnesota families out on the street. It’s been 50 years since Congress passed the Fair Housing Act under the co-authorship of Walter Mondale to eliminate discrimination in lending. But redlining is still alive and well and black and brown homeowners and renters are consistently charged more than whites. As Attorney General, I will sue lenders and landlords who violate fair housing laws.

CIVIL RIGHTS AND JUSTICE

As a former civil rights attorney for 16 years, I know the value of a good lawyer to protect the rights of all to be free from discrimination and harm.

Immigration justice

Minnesota has a proud immigrant tradition, from those seeking economic opportunity to those fleeing warfare. As Attorney General, I will fight efforts by the Trump Administration to remove protections from Dreamers - remarkable young people who through their educational and work opportunities are contributing to our economy and society. I will ensure that our immigration detention system is humane, and free from mistreatment. I will also stand up to the un-American, discriminatory Muslim Travel Ban. Our country is at its best when we welcome those fleeing horrendous conditions, not when we fan the flames of bigotry and division.

Criminal Justice and Gun Violence

Partnering with our Counties

County attorneys often look to the Attorney General for resources and assistance when prosecuting complex and high profile cases. As Attorney General, I will ensure that every county attorney has the support and expertise necessary to fairly enforce our criminal laws. This will include particular attention to combating the sex trafficking that is all too prevalent in Minnesota.

Collateral consequences

Minnesota’s comparatively low prison population is growing and we have one of the highest rates of people on probation and parole in the county. Minnesotans on probation and parole face barriers to education, employment, housing, and political participation that make it harder to complete their sentence and become a productive member of their community. And Minnesotans with a criminal conviction continue to face barriers to finding a job, stable housing, and being able to support their families long after they have served their time. As Attorney General, I will work with county attorneys and the state legislature to reduce our incarceration, probation and parole rates and enhance public safety by helping people get back on their feet and successfully reintegrate into their communities.

Gun Violence Prevention

Gun violence has disrupted the lives of Minnesotans of all ages and all walks of life across the state. I saw firsthand Washington’s failure to act on public demands to enact common sense gun safety solutions. As Attorney General, I will ensure that Minnesota is a leader in preventing gun violence by fighting for laws that require universal background checks for gun sales, a ban of the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines, and by keeping guns out of the hands of people who pose a risk to themselves or to others, including domestic violence offenders. I will also defend Minnesota’s laws by standing with the Attorneys General of 17 other states to fight bad federal legislation that will undermine our ability to establish and enforce our state gun safety measures.

Equal Access to Justice We must ensure that every Minnesotan has equal access to justice. That starts by increasing support for our public defenders, a right secured in Gideon v. Wainwright by the advocacy of our own Walter Mondale when he was Minnesota’s Attorney General. As Attorney General, I will work with the Board of Public Defense and the legislature to ensure that every low-income Minnesotan accused of a crime has efficient and thorough legal counsel. I will also work to eliminate cash bail laws that prey on the poor and powerless in our system.

Climate Justice Minnesota has been hit hard with increasingly frequent major floods from Duluth to Waseca. Climate change impacts the vulnerable the most - working people, people of color, and seniors. Yet the Trump Administration actively denies and suppresses climate change science and is reversing the progress made under President Obama to hold fossil fuel corporations accountable. As Attorney General, I will stand up to efforts to undermine the Clean Power Plan, which would improve Minnesotans’ health and our environment by transitioning to clean energy. We don’t have to choose between a robust economy and a clean environment; we can and must have both.

Minnesotans need the Office of the Attorney General to fight for them every day. [16]

| ”

|
|

—Keith Ellison for attorney general[17]

### Matt Pelikan[edit]

“  |

Drug Pricing

We must hold the pharmaceutical industry accountable for its role in out-of-control prescription drug pricing. There is simply no reason that drugs that are innovated in America and made in America should be cheaper in Canada. Matt will make taking on the pharmaceutical industry a top, year-one priority. Here’s why that’s important and what a strong and progressive Attorney General can do about it right now.

It’s Time To Negotiate Drug Pricing.

The powerful special interests in the pharmaceutical industry benefit from special protections passed by Congress that prevent the federal government from negotiating drug pricing. Those protections should be reversed. In the meantime, states are empowered to move forward with negotiating on behalf of state-level purchasers. Matt believes that Minnesota’s Attorney General is empowered, right now, under existing law to implement drug-price negotiation as a remedy arising from any investigation into the pharmaceutical industry for price fixing, collusion, anti-competitive behavior, or other anti-consumer practices. Going further, a progressive Attorney General implementing such solutions is empowered to find like-minded state Attorneys General or governments and band together to increase negotiating power and further lower drug prices. While this is something that Minnesota’s Attorney General can do right now, making America’s healthcare system actually work is going to take all of us—federal and state legislators, a progressive governor and president, and, most of all, the sustained work of activists around Minnesota and the country. America’s Healthcare System Is Broken.

We simply spend too much money on a system that delivers bad health outcomes for too many. Skyrocketing costs and profiteering mean that far too many Americans go without access to the care that will save lives and substantially improve people’s quality of life. Lack of access to care in turn leads to a loss of opportunity, closing doors and holding back individuals and families from reaching their potential, or even enjoying life to the fullest.

A Single Payer System Is The Answer.

Matt supports single payer healthcare. While we work to push our legislators in St. Paul and Washington to move toward a system that is fairer and more affordable, there are things that we can do right now.

Gun Safety

There is a crisis of gun violence in this country.

Matt is a strong supporter of common sense gun safety measures and is proud to be a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction and Protect Minnesota Orange Star Candidate.

We must begin to seriously address the gun violence crisis. This begins with popular and common-sense approaches such as universal background checks and keeping guns out of the hands of people who have no business getting them in the first place, like domestic abusers and violent criminals.

We must stop school shootings and other incidents of mass gun violence. There is a growing, grassroots movement demanding popular, common sense gun safety measures in this country. The recent, recurring tragedies of public shootings, particularly school shootings, have served to highlight this issue and put more focus on the urgent need for solutions.

It’s important to remember that gun violence takes many forms and hurts people from all walks of life. For instance, access to a firearm greatly increases the risk that domestic abusers will use deadly force. A disproportionate rate of domestic violence incidents involve the use of a firearm.

As Attorney General, Matt will strongly support common sense gun safety measures. This includes defending Minnesota’s gun safety laws in court as well as speaking up as an advocate for gun safety.

The movement for more gun safety begins with a few community-driven, common sense measures: Protect Minnesota’s Laws

Right now there is a dangerous piece of legislation working its way through Congress: the “Concealed Carry Reciprocity” bill. This bill would rob states, like Minnesota, of the right to set their own local gun safety measures. It would also put guns into the hands of domestic abusers and other potentially violent criminals. This legislation would let the states with the most lax gun laws suddenly set the ceiling on gun safety, cutting off the right of states to do more. 17 Attorneys General have spoken up about this legislation but Minnesota has not.

