Minnesota gubernatorial election, 2010
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 to elect the 40th Governor of the U.S. state of Minnesota
for a four-year term to begin in January 2011. The general election was contested by the major party candidates State Representative Tom Emmer
(R
-Delano
), former Senator Mark Dayton
(DFL
), and Independence Party
candidate Tom Horner
. After a very close race, Dayton was elected Governor.
endorsement, defeating Matt Entenza and Margaret Anderson Kelliher
. Tom Horner
easily defeated Rob Hahn in the Independence Party race. Endorsed Republican candidate Tom Emmer
easily won the Republican nomination.
, CQ Politics and pollster Rasmussen Reports
rate the gubernatorial election as a toss-up. New York Times political statistician Nate Silver
gave Dayton an 86 percent chance of winning, and Emmer a 14 percent chance of winning.
Dayton led Emmer at the close of balloting by 8770 votes (0.42%). The margin of victory was small enough to trigger an automatic recount under state law, but analysts generally thought it unlikely that Dayton's lead would be overturned.
Governor Tim Pawlenty
announced in June 2009 that he would not seek a third term, the field was open for Republicans to seek their party's endorsement. At the Minnesota GOP's off-year state convention in October 2009, former Representative Marty Seifert
took first place in a straw poll with 37% of the vote. Representative Tom Emmer
took second place with 23%, Patricia Anderson
had 14%, and the rest of the participating candidates received less than 10% each.
Seifert took another victory during the February 2, 2010 precinct caucuses when he won a statewide straw poll of caucus attendees. Seifert garnered 50% of the vote, followed by Representative Tom Emmer with 39%. None of the other candidates got beyond single digits. Delegates to the state convention, however, were more closely divided between Emmer and Seifert than otherwise indicated by the initial straw poll. Although both camps claimed a delegate lead throughout the process leading up to the state convention, the outcome of the endorsement was nothing certain, and would end up being decided on the convention floor.
On April 30, 2010, Tom Emmer won the endorsement of Republican
delegates over Marty Seifert
at the party's state convention in Minneapolis. After Emmer won 56% of the vote on the second ballot, Seifert withdrew from the race and threw his support behind Emmer's campaign. Emmer is running on a ticket with Metropolitan Council
member Annette Meeks
as his running mate for lieutenant governor.
Emmer won the August 10, 2010 primary, earning a spot on the November ballot.
notably declined to be included on the ballot. Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak
won the straw poll with 21.8% of the vote, with State House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher
receiving 20.1%, and "uncommitted" receiving 14.7%. Each of the other candidates received single-digit support.
Former State Senator Steve Kelley dropped out of the race shortly after the caucuses due to disappointing results from the straw poll. State Senator Tom Bakk also dropped out on March 20, 2010, after announcing at the St. Louis County Convention that his chances of winning were slim.
On April 24, 2010, the DFL State Convention was held in Duluth
. After the first ballot, State Senator John Marty
withdrew from the race after seeing lower than expected support, and State Representative Tom Rukavina
withdrew after the fourth ballot, choosing to endorse Kelliher. State Representative Paul Thissen
withdrew after the fifth ballot, and before the results to the sixth ballot were announced, Rybak withdrew as well and endorsed Kelliher. Kelliher was subsequently endorsed by the convention. Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner
, who had not sought the DFL endorsement but was planning to run in the primary, dropped out two days later. That left Kelliher facing Mark Dayton and former State House Minority Leader Matt Entenza in the August primary.
Shortly after the end of the 2010 legislative term, all three major DFL candidates had announced their choices for lieutenant governor. On May 21, 2010, Kelliher announced that John Gunyou would be her running mate. Gunyou is Minnetonka
City Manager
and was state finance commissioner in Republican Governor Arne Carlson
's administration. On May 24, 2010, Dayton announced that Yvonne Prettner Solon
would be his running mate. Solon is a psychologist and three-term state senator. On May 27, 2010, Entenza announced that Robyne Robinson
would be his running mate. Robinson is a small business owner and former TV anchor.
Dayton won a narrow victory over Kelliher in the August 10, 2010, primary, earning the right to serve as his party's nominee. He was formally endorsed by the DFL on August 21, 2010.
won the endorsement of the Independence Party
for governor. His main opponent, Rob Hahn, said he would contest the primary.
