Overview
- State election returns reported by the Minnesota Secretary of State show more than 1,103,000 ballots were cast in the primary, the first time a Minnesota primary exceeded one million votes.
- The results delivered decisive nominees in high-profile races, with Sen. Amy Klobuchar winning the DFL governor nomination with about 89.7% of the vote and Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth narrowly defeating Mike Lindell for the GOP nod.
- Contests for the open U.S. Senate seat produced a Democratic nominee who received roughly 59.0% and a Republican nominee who won about 52.1%, according to the unofficial statewide tallies.
- The turnout figure represents about 25% of eligible voters using the Secretary of State’s method of dividing ballots cast by total eligible voters, and the office called on counties to review and certify results ahead of final state certification next week.
- The high turnout and clear primary winners sharpen the focus on November matchups in two open-seat, nationally watched races and reflect a voting surge driven in part by competitive primaries and high-profile endorsements such as President Donald Trump’s backing of Lindell.