As Attorney General, Matt will oppose this legislation and strongly defend Minnesota’s existing laws. Universal Background Checks

We must close the loopholes that let guns into the hands of people who shouldn’t have them. The evidence is clear that instituting truly universal background checks has a substantial impact on cutting gun violence, including domestic violence using a firearm.

Right now unlicensed dealers don’t have to run a background check. We need to change this and keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals and domestic abusers. Ban Military Weapons

Matt supports efforts to remove military grade weaponry from our streets and neighborhoods. Too often this debate is sidetracked by semantics about what is or is not an assault rifle or weapon. The simple fact is that automatic and many semi-automatic weapons were designed for use by America’s military in theaters of violent conflict. They have no place in civilian use in this country.

Many of these weapons have capacity for inflicting violence that goes well beyond what is necessary for civilians to enjoy hunting, self defense, or recreational use.

As Attorney General, Matt will be a vocal ally in reducing access to military grade weapons.

Antitrust Enforcement

Matt will be a strong advocate, using the full power of the Attorney General’s office to hold the powerful interests accountable for the unchecked greed and insider deals that choke off economic opportunity for working people and the middle class. Economic power is too concentrated. The consolidation of economic and political power in this country is a major threat to economic opportunity as well as basic fairness. As we have seen in America and around the world, it also undermines a functioning social democracy. Antitrust enforcement is the best tool we have to be an aggressive check on those who are aggregating too much power and rigging the economy against the rest of us. Antitrust has a proud tradition arising from the populist movements of the late 19th and early 20th Century. Then, as now, powerful interests were using their influence to bend market forces, twist the political system, and create unfair advantages that could in turn be used to further enrich and empower themselves. Wealth inequality and lack of social mobility has become so unfair in this country that we are on the cusp of a second Gilded Age. Antitrust enforcement is essential to economic fairness. The Minnesota Attorney General is empowered to ensure fair competition in Minnesota’s economy. Many progressives around the country are turning to antitrust enforcement as a powerful tool hold those interests accountable that have been using unfair advantage to rig the system. Antitrust enforcement is simply the best tool available to shift the balance of power in our economy back into the hands of working people and the middle class. This includes enforcing the existing laws and doctrines to ensure fair pricing and consumer opportunity. There is also growing recognition that we have to use these existing laws to expand enforcement beyond current doctrine. This includes looking at the ways that technology conglomerates can use new powers to unfairly shape the economy. It also means we must look at factors like wages and downstream effects to fully understand the negative impacts of concentrated economic power. As Attorney General, Matt will be a fierce advocate for aggressively using antitrust to make our economy fairer. Antitrust touches many industries and consumers. Let’s face it—at some level “antitrust” is a dry legal term. When we talk about antitrust what we are really saying is that sometimes companies get so much power that they unfairly use that as leverage hurt competitors and customers. It can mean higher prices for goods, but also lower quality goods, lower wages, or simply distorting the market to force good companies out of business. These unfair practices have the potential to impact a lot of industries and consumers. Cable and media: Many customers face outrageous prices for low-quality internet or price gouging for broadband. In fact, some estimates say that 50 million American households have only one provider for broadband. This is also one reason America’s cable companies do not feel pressure to invest in rural broadband access or other infrastructure improvements. It also significantly limits choices among media companies. Agriculture: Many family farms are facing tremendous pressure because of the consolidation of mega agribusinesses. In a growing number of instances, this consolidation has led to the rise of contract agriculture where individual farmers are forced to accept low-profit or nonprofit contracts—even forcing farmers to agree to sell their products to only a single purchaser. Healthcare services: Too many communities have come to depend on the provision of healthcare at the hands of a consolidated, faceless bureaucracy. In many instances, communities and consumers are left with little or no leverage to bargain for access, prices, or fair wages. This consolidation puts a special burden on the quality of and access to rural healthcare. These are just three examples of consolidation. The problems extend to airlines, beer, eyeglasses, and others. Minnesota needs an Attorney General who will prioritize Antitrust Enforcement. Minnesota used to have the best antitrust enforcement in the country. Other states would send attorneys to Minnesota to learn what we were doing to hold these powerful interests accountable. This is a difference of priority between Matt and the incumbent. From the best office in the country it has now largely been eliminated. Some say it is as few as two full-time lawyers. While certain headlines and news stories tout Minnesota’s involvement on the multistate generic drug case, the simple truth is that Minnesota is once again simply following the efforts of other states. 48 states have joined that case and, partly because of its complex antitrust arguments, Minnesota is not a leader. Matt believes antitrust enforcement is essential to making our economy fairer. It is something that a strong, progressive Attorney General can do right now—under existing law—to lead in the fight of defending and advancing our progressive values. As Attorney General, Matt will launch a task force to rebuild Minnesota’s antitrust capacity and once again be on the forefront of holding powerful interests accountable.

Criminal Justice Reform

America’s current criminal justice system is unjust and unfair. We must pursue reforms so that the system can operate with fairness and without bias. All individuals should be treated with fairness and dignity. Our Criminal Justice System Requires Reform.

America’s incarceration rate leads the world. We have 5% of the world’s population but 25% of the prisoners. Minnesota has one of the lowest prison popoulations in the country, but between 2000 and 2013 our rate of incarceration increased by 42%.

The system is also marred by systemic racial bias, especially affecting African Americans and Native Americans. This disparate impact leads to different outcomes from policing, higher incarceration rates, and fewer options for individuals after incarceration.

Many of these poor and biased outcomes arise from America’s ill-conceived and failed drug war, practices that fail to account for underlying, intersectional problems including poverty and substance abuse, and systemic discrimination. In turn, these policies have led to plummeting trust between police and the communities they serve. Our Attorney General must be part of the conversation.

As Attorney General, Matt will be an advocate to end the era of mass incarceration, to eliminate racial bias within the criminal justice system, and support reforms to rehabilitate and reintegrate prisoners who have served their time.

Minnesota’s Attorney General must play an essential role in bringing together stakeholders, vocally advocating policy and legislative reforms, and building on the powerful platform of the office to push our system toward reform. We must restore trust and ensure fair policing.

The dedicated men and women who form Minnesota’s police forces are a vital part of all reform efforts. We must bring together Minnesota’s communities with law enforcement to build trust, have a frank and fair open dialogue, and work to have fair, bias-free policing methods. Together, we can keep Minnesota’s communities safe. Significantly reduce incarceration rates for nonviolent offenders.

While Minnesota decriminalized marijuana, the opioid epidemic, skyrocketing meth problems, and increased DWI enforcement, among other factors, have contributed to increased incarceration rates. We must continue to find ways to reduce incarceration rates for nonviolent offenders. This includes getting smarter on how we treat substance abuse and looking at rehabilitation for nonviolent crimes. We must focus on rehabilitation and treatment programs. Matt opposes private prisons.