Horner won the August 10 primary, defeating Rob Hahn to earn a place on the November ballot.
, Mark Ritchie
, as part of a State Canvassing Board, which consists of the secretary of state, two justices of the Minnesota Supreme Court, and two judges of a Minnesota district court.
Official campaign websites
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
for a four-year term to begin in January 2011. The general election was contested by the major party candidates State Representative Tom Emmer
Tom Emmer
Thomas Earl "Tom" Emmer, Jr. was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2005 until 2011 and the Republican nominee for governor in the 2010 election. He represented District 19B, which includes portions of Wright and Hennepin Counties and the cities of Otsego, Albertville, St....
(R
Republican Party of Minnesota
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
-Delano
Delano, Minnesota
Delano is a city in Wright County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 5,464 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
), former Senator Mark Dayton
Mark Dayton
Mark Brandt Dayton is an American politician, the 40th and current Governor of the state of Minnesota. Dayton previously served as United States Senator from Minnesota from 2001 to 2007 in the 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses...
(DFL
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
), and Independence Party
Independence Party of Minnesota
The Independence Party of Minnesota , formerly the Reform Party of Minnesota, is the third largest political party in Minnesota, behind the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Republican Party . It is the political party of former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura , and endorsed former U.S...
candidate Tom Horner
Tom Horner
Tom Horner is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Independence Party of Minnesota. He was a candidate in the 2010 election for Governor of Minnesota....
. After a very close race, Dayton was elected Governor.
Primary elections
The primary elections were held August 10, 2010. Dayton earned his spot by winning a very closely contested primary for the Democratic-Farmer-LaborMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
endorsement, defeating Matt Entenza and Margaret Anderson Kelliher
Margaret Anderson Kelliher
Margaret Anderson Kelliher is a Minnesota politician and a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A Democrat, she represented District 60A, which includes portions of the city of Minneapolis in Hennepin County, located in the Twin Cities metropolitan area...
. Tom Horner
Tom Horner
Tom Horner is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Independence Party of Minnesota. He was a candidate in the 2010 election for Governor of Minnesota....
easily defeated Rob Hahn in the Independence Party race. Endorsed Republican candidate Tom Emmer
Tom Emmer
Thomas Earl "Tom" Emmer, Jr. was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2005 until 2011 and the Republican nominee for governor in the 2010 election. He represented District 19B, which includes portions of Wright and Hennepin Counties and the cities of Otsego, Albertville, St....
easily won the Republican nomination.
General election
Early polls showed Emmer even with his likely DFL opponents, with Horner trailing far behind, and a large percentage of voters undecided. As the race progressed, polls showed the candidates even, or Dayton with a small but significant lead. The non-partisan Cook Political ReportCook Political Report
The Cook Political Report is an independent, non-partisan online newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns for the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, Governor's offices and the American Presidency. The Cook Political Report is led by a staff of five...
, CQ Politics and pollster Rasmussen Reports
Rasmussen Reports
Rasmussen Reports is an American media company that publishes and distributes information based on public opinion polling. Founded by pollster Scott Rasmussen in 2003, the company updates daily indexes including the President's job approval rating, and provides public opinion data, analysis, and...
rate the gubernatorial election as a toss-up. New York Times political statistician Nate Silver
Nate Silver
Nathaniel Read "Nate" Silver is an American statistician, psephologist, and writer. Silver first gained public recognition for developing PECOTA, a system for forecasting the performance and career development of Major League Baseball players, which he sold to and then managed for Baseball...
gave Dayton an 86 percent chance of winning, and Emmer a 14 percent chance of winning.
Dayton led Emmer at the close of balloting by 8770 votes (0.42%). The margin of victory was small enough to trigger an automatic recount under state law, but analysts generally thought it unlikely that Dayton's lead would be overturned.
Candidates
The 2010 gubernatorial election saw an exceptionally large field of candidates seeking endorsement from each party's respective convention. For the DFL and the Independence Party, this exended into a protracted primary fight that went on into August. The general election saw participation from the state's three major parties and four of the minor political parties.General election
- Tom EmmerTom EmmerThomas Earl "Tom" Emmer, Jr. was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2005 until 2011 and the Republican nominee for governor in the 2010 election. He represented District 19B, which includes portions of Wright and Hennepin Counties and the cities of Otsego, Albertville, St....
(RRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
) - State Representative; and Annette MeeksAnnette MeeksAnnette Meeks is a Minnesota Republican politician, a member of the state's Metropolitan Council, and was the 2010 endorsed Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, running with gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.-Biography:...
, Metropolitan Council Member - Mark DaytonMark DaytonMark Brandt Dayton is an American politician, the 40th and current Governor of the state of Minnesota. Dayton previously served as United States Senator from Minnesota from 2001 to 2007 in the 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses...
(DFLMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor PartyThe Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
) - Former United States Senator; and Yvonne Prettner SolonYvonne Prettner SolonYvonne Prettner Solon is the 47th and current Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota. She is the sixth consecutive woman to serve in that capacity and is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.-Education:...
, Minnesota State Senator - Tom HornerTom HornerTom Horner is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Independence Party of Minnesota. He was a candidate in the 2010 election for Governor of Minnesota....
(IPIndependence Party of MinnesotaThe Independence Party of Minnesota , formerly the Reform Party of Minnesota, is the third largest political party in Minnesota, behind the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Republican Party . It is the political party of former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura , and endorsed former U.S...
) - Public affairs consultant; and Jim Mulder - Ken PentelKen PentelKen Pentel is an American politician, and a candidate for Governor of Minnesota for the Ecology Democracy Party. Pentel was the gubernatorial candidate for the Green party three previous times, in 1998, 2002, and 2006.-Biography:...
(EDPEcology Democracy PartyThe Ecology Democracy Party is a minor political party in Minnesota. Founded in 2010 by Ken Pentel, the party advocates a "shift from a human-centered to an ecological view of the world."...
) and Erin Wallace - Farheen HakeemFarheen HakeemFarheen Hakeem is an American political activist in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She joined the Green Party in 2002. Her first run for office was in 2005 for Mayor of Minneapolis, in which she came in third among 12 candidates...
(GGreen Party of MinnesotaThe Green Party of Minnesota is the fourth largest political party in Minnesota and was founded in 1994 on the Four Pillars of the Green Party: Ecological Wisdom, Social and Economic Justice, Grassroots Democracy, and Nonviolence and Peace...
) and Dan Dittman - Chris Wright (GRGrassroots PartyThe Grassroots Party is a minor political party. It was created in the 1980s to oppose drug prohibition. The party shares the political leftist values of the Greens but with a greater emphasis on marijuana/hemp legalization issues....
) and Edwin Engelmann - Linda Eno (Resource Party) and Howard Hanson
Defeated in primary
- Republican Party of MinnesotaRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
:- Bob Carney Jr. - Inventor; and William McGaughey
- Leslie Davis - Environmental Activist; and Gregory K. Soderberg
- Ole Savior - Perennial CandidatePerennial candidateA perennial candidate is one who frequently runs for public office with a record of success that is infrequent, if existent at all. Perennial candidates are often either members of minority political parties or have political opinions that are not mainstream. They may run without any serious hope...
, Artist, Poet; and Todd "Elvis" Anderson, Elvis impersonatorElvis impersonatorAn Elvis impersonator is someone who impersonates or copies famed American musician Elvis Presley. Professional Elvis impersonators can work all over the world as entertainers, and such tribute acts are in great demand due to the unique iconic status of Elvis...
- Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor PartyMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor PartyThe Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
:- Matt Entenza - Former State House Minority Leader; and Robyne RobinsonRobyne RobinsonRobyne Robinson is an award-winning American television journalist and entrepreneur. She ran as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota in 2010.-Biography:...
, Former Television Personality - Margaret Anderson KelliherMargaret Anderson KelliherMargaret Anderson Kelliher is a Minnesota politician and a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A Democrat, she represented District 60A, which includes portions of the city of Minneapolis in Hennepin County, located in the Twin Cities metropolitan area...
(DFL-endorsed) - State Speaker of the House; and John Gunyou, Minnetonka City Manager - Peter Idusogie and Lady Jayne Fontaine
- Matt Entenza - Former State House Minority Leader; and Robyne Robinson
- Independence Party of MinnesotaIndependence Party of MinnesotaThe Independence Party of Minnesota , formerly the Reform Party of Minnesota, is the third largest political party in Minnesota, behind the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Republican Party . It is the political party of former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura , and endorsed former U.S...
