Key Minnesota Races In 2016 Election
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Unlike most election years, there are no statewide Minnesota races in 2016 such as Governor and U.S. Senate.
Minnesota voters will cast ballots for U.S. President, U.S. Congressional Representatives, and the entire Minnesota Legislature.
These are the Minnesota State Senate and State House races that are most worth watching, according to election models prepared by Larry Jacobs at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
The outcome of these selected races could determine who controls the State Legislature: Democrats or Republicans.
Most Competitive Minnesota House Races
There are 133 seats up for grabs, and the Republicans currently hold a 73-61 majority. (There are 134 MN House seats, but GOP Rep. Bob Barrett was recently found by a court to be ineligible to run.) The Democrats would need a net gain of seven seats to win the majority. Listed below are key races including current incumbents and their primary challengers or open seats worth watching:
- State House – District 2A [Open; Jerry Loud (DFL), Matthew Grossell (R)]
- State House – District 5B [Tom Anzelc (DFL); Sandy Layman (R), Dennis Barsness (G)]
- State House – District 10B [Dale Lueck (R); Erin Wagner (DFL)]
- State House – District 12A [Jeff Backer (R); Jay McNamar (DFL)]
- State House – District 14B [Jim Knoblach (R); Zach Dorholt (DFL)]
- State House – District 17B [Dave Baker (R); Mary Sawatzky (DFL)]
- State House – District 24B [Brian Daniels (R); Patti Fritz (DFL)]
- State House – District 28B [Greg Davids (R); Thomas Trehus (DFL)]
- State House – District 37A [Open; Erin Koegel (DFL), Anthony Wilder (R), Brian McCormick (L)]
- State House – District 42A [Bob Yarusso (DFL); Randy Jessup (R)]
- State House – District 48A [Open; Laurie Pryor (DFL), Mary Shapiro (R)]
- State House – District 49A [Ron Erhardt (DFL); Dario Anselmo (R)]
- State House – District 50B [Chad Anderson (R); Andrew Carlson (DFL)]
- State House – District 56B [Roz Peterson (R); Lindsey Port (DFL)]
- State House – District 57A [Open; Erin Maye Quade (DFL), Ali Jimenez-Hopper (R)]
Most Competitive Minnesota Senate Races
There are 67 seats open, and the Democrats currently hold a 39-28 majority (following the death of Democratic Sen. Jim Metzen). The Republicans would need a net gain of six seats to win the majority. Listed below are key races including current incumbents and their primary challengers or open seats worth watching:
- State Senate – District 1 [Open; Kim Fontaine (DFL), Mark Johnson (R)]
- State Senate – District 2 [Rod Skoe (DFL); Paul Utke (R)]
- State Senate – District 14 [Open; Dan Wolgamott (DFL), Jerry Relph (R); Steven Zilberg (L)]
- State Senate – District 17 [Lyle Koenen (DFL); Andrew Lang (R)]
- State Senate – District 20 [Kevin Dahle (DFL); Rich Draheim (R)]
- State Senate – District 21 [Matt Schmit (DFL); Mike Goggin (R)]
- State Senate – District 24 [Vicki Jensen (DFL); John Jasinski (R)]
- State Senate – District 36 [John Hoffman (DFL); Jeffrey Lunde (R)]
- State Senate – District 39 [Karin Housley (R); Sten Hakanson (DFL)]
- State Senate – District 44 [Open; Deb Calvert (DFL), Paul Anderson (R)]
- State Senate – District 48 [David Hann (R); Steve Cwodzinski (DFL)]
- State Senate – District 53 [Susan Kent (DFL); Sharna Wahlgren (R)]