As Attorney General, Matt will always be a strong and vocal opponent of any privatization of the prison industry or criminal justice system. Fund public defenders, the judicial system, and law enforcement.

The right to counsel is essential to building a fair justice system. Our public defenders are overworked and underpaid, leading to increased caseloads and barriers for citizens in the criminal justice system.

Rebuilding the AG's Office

Minnesota deserves an Attorney General’s office that is fully capable of providing the great services and robust representation that we need. This includes building on Minnesota’s proud legacy. Minnesota has to rebuild the size of the office. The stark reality is that the Minnesota Attorney General’s office has been reduced in size—by some indications the number of attorneys has been reduced by as much as 40%. This, and overall change of priorities, has led to a decrease in the number and types of cases that it can take, as well as the outcomes. As a first step, Matt would be an advocate for increasing the size and capacity of the office, rather than decreasing them. This effort would also support other essential initiatives: The Attorney General should partner with county attorneys. Minnesota’s county attorneys are chief prosecutors in their respective areas and charged with enforcing Minnesota’s criminal laws. While they do great work, fortunately many counties do not face complex or serious prosecutions every year. It makes sense that the Attorney General’s office would employ a bench of experienced criminal attorneys to provide advice, support, and, when necessary, case work to supplement the efforts of our county attorneys. The office used to be a partner with the work of our county attorneys. But, partly due to the overall reduction in size, the office no longer provides the same level of support. This has placed a tremendous burden on the budgets and capacities of many counties. As Attorney General, Matt would reverse this trend and again put a priority on partnering with and supporting Minnesota’s county attorneys. The Attorney General should set the standard for criminal appeals. Related to the county attorney work, Matt believes that the Attorney General’s office has an essential role to play in selecting and prosecuting criminal appeals. Minnesota’s appellate courts can create binding precedents for the district courts and law enforcement agencies, so these court cases effectively shape the law in Minnesota. There is a saying in law that “bad facts make bad law.” One implication of this is that pursuing the wrong appeal can shape the law in unfortunate or unforeseen ways. The Attorney General should play a leading role in Minnesota’s appellate criminal law to ensure that the law is shaped and evolves in a consistent manner that reflects our shared values and priorities. The Attorney General should provide robust representation for executive agencies. The Minnesota Attorney General is also charged with providing representation for the state executive agencies. Recently, the office has significantly pulled back from this responsibility. Executive agencies have been forced to retain their own counsel to fill this gap. As with county attorneys, this is a “pennywise, pound foolish” approach that places increased economic burdens on executive agencies while leading to fractured and inefficient representation. This approach is unwise. In addition to these inefficiencies it can lead to significant problems and negative results for Minnesota (http://www.startribune.com/state-finds-no-health-damage-from-3m-chemicals/473183213/). As Attorney General, Matt will place a priority on partnering with state executive agencies to again provide unified and consistent representation. This, in turn will help state government function at its best level with consistent representation and legal advice. The Attorney General should be a partner with the legislature. At one time, the Attorney General’s office included policy work to be a bridge between citizens and the legislature. It can also do important work to help advise and advocate for Minnesota’s laws to better protect consumers and workers, reduce bias and increase opportunity, and save the environment. The Attorney General’s office should have an open door to legislators and advocates to listen, share, and be involved. Many report that is simply not the case now. As Attorney General, Matt will work to be a partner with legislators and citizens to be an ally, not only in the courtroom but also in the halls of the Capitol.

Getting a Fair Economy

Matt first got involved in politics because of his passion for ensuring economic fairness. Equal opportunity is a foundational value in this country. Sharing the fruits of our economy equitably and fairly is also a values issue and too many people are shut out and held down. It’s essential as progressives, but also as Americans, that we make sure the economy is actually working for everyone, providing fair wages, equal access, and plentiful, fair opportunity. That’s true regardless of what part of the state you live in, your race or ethnic background, or your sex or gender identity. As Attorney General, Matt will fight every day and use every tool available to make sure that our economy is as fair as possible, opening doors to opportunity and going after the powerful interests who are rigging the system against working people and the middle class: Fully enforce Minnesota’s consumer laws. Minnesota has fallen behind many states in our basic enforcement of existing consumer laws. We have cannot afford this lax enforcement and we must vigorously protect consumers. Protect workers. Protecting workers takes many forms, but includes stopping wage theft, fighting for the right to collectively bargain, and ensuring equal pay for equal work. Hold powerful interests accountable. The consolidation of economic power in this country cheats workers out of the benefits of their labor and limits opportunity. We have to break the power of these interests that have been rigging the economy and hold them accountable—this starts with robust antitrust enforcement. Together we can have a strong and progressive Attorney General who will fight for a fair economy.

Worker's Rights

Matt’s overarching priority as Attorney General would be to get an economy that actually works for people—meaning is fair and provides equal opportunity.

Matt strongly supports collective bargaining. The right to organize and to collectively bargain is the most effective way for workers to get fair wages and benefits. It is essential to making sure that the wealth created by our economy is shared fairly. It also reduces bias in the economy by help make sure there is equal pay for women, people of color, and immigrants.

Matt opposes ‘right to work’ and Janus. All workers at unionized employers benefit from the bargaining efforts of unions and should pay their fair share of dues. Matt supports the holding in Abood v. Detroit Board of Education and opposes the current effort in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31 to make dues paying for public employees optional.

The attorneys in the Attorney General’s office have the right to organize. The attorneys in the AG’s office are some of the only non unionized workers in the state government. In 2007 and 08 they tried to change that but were denied the opportunity. As Attorney General, Matt would fully support the right of all workers—including the attorneys in the office—to form collectively bargain. It’s a simple matter of values and fairness.

Matt will always be an advocate for working people, including the right to organize and collectively bargain.

LGBTQ+ Rights

Every human being deserves equal protection of the laws, safety in their community, and opportunity in our society.

Marriage was an important victory, but it was only one step on the road to equality. We must continue the fight not only for the most heteronormative and wealthy in the queer community, but for all people regardless of race, status, or gender identity.

This includes advocating for full workplace protections and freedom from all housing discrimination.

It also means advocating to reduce discrimination and bias in healthcare, especially the crisis in HIV among young people of color, expanding access to PrEP, eliminating barriers for trans health care, and increasing education among providers and at-risk communities alike.

Matt also is and advocate for using Title VII and similar sex-discrimination protections to advance trans and queer rights.

Matt would be the first openly-gay Attorney General in the country and first openly-gay statewide office holder in Minnesota. But more than a reason to support him on its own, Matt believes his identity has taught him the empathy and compassion—as well as first-hand experience as an outsider—to fight for all peoples and for true equality in our laws, our economy, and our society in general.