:- Rob Hahn and Thomas J. Harens
- Phil Ratté and Gayle-Lynn Lemaster
- John T. Uldrich and Stephen Williams
- Rahn V. Workcuff and Mark F. Workcuff
Dropped out
- Patricia AndersonPatricia AndersonPatricia "Pat" Anderson is a Minnesota politician and current national committeewoman for Minnesota to the Republican National Committee. She served as the 17th State Auditor of Minnesota, from 2003 to 2007. Prior to this, she was mayor of Eagan, Minnesota for four years after serving as a city...
(RRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
) - Former State AuditorMinnesota State AuditorThe Minnesota State Auditor is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. State of Minnesota. The State Auditor is charged with overseeing more than $20 billion spent annually by local governments in Minnesota... - Bill Haas (RRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
) - Former State Representative, Former Mayor of ChamplinChamplin, MinnesotaChamplin is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 23,089 at the 2010 census.U.S. Route 169 serves as a main arterial route in the city.- Geography :... - David HannDavid HannDavid W. Hann is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota Senate representing District 42, which includes portions of Hennepin County in the southwestern Twin Cities metropolitan area...
(RRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
) - State Senator - Phil Herwig (RRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
) - Activist - Mike Jungbauer (RRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
) - State Senator, Former Mayor of East BethelEast Bethel, MinnesotaEast Bethel is a city in Anoka County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 11,626 at the 2010 census.Minnesota State Highway 65 serves as a main arterial route in the city.-Geography:... - Paul KohlsPaul KohlsPaul Kohls is a Republican politician and a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives who represented District 34A, which covers central and western Carver County and part of Scott County in the southern part of the state. He was first elected in 2002, and was re-elected in 2004,...
(RRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
) - State Representative - Marty SeifertMarty SeifertMarty Seifert is a former Republican Minority Leader and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He represented District 21A, a predominantly rural district in southwestern Minnesota that includes portions of Lyon, Redwood and Yellow Medicine counties, and the cities of Marshall...
(RRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
) - State Representative, Former State House Minority Leader - Tom Bakk (DFLMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor PartyThe Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
) - State Senator - Susan GaertnerSusan GaertnerSusan Gaertner is a Minnesota politician and the former County Attorney for Ramsey County, Minnesota. She was a candidate for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party endorsement for Governor in the 2010 election.-Family and early life:...
(DFLMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor PartyThe Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
) - Ramsey CountyRamsey County, MinnesotaRamsey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, founded in 1849. As of 2010, the population was 508,640. Its county seat is St. Paul, which is also Minnesota's state capital. The county is named for Alexander Ramsey , the first governor of the Minnesota Territory...
Attorney - Steve Kelley (DFLMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor PartyThe Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
) - Former State Senator - John MartyJohn MartyThis is the article about the State Senator from Minnesota. For the singer known as John Marty, see Marty StuartJohn J. Marty is a member of the Minnesota Senate, representing District 54, which includes portions of Hennepin and Ramsey counties in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area. As a...
(DFLMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor PartyThe Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
) - State Senator and 1994Minnesota gubernatorial election, 1994The 1994 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994. Republican Party of Minnesota candidate Arne Carlson defeated Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party challenger John Marty.-Results:-General election:...
DFL Gubernatorial Nominee - Tom RukavinaTom RukavinaThomas "Tom" Rukavina is a Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 5A since 1987. His district, known as the Mesabi Range, includes portions of St...
(DFLMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor PartyThe Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
) - State Representative - R.T. Rybak (DFLMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor PartyThe Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
) - Minneapolis Mayor - Paul ThissenPaul ThissenPaul Thissen is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from District 63A, which includes south Minneapolis and Richfield in Hennepin County, which is in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. He is the current Minnesota House Minority Leader. He was first elected...
(DFLMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor PartyThe Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
) - State Representative - Joe RepyaJoe RepyaJoseph "Joe" Repya is a Minnesota Independence Party politician, and a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army. He is currently a candidate for Governor of Minnesota....
(IPIndependence Party of MinnesotaThe Independence Party of Minnesota , formerly the Reform Party of Minnesota, is the third largest political party in Minnesota, behind the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Republican Party . It is the political party of former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura , and endorsed former U.S...
) - Former Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in the U.S. Army - Richard Klatte (GGreen Party of MinnesotaThe Green Party of Minnesota is the fourth largest political party in Minnesota and was founded in 1994 on the Four Pillars of the Green Party: Ecological Wisdom, Social and Economic Justice, Grassroots Democracy, and Nonviolence and Peace...
