2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election


The 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 6, to elect the 41st Governor of Minnesota as incumbent governor Mark Dayton chose not to run for re-election for a third term. The Democratic nominee was congressman Tim Walz from Minnesota's 1st congressional district while the Republicans nominated Hennepin County commissioner Jeff Johnson. The Independence Party of Minnesota didn't field a candidate for the first time since 1994. Going into the election the polls showed Walz ahead and the race was characterized as lean or likely DFL.
In the end, Walz went on to defeat Johnson by the largest margin for a DFL candidate since 1986. Walz had also received more votes than any gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota’s history.

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Candidates

Nominated

Polling

Hypothetical polling-------------

Straw poll

On February 6, 2018 the DFL conducted a statewide straw poll among registered Democrats in Minnesota. Caucus-goers were scheduled to elect delegates to their party's Senate district and county conventions, which in turn will elect state convention delegates who will endorse candidates for governor, two U.S. Senate seats, attorney general, state auditor and secretary of state. Congressional district delegates will endorse U.S. House candidates. Since the straw poll the three lowest performing candidates withdrew from the race.
Congressional
Unit		Total
attendance		Chris ColemanTina LieblingErin MurphyRebecca OttoPaul ThissenTim
Walz		OtherUncommitted
12577713551072325615584163
2350138420241165612011564523
3429167020238682718613628530
4607285429711111227139138411897
595191019457140014625372363301137
62375326115294587595904375
721211241062744051727614273
8387344127747410822637598527
Statewide34329388920114457647815329933734425
Percent-11.86%6.13%13.59%19.75%4.67%30.29%0.22%13.49%

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominated

Polling

Hypothetical polling-----------

Results

Third parties and independents

Candidates

Declared

Predictions

;Notes

Debates

The debate season began only three days after the primaries with Johnson and Walz participating in two debates on Friday, August 17. A third debate was held Friday, August 31.

Endorsements

Polling


Hypothetical polling		-------

;with Erin Murphy and Tim Pawlenty

Results

Voter demographics

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