Equality for Women

We must work tirelessly to ensure equality for women. This requires both protecting existing rights while expanding equal access and opportunity. Until we have established equality for women, any notion that we can or should deprioritize this effort is misguided. Moreover, no effort to advance progressive economic values will be successful. We have urgent unfinished work for equal rights. Women still make only 80 cents for every dollar men make. That gap is even bigger for African American women (64 cents) and Latina women (56 cents). One in eight women live in poverty, and that increases to one in three single mothers. Less than twenty percent of Congress (although Minnesota is lucky to have two amazing Senators!). And the last five years have seen hundreds of new restrictions on reproductive rights at the state level. These statistics are not meant to be a downer, but to demonstrate that we must remain committed to women’s rights, including both economic opportunity and civil rights. Matt supports paid parental leave. The Minnesota Attorney General’s office currently does not provide paid parental leave to attorneys. Matt believes this is a serious problem that adversely affects women and all families. As Attorney General he will support paid parental leave for all employees, starting with those in the office. Matt strongly supports reproductive rights including the right to choose. Matt believes in a woman’s right to make her own reproductive choices and to have those choices fully supported within the healthcare and health insurance systems. This includes access to safe and legal abortion. Access to complete healthcare services is important for women’s health, well-being, and economic freedom and stability.

Protecting the Environment

Minnesota’s astounding natural beauty is one of our state’s great assets and blessings. We must strive to protect this rich legacy so that it can be cherished and enjoyed by future generations.

As Attorney General, Matt would take the following steps, among others:

Support divestment from fossil fuels. As Attorney General, Matt would have a position on the State Board of Investment. Matt supports divesting from fossil fuels as a way to move us toward a clean energy future. Matt emphasizes that he also strongly supports fully funding Minnesota’s pension obligations. But will not and cannot extract and burn all of the carbon reserves in the world. Sooner or later the markets will turn against investing in carbon extraction and Minnesota can help both an important environmental goal and our pension obligations through divestment.

Protect Minnesota’s waters from mining. Matt believes in growing an economy for all Minnesotans. He also believes that projects that will provide short-term economic benefit only delay the important work of building a sustainable economy in Greater Minnesota. Such projects also pose an unjustifiable risk to the great treasure that is Minnesota’s natural beauty, including our abundant clean water supplies. Moreover, many of these projects are incapable of providing reasonable economic security. Too often the real parties in interest (who have made all of the money) have moved on, leaving Minnesota pursuing recovery from bankrupt holding companies and footing a substantial clean up bill.

Opposes dangerous pipeline projects. Matt believes our focus should be on building a sustainable, clean energy future and economy. Pipeline projects risk causing permanent damage for short-term economic gain. Too often we have seen spills and catastrophic accidents that the public was assured were “impossible.” Matt supports efforts to move away from carbon extraction and toward clean energy.

Guaranteeing Minnesota’s waters for future generations. We must work within Minnesota and with regional partners to protect Minnesota’s fresh water from any efforts to ship or send it to other states. Many parts of this country are desperate for water, experiencing record droughts, dwindling local water resources, and rapid population growth. Already we have too often heard word of efforts to take water from regions like Minnesota. This will require long-term planning and robust work. Matt will always be a strong ally for protecting Minnesota’s water.

Preventing Wage Theft

Wage theft is a serious problem affecting workers in many industries throughout Minnesota. Minnesota’s Attorney General can play a major role in preventing wage theft and holding employers accountable for violating Minnesota’s employee protections. What is wage theft? Wage theft occurs any time an employer fails to pay or otherwise withholds wages that they are legally or contractually obligated to pay. Common areas where wage theft occurs include: nonpayment of overtime; failing to give workers their last paycheck after employment ends; paying less than minimum wage; and failing to pay for all hours worked (including forcing employees to work off the clock). Who is affected by wage theft? Wage theft affects employees in all industries and pats of Minnesota. It has an outsized impact on women, employees of color, and immigrant workers. In many cases it is especially prevalent in sectors or places of business where employees do not feel comfortable or empowered to contact authorities in order to enforce their rights under the law. By lowering effective wages paid by employers, wage theft has a negative impact on all employees because it has a downward effect on how much unscrupulous employers feel obligated to pay. The Attorney General can help prevent wage theft. Minnesota has many workplace protections already in place, including minimum wage laws and rules about what work employers have to pay workers for. Fully enforcing Minnesota’s existing laws and protections can go a long way toward helping to limit wage theft and allowing workers to enjoy the benefits of all of the existing protections already enacted for their benefit. To help with this effort it is also important to fully staff the office of Attorney General and to partner with the legislature on further improving Minnesota’s workplace protections.

[16]

| ”

|
|

—Matt Pelikan for attorney general[18]

### Mike Rothman[edit]

“  |

Ready to Protect on Day One

Deep down, I have a strong passion to help people, make our world a better place, advocate for social justice, take care of Minnesotans, our seniors and most vulnerable, and empower individuals to achieve success and opportunity.

I’ve campaigned across Minnesota as the strongest, most experienced statewide DFL candidate for attorney general. I’m “Ready to Protect” all Minnesotans!

The Most Experience as Minnesota’s Watchdog

For over seven years, I served as Minnesota’s Commerce Commissioner, the state’s consumer protection watchdog, overseeing 330+ employees and more than 20 industries, including banking, insurance, real estate, and the energy sector.

My first task as commissioner was to revamp the agency and make consumer protection the top priority. Prior to my arrival, my republican predecessor had gutted the consumer protection functions of the agency. Under my leadership, consumer actions rose by 500%. I expanded the Enforcement Division and transformed the Commerce Fraud Bureau into our state’s premier white-collar crime force.

I am proud of my achievements at the Commerce Department. Under my leadership, the agency saved consumers more than one billion dollars. We stopped mortgage fraud, predatory lending and numerous financial scams, and we put criminals and con artists behind bars.

Both AARP and the Better Business Bureau have commended my efforts in transforming Commerce into the top watchdog agency in the state.

Protecting Seniors from Abuse and Exploitation

Preventing elder abuse will be one of my top priorities as Attorney General.

Seniors control about 70% of the nation’s wealth and scam artists know it. It’s easier to exploit a senior citizen with cognitive impairments than it is to rob a bank. Seniors do not have the luxury of time to recoup their losses, so catching and stopping fraud early on can make the difference between having enough money to live on or not.

As Commerce Commissioner and as the President of the North American Securities Administrators Association, I spearheaded many initiatives to protect seniors from financial abuse and exploitation.

From lottery scams to ponzi schemes to online attacks directed at seniors, I took quick action to shut them down. By working with banks, financial institutions, and outreach programs that educate seniors and eldercare workers, I made it easier for Minnesotans to spot and stop senior fraud.

Fighting Opioids and Overpriced Drugs

On day one as AG, I will take immediate action to hold opioid companies accountable for their deceitful marketing practices.

Like most Minnesotans, I was stunned by Prince’s death and shocked to learn that it was from an opioid overdose. Over 30,000 people die each year from opioids and thousands more suffer from addiction. It’s time to make big pharmaceutical companies accountable for their brazen, deceptive and damaging practices.