) - Peter Roess (GGreen Party of MinnesotaThe Green Party of Minnesota is the fourth largest political party in Minnesota and was founded in 1994 on the Four Pillars of the Green Party: Ecological Wisdom, Social and Economic Justice, Grassroots Democracy, and Nonviolence and Peace...
)
Declined
- Laura BrodLaura BrodLaura Brod née Morris is a Minnesota politician, a member of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents, and a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives who represented District 25A, which includes portions of Le Sueur, Scott and Sibley counties in the south central part of the...
(RRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
) - State Representative - Norm ColemanNorm ColemanNorman Bertram Coleman, Jr. is an American attorney and politician. He was a United States senator from Minnesota from 2003 to 2009. Coleman was elected in 2002 and served in the 108th, 109th, and 110th Congresses. Before becoming a senator, he was mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota, from 1994 to 2002...
(RRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
) - Former U.S. Senator, Former St. Paul Mayor - Paul KoeringPaul KoeringPaul Koering is a Minnesota politician and a former member of the Minnesota Senate from Fort Ripley. A Republican, he represented District 12, which includes all or portions of Crow Wing and Morrison counties, including the city of Brainerd. A liquor store owner, funeral car service owner, and...
(RRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
) - State Senator - Tim Pawlenty (RRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
) - Two-term Incumbent Governor - Jim RamstadJim RamstadJames Marvin "Jim" Ramstad is a United States politician from the state of Minnesota.-Early life:Ramstad was born in Jamestown, North Dakota, was educated at the University of Minnesota and the George Washington University Law School. He was an officer in the United States National Guard from 1968...
(RRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
) - Former U.S. Representative - Brian Sullivan (RRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
) - Businessman - Steve SviggumSteve SviggumSteven A. "Steve" Sviggum is a Minnesota politician, a member of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents, and a former Speaker and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A Republican, he represented District 28B in the southeastern part of the state...
(RRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
) - Commissioner of Labor and Industry and former State House Speaker - Charlie WeaverCharlie Weaver (politician)Charles R. "Charlie" Weaver, Jr. is a Minnesota politician, a former Chief of Staff for Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, a former Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety, and a former Minnesota State Representative....
(RRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
) - Former Commissioner of Public Safety - Chris ColemanChris Coleman (politician)Christopher "Chris" B. Coleman is a Minnesota politician and the mayor of St. Paul. He defeated incumbent mayor Randy Kelly in 2005 and took office on January 3, 2006.- Family and early career :...
(DFLMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor PartyThe Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
) - Mayor of St. PaulSaint Paul, MinnesotaSaint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city... - Mike OpatMike OpatMichael Joseph Opat is an American politician from the U.S. state of Minnesota. He serves as the Chair of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, the governing body for the largest county in Minnesota, with more than 1.1 million residents and an annual budget of $1.7 billion...
(DFLMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor PartyThe Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
) - Chair of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners - Tim PennyTim PennyTimothy Joe "Tim" Penny , is an American politician from Minnesota. Penny was a Democratic-Farmer-Labor member of the United States House of Representatives, 1983–1995, representing Minnesota's 1st congressional district in the 98th, 99th, 100th, 101st, 102nd and 103rd congresses.-Early life:Penny...
(IPIndependence Party of MinnesotaThe Independence Party of Minnesota , formerly the Reform Party of Minnesota, is the third largest political party in Minnesota, behind the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Republican Party . It is the political party of former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura , and endorsed former U.S...
) - Former U.S. Representative - Dean BarkleyDean BarkleyDean Malcolm Barkley is a politician who briefly served as a member of the United States Senate from Minnesota following the death of Paul Wellstone...
(IPIndependence Party of MinnesotaThe Independence Party of Minnesota , formerly the Reform Party of Minnesota, is the third largest political party in Minnesota, behind the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Republican Party . It is the political party of former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura , and endorsed former U.S...
) - Former U.S. Senator - Peter Bell (IPIndependence Party of MinnesotaThe Independence Party of Minnesota , formerly the Reform Party of Minnesota, is the third largest political party in Minnesota, behind the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Republican Party . It is the political party of former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura , and endorsed former U.S...