I will also take action against outrageously priced drugs. I’ll work hard to bring down prices that are destroying patients and their families. Minnesotans should not have to choose between their medicine and food or rent.

Conserving our Beautiful Lakes

When I began as Commerce Commissioner in 2011, I set out on a statewide tour to learn more about our renewable energy resources. My aim was to meet with our state’s leaders and innovators in the clean energy sector so that I could better help transition our state from traditional fossil fuels to cleaner forms of energy like solar, wind and biodiesel fuel. During my tenure, clean energy use tripled while coal dependency dropped by a third. Employment in the renewable energy sector surged 80%, creating 57,000 new jobs.

It is my strong belief that Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change puts us all at risk. It is crucial that states do their part, and one key way is through the attorney general’s office. I will challenge Trump’s ongoing efforts to delay or rollback measures that reduce greenhouse gases; that undermine our clean air and drinking water; that endanger our wildlife, pollute our communities, or threaten our beautiful lakes.

Supporting Rural Minnesota Communities

I grew up in Chaska, Minnesota, surrounded by cornfields. Driving around the state brings back fond memories of growing up in the country in a small town. I’m committed to helping our rural communities stay healthy and strong for generations to come. This means continuing my past work in promoting the use of clean biofuel made from Minnesota-grown corn, keeping propane fuel affordable for homes that depend on it, and ensuring that Minnesota farmers get a fair shake in the market. I will defend our laws that prohibit corporate farming and fight against anti-competitive corporate mergers that threaten family farms.

Fighting for Working Families

My wife and I both come from strong union families. My mother was a teacher and union leader, while my wife is a long-time member of the musicians’ union. Her father was a strong union advocate and lawyer, and her grandfather was a key labor leader in the ‘30’s and ‘40’s.

My mom taught me early on about the importance of fighting for workers’ rights. I led my first strike when I was eighteen years old to help our teachers.

As attorney general, I will fight to protect Minnesota’s workers and their collective bargaining rights. I will prosecute wage and benefit theft. I will safeguard pensions and workplace safety. I will protect workers from all forms of discrimination, including age, race, religion, disability, gender and sexual orientation. I will join litigation that helps Labor at the national level, including NLRB actions.

Standing Up Against Trump’s Unlawful Actions

I will defend Minnesotans against any Trump administration action that breaks the law or violates the constitution. As Commerce Commissioner, I joined the legal effort to challenge the immigration travel ban, the defunding of vital health care markets and the abandonment of our nation’s clean energy standards. I will bring tough lawsuits that are necessary and reasonable to protect Minnesota’s people and interests. My focus will always be with Minnesotans first. [16]

| ”

|
|

—Mike Rothman for attorney general[19]

## Noteworthy events[edit]

### Allegations of abuse against Ellison[edit]

See also: Sexual assault and harassment in American politics (2017-2018)

Keith Ellison was mentioned during a wave of sexual assault and misconduct allegations in 2017 and 2018.

August 12, 2018: Hilstrom, Foley, and Pelikan called for Ellison to address allegations that he abused Sierra Club organizer Karen Monahan. Monahan's son alleged that he had a video showing Ellison physically and verbally abuse his mother. Ellison denied the allegations, saying, "This video does not exist because I never behaved in this way, and any characterization otherwise is false." Monahan released a statement that claimed that the video did exist and detailed the alleged abuse.[20] More than 100,000 votes had already been cast by absentee ballot at the time the allegations were made.[21]

## Context of the 2018 election[edit]

### Past elections[edit]

#### 2014[edit]

See also: Minnesota attorney general election, 2014

Lori Swanson ran for re-election as attorney general of Minnesota in the 2014 election. Swanson was unopposed in the Democratic primary.[22]

## Voter information[edit]

### How the primary works[edit]

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Minnesota utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[23][24][25]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

### Poll times[edit]

In Minnesota, most polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central Time. However, some smaller municipalities may open their polls as late as 10:00 a.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[26]

### Registration requirements[edit]

Check your voter registration status here.

Voter pre-registration is available in Minnesota beginning at age 16. An individual must be 18 years old on Election Day in order to vote. To register to vote in Minnesota, an individual must be a United States citizen who has resided in the state for the 20-day period preceding the election.[27][28]

An individual must register to vote at least 21 days before Election Day or on Election Day at a polling place. An individual may register to vote by completing a registration application and submitting it by mail or in-person to a local election official. An individual can also register online. To register at a polling place on Election Day, an individual must present valid identification.[27]

The Minnesota voter registration application includes an option to join a permanent absentee voter list, which means the voter will automatically be sent an absentee/mail-in ballot for every election.[28]

### Automatic registration[edit]

Minnesota practices automatic voter registration.[28]

Automatic voter registration took effect on June 1, 2023, as a result of HF 3, which was signed into law by Governor Tim Walz (D) on May 5, 2023.

### Online registration[edit]

See also: Online voter registration

Minnesota has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

### Same-day registration[edit]

Minnesota allows for same-day voter registration.[29]

### Residency requirements[edit]

To register to vote in Minnesota, you must be a resident of the state for at least 20 days.[27]

### Verification of citizenship[edit]

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

As of October 2024, Minnesota did not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "giving false information is a felony punishable by not more than 5 years imprisonment or a fine of not more than $10,000, or both."[30]

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[31] As of January 2025, six states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

### Verifying your registration[edit]

The Minnesota Secretary of State allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

### Voter ID requirements[edit]

Minnesota does not require registered voters to present identification while voting.[32]

If you are registering to vote at the polls or have not voted in at least four years, you will need to bring proof of residency to the polls. Click here to see what qualifies as acceptable proof of residency.

### Early voting[edit]

Minnesota permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.

### Absentee voting[edit]

There are no eligibility requirements to vote absentee in Minnesota.[33]

There is no specific deadline for applying for an absentee ballot. A completed ballot must be returned on or before Election Day for it to be counted.[34]

Prospective voters may select an option on the Minnesota voter registration application to join a permanent absentee voter list, which means they will automatically be sent an absentee/mail-in ballot for every election.[28]

## State profile[edit]

Demographic data for Minnesota

| Minnesota| U.S.
Total population:| 5,482,435| 316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):| 79,627| 3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:| 84.8%| 73.6%
Black/African American:| 5.5%| 12.6%
Asian:| 4.4%| 5.1%
Native American:| 1%| 0.8%
Pacific Islander:| 0%| 0.2%
Two or more:| 2.7%| 3%
Hispanic/Latino:| 5%| 17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:| 92.4%| 86.7%
College graduation rate:| 33.7%| 29.8%
Income
Median household income:| $61,492| $53,889
Persons below poverty level:| 12.2%| 11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Minnesota.

* * *

**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

### Presidential voting pattern[edit]

See also: Presidential voting trends in Minnesota

Minnesota voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

#### Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, 19 are located in Minnesota, accounting for 9.22 percent of the total pivot counties.[35]

#### Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Minnesota had 15 Retained Pivot Counties and four Boomerang Pivot Counties, accounting for 8.29 and 16.00 percent of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respectively.

More Minnesota coverage on Ballotpedia

* Elections in Minnesota
* United States congressional delegations from Minnesota
* Public policy in Minnesota
* Endorsers in Minnesota
* Minnesota fact checks
* More...

## Pivot Counties[edit]

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Nineteen of 87 Minnesota counties—21.8 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008

County  | Trump margin of victory in 2016  | Obama margin of victory in 2012  | Obama margin of victory in 2008
Beltrami County, Minnesota | 9.72% | 9.89% | 10.15%
Blue Earth County, Minnesota | 3.69% | 9.48% | 12.95%
Chippewa County, Minnesota | 28.70% | 1.87% | 5.87%
Clay County, Minnesota | 1.95% | 7.92% | 16.02%
Fillmore County, Minnesota | 21.70% | 7.34% | 8.26%
Freeborn County, Minnesota | 17.24% | 14.11% | 17.13%
Houston County, Minnesota | 13.87% | 3.16% | 10.69%
Itasca County, Minnesota | 16.35% | 9.83% | 12.92%
Kittson County, Minnesota | 22.05% | 6.03% | 18.54%
Koochiching County, Minnesota | 19.85% | 9.45% | 10.10%
Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota | 25.60% | 0.90% | 5.92%
Mahnomen County, Minnesota | 2.92% | 18.56% | 25.31%
Mower County, Minnesota | 7.82% | 22.61% | 23.61%
Nicollet County, Minnesota | 3.04% | 7.83% | 10.52%
Norman County, Minnesota | 13.34% | 10.79% | 26.94%
Rice County, Minnesota | 3.06% | 8.27% | 11.50%
Swift County, Minnesota | 25.57% | 9.83% | 13.79%
Traverse County, Minnesota | 23.30% | 4.44% | 5.41%
Winona County, Minnesota | 2.90% | 12.85% | 19.09%

In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won Minnesota with 46.4 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 44.9 percent. In presidential elections between 1860 and 2016, Minnesota voted Republican 50 percent of the time and Democratic 47.5 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Minnesota voted Democratic all five times.[36]

#### Presidential results by legislative district[edit]

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Minnesota. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[37][38]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 68 out of 134 state House districts in Minnesota with an average margin of victory of 27.6 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 62 out of 134 state House districts in Minnesota with an average margin of victory of 30.4 points. Clinton won 12 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.

In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 66 out of 134 state House districts in Minnesota with an average margin of victory of 12.3 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 72 out of 134 state House districts in Minnesota with an average margin of victory of 23.8 points. Trump won seven districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