) - Metropolitan Council Chair - David Olson (IPIndependence Party of MinnesotaThe Independence Party of Minnesota , formerly the Reform Party of Minnesota, is the third largest political party in Minnesota, behind the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Republican Party . It is the political party of former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura , and endorsed former U.S...
) - Minnesota Chamber of Commerce President
Republican Party
After incumbentIncumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Governor Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
announced in June 2009 that he would not seek a third term, the field was open for Republicans to seek their party's endorsement. At the Minnesota GOP's off-year state convention in October 2009, former Representative Marty Seifert
Marty Seifert
Marty Seifert is a former Republican Minority Leader and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He represented District 21A, a predominantly rural district in southwestern Minnesota that includes portions of Lyon, Redwood and Yellow Medicine counties, and the cities of Marshall...
took first place in a straw poll with 37% of the vote. Representative Tom Emmer
Tom Emmer
Thomas Earl "Tom" Emmer, Jr. was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2005 until 2011 and the Republican nominee for governor in the 2010 election. He represented District 19B, which includes portions of Wright and Hennepin Counties and the cities of Otsego, Albertville, St....
took second place with 23%, Patricia Anderson
Patricia Anderson
Patricia "Pat" Anderson is a Minnesota politician and current national committeewoman for Minnesota to the Republican National Committee. She served as the 17th State Auditor of Minnesota, from 2003 to 2007. Prior to this, she was mayor of Eagan, Minnesota for four years after serving as a city...
had 14%, and the rest of the participating candidates received less than 10% each.
Seifert took another victory during the February 2, 2010 precinct caucuses when he won a statewide straw poll of caucus attendees. Seifert garnered 50% of the vote, followed by Representative Tom Emmer with 39%. None of the other candidates got beyond single digits. Delegates to the state convention, however, were more closely divided between Emmer and Seifert than otherwise indicated by the initial straw poll. Although both camps claimed a delegate lead throughout the process leading up to the state convention, the outcome of the endorsement was nothing certain, and would end up being decided on the convention floor.
On April 30, 2010, Tom Emmer won the endorsement of Republican
Republican Party of Minnesota
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
delegates over Marty Seifert
Marty Seifert
Marty Seifert is a former Republican Minority Leader and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He represented District 21A, a predominantly rural district in southwestern Minnesota that includes portions of Lyon, Redwood and Yellow Medicine counties, and the cities of Marshall...
at the party's state convention in Minneapolis. After Emmer won 56% of the vote on the second ballot, Seifert withdrew from the race and threw his support behind Emmer's campaign. Emmer is running on a ticket with Metropolitan Council
Metropolitan Council
The Metropolitan Council or Met Council is the regional governmental agency and metropolitan planning organization in Minnesota serving the Twin Cities seven-county metropolitan area. The Met Council is granted regional authority powers in state statutes by the Minnesota Legislature. These powers...
member Annette Meeks
Annette Meeks
Annette Meeks is a Minnesota Republican politician, a member of the state's Metropolitan Council, and was the 2010 endorsed Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, running with gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.-Biography:...
as his running mate for lieutenant governor.
Emmer won the August 10, 2010 primary, earning a spot on the November ballot.
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
The list of candidates seeking the DFL's nomination was long going into the February 2 caucuses, with over 11 candidates having submitted their names for the candidate preference ballot. Former U.S. Senator Mark DaytonMark Dayton
Mark Brandt Dayton is an American politician, the 40th and current Governor of the state of Minnesota. Dayton previously served as United States Senator from Minnesota from 2001 to 2007 in the 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses...
notably declined to be included on the ballot. Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak
R. T. Rybak
Raymond Thomas Rybak, Jr. , known as R. T. Rybak, is the 46th and current mayor of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. In the 2001 election Rybak defeated incumbent Sharon Sayles Belton by a margin of 65% to 35%; the widest margin in city history for a challenge to an incumbent...
won the straw poll with 21.8% of the vote, with State House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher
Margaret Anderson Kelliher
Margaret Anderson Kelliher is a Minnesota politician and a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A Democrat, she represented District 60A, which includes portions of the city of Minneapolis in Hennepin County, located in the Twin Cities metropolitan area...
receiving 20.1%, and "uncommitted" receiving 14.7%. Each of the other candidates received single-digit support.