2016 presidential results by state House district

District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control
1A | 43.15% | 54.54% | R+11.4 | 27.87% | 64.99% | R+37.1 | R
1B | 46.10% | 51.92% | R+5.8 | 31.45% | 61.37% | R+29.9 | R
2A | 48.08% | 50.09% | R+2 | 33.59% | 60.04% | R+26.4 | R
2B | 42.17% | 56.05% | R+13.9 | 29.64% | 64.36% | R+34.7 | R
3A | 55.31% | 42.36% | D+13 | 43.14% | 49.65% | R+6.5 | D
3B | 60.19% | 38.11% | D+22.1 | 50.13% | 42.59% | D+7.5 | D
4A | 55.32% | 42.31% | D+13 | 48.97% | 41.71% | D+7.3 | D
4B | 46.65% | 51.41% | R+4.8 | 35.41% | 57.18% | R+21.8 | D
5A | 52.05% | 45.83% | D+6.2 | 39.67% | 51.97% | R+12.3 | R
5B | 49.48% | 48.58% | D+0.9 | 35.93% | 57.00% | R+21.1 | R
6A | 63.20% | 34.57% | D+28.6 | 44.68% | 47.85% | R+3.2 | D
6B | 61.82% | 35.90% | D+25.9 | 45.05% | 47.77% | R+2.7 | D
7A | 67.15% | 30.27% | D+36.9 | 62.12% | 28.28% | D+33.8 | D
7B | 69.99% | 27.63% | D+42.4 | 59.01% | 32.66% | D+26.3 | D
8A | 39.32% | 59.07% | R+19.8 | 31.05% | 62.92% | R+31.9 | R
8B | 40.24% | 57.98% | R+17.7 | 27.72% | 65.66% | R+37.9 | R
9A | 37.61% | 60.36% | R+22.7 | 23.48% | 70.76% | R+47.3 | R
9B | 37.60% | 60.41% | R+22.8 | 21.44% | 73.05% | R+51.6 | R
10A | 42.68% | 55.47% | R+12.8 | 31.71% | 61.41% | R+29.7 | R
10B | 44.58% | 53.66% | R+9.1 | 31.38% | 62.81% | R+31.4 | R
11A | 62.19% | 35.79% | D+26.4 | 46.93% | 45.13% | D+1.8 | D
11B | 46.72% | 50.92% | R+4.2 | 31.58% | 61.39% | R+29.8 | R
12A | 46.30% | 51.70% | R+5.4 | 32.87% | 59.48% | R+26.6 | R
12B | 36.32% | 61.98% | R+25.7 | 23.78% | 70.60% | R+46.8 | R
13A | 41.20% | 57.04% | R+15.8 | 29.40% | 63.98% | R+34.6 | R
13B | 40.74% | 57.46% | R+16.7 | 29.76% | 63.36% | R+33.6 | R
14A | 47.70% | 50.25% | R+2.6 | 40.14% | 51.73% | R+11.6 | R
14B | 53.28% | 43.56% | D+9.7 | 43.47% | 46.88% | R+3.4 | R
15A | 42.24% | 55.67% | R+13.4 | 26.60% | 66.72% | R+40.1 | R
15B | 34.92% | 62.92% | R+28 | 21.90% | 71.37% | R+49.5 | R
16A | 45.53% | 52.33% | R+6.8 | 31.31% | 60.77% | R+29.5 | R
16B | 40.08% | 57.64% | R+17.6 | 26.83% | 64.99% | R+38.2 | R
17A | 47.24% | 50.94% | R+3.7 | 29.82% | 63.25% | R+33.4 | R
17B | 47.10% | 51.19% | R+4.1 | 34.89% | 57.60% | R+22.7 | R
18A | 39.80% | 57.83% | R+18 | 26.88% | 65.04% | R+38.2 | R
18B | 37.06% | 60.70% | R+23.6 | 25.23% | 67.02% | R+41.8 | R
19A | 52.51% | 45.09% | D+7.4 | 43.51% | 47.62% | R+4.1 | D
19B | 57.05% | 39.91% | D+17.1 | 48.70% | 40.94% | D+7.8 | D
20A | 40.38% | 57.73% | R+17.4 | 30.47% | 62.58% | R+32.1 | R
20B | 53.95% | 43.71% | D+10.2 | 47.02% | 45.86% | D+1.2 | D
21A | 51.06% | 46.99% | D+4.1 | 40.39% | 51.63% | R+11.2 | R
21B | 44.07% | 53.85% | R+9.8 | 30.94% | 61.07% | R+30.1 | R
22A | 41.53% | 56.48% | R+14.9 | 26.80% | 66.15% | R+39.4 | R
22B | 44.04% | 54.37% | R+10.3 | 30.63% | 63.03% | R+32.4 | R
23A | 39.08% | 58.83% | R+19.8 | 26.82% | 66.32% | R+39.5 | R
23B | 47.30% | 50.57% | R+3.3 | 32.70% | 59.47% | R+26.8 | R
24A | 45.64% | 52.20% | R+6.6 | 33.70% | 57.84% | R+24.1 | R
24B | 47.07% | 50.66% | R+3.6 | 33.44% | 58.77% | R+25.3 | R
25A | 45.24% | 52.32% | R+7.1 | 37.03% | 52.94% | R+15.9 | R
25B | 53.14% | 44.51% | D+8.6 | 50.23% | 40.22% | D+10 | D
26A | 57.64% | 39.78% | D+17.9 | 54.11% | 36.72% | D+17.4 | D
26B | 44.47% | 53.59% | R+9.1 | 38.48% | 53.17% | R+14.7 | R
27A | 55.57% | 42.31% | D+13.3 | 37.42% | 55.76% | R+18.3 | R
27B | 59.95% | 37.84% | D+22.1 | 41.96% | 50.58% | R+8.6 | D
28A | 56.63% | 40.82% | D+15.8 | 46.44% | 44.13% | D+2.3 | D
28B | 51.67% | 46.36% | D+5.3 | 37.30% | 55.31% | R+18 | R
29A | 37.73% | 60.22% | R+22.5 | 28.82% | 63.10% | R+34.3 | R
29B | 40.42% | 57.50% | R+17.1 | 30.71% | 61.38% | R+30.7 | R
30A | 39.60% | 58.57% | R+19 | 30.48% | 61.61% | R+31.1 | R
30B | 36.49% | 61.79% | R+25.3 | 29.58% | 62.31% | R+32.7 | R
31A | 35.58% | 62.46% | R+26.9 | 23.94% | 69.10% | R+45.2 | R
31B | 38.58% | 59.53% | R+20.9 | 29.00% | 63.74% | R+34.7 | R
32A | 41.06% | 56.85% | R+15.8 | 28.13% | 64.23% | R+36.1 | R
32B | 42.98% | 55.07% | R+12.1 | 31.50% | 60.69% | R+29.2 | R
33A | 36.20% | 62.39% | R+26.2 | 37.84% | 54.78% | R+16.9 | R
33B | 43.71% | 54.67% | R+11 | 46.18% | 45.68% | D+0.5 | R
34A | 40.35% | 58.12% | R+17.8 | 40.80% | 51.26% | R+10.5 | R
34B | 46.78% | 51.60% | R+4.8 | 47.91% | 43.62% | D+4.3 | R
35A | 45.40% | 52.32% | R+6.9 | 37.77% | 53.46% | R+15.7 | R
35B | 41.04% | 57.50% | R+16.5 | 36.48% | 55.65% | R+19.2 | R
36A | 48.54% | 49.44% | R+0.9 | 44.09% | 47.07% | R+3 | R
36B | 53.38% | 45.11% | D+8.3 | 52.16% | 40.08% | D+12.1 | D
37A | 53.32% | 44.53% | D+8.8 | 45.38% | 46.05% | R+0.7 | D
37B | 48.64% | 49.49% | R+0.9 | 43.74% | 48.04% | R+4.3 | R
38A | 44.17% | 53.89% | R+9.7 | 40.36% | 51.11% | R+10.7 | R
38B | 46.39% | 51.99% | R+5.6 | 45.39% | 46.56% | R+1.2 | R
39A | 45.12% | 53.25% | R+8.1 | 40.85% | 51.57% | R+10.7 | R
39B | 47.78% | 50.62% | R+2.8 | 45.97% | 46.25% | R+0.3 | R
40A | 69.71% | 28.69% | D+41 | 67.81% | 26.13% | D+41.7 | D
40B | 68.60% | 29.42% | D+39.2 | 65.29% | 27.68% | D+37.6 | D
41A | 59.61% | 38.36% | D+21.2 | 55.79% | 35.28% | D+20.5 | D
41B | 62.30% | 35.32% | D+27 | 62.11% | 29.12% | D+33 | D
42A | 51.48% | 46.50% | D+5 | 52.61% | 38.39% | D+14.2 | R
42B | 56.76% | 41.28% | D+15.5 | 56.05% | 35.37% | D+20.7 | D
43A | 56.52% | 41.92% | D+14.6 | 54.01% | 38.15% | D+15.9 | D
43B | 57.50% | 40.33% | D+17.2 | 52.35% | 39.35% | D+13 | D
44A | 47.99% | 50.66% | R+2.7 | 53.47% | 38.83% | D+14.6 | R
44B | 54.39% | 44.30% | D+10.1 | 57.27% | 35.36% | D+21.9 | D
45A | 59.17% | 38.72% | D+20.5 | 58.13% | 33.53% | D+24.6 | D
45B | 63.39% | 34.34% | D+29.1 | 64.02% | 27.43% | D+36.6 | D
46A | 64.31% | 33.66% | D+30.7 | 66.50% | 25.81% | D+40.7 | D
46B | 65.79% | 32.01% | D+33.8 | 68.45% | 23.31% | D+45.1 | D
47A | 35.32% | 63.07% | R+27.7 | 31.29% | 60.91% | R+29.6 | R
47B | 42.17% | 56.19% | R+14 | 44.19% | 47.17% | R+3 | R
48A | 52.14% | 46.19% | D+5.9 | 55.55% | 36.50% | D+19.1 | D
48B | 46.72% | 51.70% | R+5 | 53.09% | 39.54% | D+13.6 | R
49A | 52.29% | 46.68% | D+5.6 | 60.37% | 32.60% | D+27.8 | R
49B | 52.45% | 46.18% | D+6.3 | 56.50% | 36.35% | D+20.2 | D
50A | 63.81% | 33.98% | D+29.8 | 61.93% | 29.97% | D+32 | D
50B | 56.96% | 40.99% | D+16 | 55.51% | 36.29% | D+19.2 | D
51A | 55.56% | 42.44% | D+13.1 | 54.45% | 37.27% | D+17.2 | D
51B | 51.44% | 46.79% | D+4.7 | 54.17% | 37.06% | D+17.1 | D
52A | 58.72% | 39.32% | D+19.4 | 56.76% | 34.99% | D+21.8 | D
52B | 52.90% | 45.36% | D+7.5 | 49.95% | 42.08% | D+7.9 | R
53A | 56.63% | 41.59% | D+15 | 54.59% | 37.63% | D+17 | D
53B | 46.78% | 51.95% | R+5.2 | 50.81% | 42.01% | D+8.8 | R
54A | 55.87% | 41.75% | D+14.1 | 46.83% | 43.55% | D+3.3 | R
54B | 49.32% | 48.74% | D+0.6 | 42.76% | 48.63% | R+5.9 | R
55A | 46.18% | 51.67% | R+5.5 | 43.39% | 47.89% | R+4.5 | R
55B | 38.11% | 60.15% | R+22 | 34.43% | 57.98% | R+23.5 | R
56A | 47.26% | 50.85% | R+3.6 | 47.12% | 44.13% | D+3 | R
56B | 49.26% | 48.97% | D+0.3 | 48.62% | 43.89% | D+4.7 | R
57A | 50.85% | 47.34% | D+3.5 | 49.06% | 42.78% | D+6.3 | D
57B | 48.75% | 49.64% | R+0.9 | 48.21% | 43.72% | D+4.5 | R
58A | 42.24% | 56.02% | R+13.8 | 40.36% | 51.99% | R+11.6 | R
58B | 42.46% | 55.75% | R+13.3 | 34.86% | 57.04% | R+22.2 | R
59A | 84.23% | 13.96% | D+70.3 | 78.85% | 13.74% | D+65.1 | D
59B | 80.65% | 17.23% | D+63.4 | 79.46% | 13.04% | D+66.4 | D
60A | 77.47% | 18.61% | D+58.9 | 76.38% | 14.48% | D+61.9 | D
60B | 76.39% | 19.31% | D+57.1 | 79.57% | 11.88% | D+67.7 | D
61A | 78.23% | 19.40% | D+58.8 | 81.47% | 12.06% | D+69.4 | D
61B | 78.20% | 19.94% | D+58.3 | 81.29% | 12.45% | D+68.8 | D
62A | 86.72% | 9.26% | D+77.5 | 84.08% | 7.57% | D+76.5 | D
62B | 86.87% | 10.09% | D+76.8 | 85.70% | 6.89% | D+78.8 | D
63A | 82.84% | 14.33% | D+68.5 | 81.97% | 10.62% | D+71.4 | D
63B | 73.83% | 23.99% | D+49.8 | 73.80% | 18.58% | D+55.2 | D
64A | 76.89% | 20.30% | D+56.6 | 78.82% | 13.58% | D+65.2 | D
64B | 70.63% | 27.37% | D+43.3 | 74.41% | 18.39% | D+56 | D
65A | 83.74% | 13.76% | D+70 | 80.78% | 12.13% | D+68.6 | D
65B | 77.60% | 19.70% | D+57.9 | 74.28% | 17.59% | D+56.7 | D
66A | 65.92% | 31.91% | D+34 | 67.89% | 23.85% | D+44 | D
66B | 78.86% | 18.90% | D+60 | 76.62% | 15.90% | D+60.7 | D
67A | 76.07% | 21.79% | D+54.3 | 70.99% | 21.62% | D+49.4 | D
67B | 74.76% | 23.00% | D+51.8 | 70.67% | 22.02% | D+48.6 | D
Total | 52.84% | 45.12% | D+7.7 | 46.88% | 45.34% | D+1.5 | \-
Source: Daily Kos