Former State Senator Steve Kelley dropped out of the race shortly after the caucuses due to disappointing results from the straw poll. State Senator Tom Bakk also dropped out on March 20, 2010, after announcing at the St. Louis County Convention that his chances of winning were slim.
On April 24, 2010, the DFL State Convention was held in Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
. After the first ballot, State Senator John Marty
John Marty
This is the article about the State Senator from Minnesota. For the singer known as John Marty, see Marty StuartJohn J. Marty is a member of the Minnesota Senate, representing District 54, which includes portions of Hennepin and Ramsey counties in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area. As a...
withdrew from the race after seeing lower than expected support, and State Representative Tom Rukavina
Tom Rukavina
Thomas "Tom" Rukavina is a Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 5A since 1987. His district, known as the Mesabi Range, includes portions of St...
withdrew after the fourth ballot, choosing to endorse Kelliher. State Representative Paul Thissen
Paul Thissen
Paul Thissen is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from District 63A, which includes south Minneapolis and Richfield in Hennepin County, which is in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. He is the current Minnesota House Minority Leader. He was first elected...
withdrew after the fifth ballot, and before the results to the sixth ballot were announced, Rybak withdrew as well and endorsed Kelliher. Kelliher was subsequently endorsed by the convention. Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner
Susan Gaertner
Susan Gaertner is a Minnesota politician and the former County Attorney for Ramsey County, Minnesota. She was a candidate for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party endorsement for Governor in the 2010 election.-Family and early life:...
, who had not sought the DFL endorsement but was planning to run in the primary, dropped out two days later. That left Kelliher facing Mark Dayton and former State House Minority Leader Matt Entenza in the August primary.
Shortly after the end of the 2010 legislative term, all three major DFL candidates had announced their choices for lieutenant governor. On May 21, 2010, Kelliher announced that John Gunyou would be her running mate. Gunyou is Minnetonka
Minnetonka, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,301 people, 21,393 households, and 14,097 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,893.0 persons per square mile . There were 22,228 housing units at an average density of 818.9 per square mile...
City Manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
and was state finance commissioner in Republican Governor Arne Carlson
Arne Carlson
Arne Helge Carlson, Sr. is an American politician and the 37th Governor of the state of Minnesota.-Early years, education and family:...
's administration. On May 24, 2010, Dayton announced that Yvonne Prettner Solon
Yvonne Prettner Solon
Yvonne Prettner Solon is the 47th and current Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota. She is the sixth consecutive woman to serve in that capacity and is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.-Education:...
would be his running mate. Solon is a psychologist and three-term state senator. On May 27, 2010, Entenza announced that Robyne Robinson
Robyne Robinson
Robyne Robinson is an award-winning American television journalist and entrepreneur. She ran as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota in 2010.-Biography:...
would be his running mate. Robinson is a small business owner and former TV anchor.
Dayton won a narrow victory over Kelliher in the August 10, 2010, primary, earning the right to serve as his party's nominee. He was formally endorsed by the DFL on August 21, 2010.
Independence Party
On Sunday, May 9, 2010, Tom HornerTom Horner
Tom Horner is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Independence Party of Minnesota. He was a candidate in the 2010 election for Governor of Minnesota....
won the endorsement of the Independence Party
Independence Party of Minnesota
The Independence Party of Minnesota , formerly the Reform Party of Minnesota, is the third largest political party in Minnesota, behind the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Republican Party . It is the political party of former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura , and endorsed former U.S...
for governor. His main opponent, Rob Hahn, said he would contest the primary.
Horner won the August 10 primary, defeating Rob Hahn to earn a place on the November ballot.
Democratic
At 11:50 p.m. on primary night, Dayton took the lead from Kelliher, who had held an ever-shrinking lead since the polls closed.Republican
Independence
General election
| Poll source | Dates administered | Tom Emmer (R) | Mark Dayton (DFL) | Tom Horner (I) | Undecided | Sampling error |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | October 27–29, 2010 | 40% | 43% | 15% | 3% | 2.2% |
| SurveyUSA | October 24–27, 2010 | 38% | 39% | 13% | 9% | 4% |
| Minnesota Public Radio | October 21–25, 2010 | 29% | 41% | 11% | 20% | 3.6% |
| St. Cloud State University | October 10–21, 2010 | 30% | 40% | 19% | 10% | 5.0% |
| Minnesota Poll | October 18–21, 2010 | 34% | 41% | 13% | 12% | 3.9% |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 20, 2010 | 41% | 44% | 10% | 5% | 4.0% |
| Survey USA | October 11–13, 2010 | 37% | 42% | 14% | 7% | 3.7% |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 6, 2010 | 38% | 40% | 15% | 7% | 4% |
| Humphrey Institute/MPR | September 22–26, 2010 | 27% | 38% | 16% | 19% | 3.6% |
| Minnesota Poll | September 20–23, 2010 | 30% | 39% | 18% | 13% | 4.1% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 22, 2010 | 42% | 41% | 9% | 2% | 4% |
| Survey USA | September 12–14, 2010 | 36% | 38% | 18% | 4% | 3.9% |
| Humphrey Institute/MPR | August 31, 2010 | 34% | 34% | 13% | 19% | 3.6 - 5.3% |
| Rasmussen Reports | August 12, 2010 | 36% | 45% | 10% | 10% | 4.0% |
| Survey USA | August 2–4, 2010 | 32% | 46% | 9% | 13% | 2.7% |
| Minnesota Poll | July 26–29, 2010 | 30% | 40% | 13% | 17% | 4.3% |
| Rasmussen Reports | July 19, 2010 | 36% | 40% | 10% | 14% | 4.5% |
| Survey USA | June 14–16, 2010 | 35% | 38% | 12% | 15% | 2.5% |
| Decision Resources, Ltd. | May 28 - June 2, 2010 | 28% | 40% | 18% | 14% | 3.5% |
| Rasmussen Reports | May 24, 2010 | 37% | 35% | 12% | 16% | 4.5% |
| Humphrey Institute/MPR | May 13–16, 2010 | 31% | 35% | 9% | 25% | 5.8% |
| Survey USA | May 3–5, 2010 | 42% | 34% | 9% | 15% | 4.1% |
| Rasmussen Reports | March 10, 2010 | 35% | 38% | 7% | 20% | 3% |
DFL
| Poll source | Dates administered | Mark Dayton | Matt Entenza | Margaret Anderson Kelliher | Undecided | Sampling error |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Survey USA | August 2–4, 2010 | 43% | 22% | 27% | 8% | 4.5% |
| Minnesota Poll | July 26–29, 2010 | 40% | 17% | 30% | 13% | 7.3% |
| Survey USA | June 14–16, 2010 | 39% | 22% | 26% | 11% | 4.5% |
| Humphrey Institute / MPR | May 13–16, 2010 | 38% | 6% | 28% | 28% | 8.75% |
Results
Ballot recount
The Gubernatorial Election in Minnesota was too close to call on November 2, 2010. An automatic ballot recount occurred, as Mark Dayton's lead over Tom Emmer was less than one half of one percent. This recount was carried out by the Minnesota Secretary of StateMinnesota Secretary of State
The Minnesota Secretary of State is the state secretary of state of the state of Minnesota.The Secretary of State is the keeper of the Great Seal of the State of Minnesota and files and certifies the authenticity of a wide variety of official documents...
, Mark Ritchie
Mark Ritchie
Donald Mark Ritchie was elected the 21st Minnesota Secretary of State on November 7, 2006. He was re-elected in 2010. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. He grew up in Iowa, and graduated from Iowa State University in 1971...
, as part of a State Canvassing Board, which consists of the secretary of state, two justices of the Minnesota Supreme Court, and two judges of a Minnesota district court.
External links
- Complete Set of 2010 Minnesota Governor Polling Data and Interactive Graph
- Minnesota Secretary of State - Elections & Voting
- Minnesota State Offices at Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- Campaign contributions for 2010 Minnesota Governor from Follow the Money
- Minnesota Governor 2010 from OurCampaigns.com
- 2010 Minnesota Gubernatorial Primary Election Matchups graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
- Election 2010: Minnesota Governor from Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports is an American media company that publishes and distributes information based on public opinion polling. Founded by pollster Scott Rasmussen in 2003, the company updates daily indexes including the President's job approval rating, and provides public opinion data, analysis, and...
- 2010 Minnesota Governor - Emmer vs. Dayton vs. Horner from Real Clear Politics
- 2010 Minnesota Governor's Race from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- 2010 MN Governor's Race from Politics in Minnesota
- Race Profile in The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
- State Elections at the Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Official campaign websites