## See also[edit]

Minnesota government:

* Minnesota state executive offices
* Minnesota State Legislature
* Minnesota courts

Elections:

* Minnesota state executive official elections, 2018
* Gubernatorial elections, 2018
* Lieutenant gubernatorial elections, 2018
* Attorney General elections, 2018
* Secretary of State elections, 2018
* State executive official elections, 2018, 2017, 2016

Ballotpedia exclusives:

* State executives compensation
* State of the state addresses
* Trifecta control of state government

|
|

## External links[edit]

| Suggest a link

|

* Attorney General of Minnesota official website

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Washington Times, "Rep. Keith Ellison is calling it quits in Congress; will run for Minnesota attorney general," June 5, 2018
2. ↑ Star Tribune, "DFL endorses Pelikan for AG after Swanson drops bid for party nod," June 3, 2018
3. ↑ Minnesota Public Radio "Bernie Sanders Campaigns in Minnesota for Keith Ellison" July 13, 2018
4. ↑ Minnesota Star Tribune, "Ellison: State attorney general's office should fight Trump on health care," July 2, 2018
5. ↑ Minnesota Lawyer, "Money-wise, Keith Ellison roars ahead in AG race," August 6, 2018
6. ↑ MinnPost, "Tom Foley stresses his legal and administrative skills as differentiating factor in AG race," July 10, 2018
7. ↑ Debra Hilstrom for Attorney General, "Debra Hilstrom, accessed July 14, 2018
8. ↑ Biographical Guide to Members of Congress, "Keith Ellison," accessed December 10, 2011
9. ↑ Foley for Attorney General, "Public Service," accessed July 23, 2018
10. ↑ E-Democracy.org, Tom Foley: A Biography," accessed July 23, 2018
11. ↑ Matt Pelikan for Attorney General, Meet Matt," accessed July 24, 2018
12. ↑ Star Tribune, "Bernie Sanders endorses Ellison for attorney general," accessed July 9, 2018
13. ↑ Keith Ellison for Attorney General, "Endorsements," accessed July 16 2018
14. ↑ Matt Pelikan for Attorney General, "Matt Pelikan," accessed July 16, 2018
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Washington Free Beacon, " Sanders Backs Ellison for Minnesota Attorney General," July 9, 2018
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
17. ↑ "Issues," accessed July 16, 2018
18. ↑ "Issues," accessed July 16, 2018
19. ↑ "Issues," accessed July 16, 2018
20. ↑ Fox9, "Karen Monahan, woman who accused Keith Ellison of domestic abuse, releases statement," August 12, 2018
21. ↑ MPR News, "Ellison denies allegations of domestic abuse of ex-girlfriend," August 12, 2018
22. ↑ Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, "Unofficial Primary Results 2014," August 26, 2014
23. ↑ NCSL,"State Primary Election Types," accessed April 25, 2023
24. ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
25. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State,"PRIMARY ELECTION," accessed April 25, 2023
26. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Voting Hours," accessed April 24, 2023
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Register to Vote," accessed April 24, 2023
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 Minnesota State Legislature, "House File 3," accessed June 6, 2023
29. ↑ NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed August 27, 2024
30. ↑ Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota Voter Registration Application," accessed November 1, 2024
31. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
32. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Do I Need to Bring ID?" accessed April 25, 2023
33. ↑ Star Tribune, "No excuse needed to vote absentee in Minnesota," June 22, 2014
34. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota Absentee Ballot Application," accessed April 25, 2023
35. ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
36. ↑ 270towin.com, "Minnesota," accessed June 29, 2017
37. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
38. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017

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