Minneapolis Voters Head to Polls in Key Mayoral and Senate Elections

Strategic Insights -

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is seeking re-election against a strong challenge from democratic socialist state Sen. Omar Fateh, who has framed his campaign as a fight against the "status quo." The election will also determine who will fill two vacant state Senate districts, one previously held by a Democrat who resigned after a burglary conviction and the other by a Republican who died in office. Democrats currently hold a majority in the Minnesota Senate, and the outcome of these elections could have a significant impact on the chamber's balance of power.

Key Takeaways:

  • Minneapolis implemented ranked-choice voting in 2009, which allows voters to choose up to three candidates in order of preference on their ballot. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidates with the weakest performance are dropped, and the votes from those eliminated candidates are reallocated to voters' next-highest choices.
  • Mayor Frey is the top fundraiser in the race and has support from a political action committee that is funding digital ads criticizing Fateh. He also has backing from Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
  • State Sen. Omar Fateh, who has been endorsed by Rep. Ilhan Omar, is running for mayor and has framed his campaign as a fight against the "status quo."
  • Every mayoral race since 2013 has gone to at least a second round of ranked-voting. In 2021, Frey won after two rounds of tabulation, while in 2017, it took six rounds to declare the winner.
  • District 47 is vacant after its former senator, Democrat Nicole Mitchell, resigned, and the Democratic nominee, state Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, won the nomination with 82% of the vote.
  • In Minnesota, each state Senate district is divided into two state House districts, and Hemmingsen-Jaeger represents half of District 47 in the state House.
  • State Sen. Bruce Anderson, a Republican, died in July, prompting a special election, and the Republican nominee, Michael Holmstrom Jr., won the August primary with 73% of the vote.
  • The AP will provide vote results and declare winners in the Minneapolis mayoral race and in the two state Senate special elections. Polls close at 8 p.m. local time, which is 9 p.m. ET.
  • As of June, there were about 253,000 registered voters in Minneapolis. In the 2021 mayoral election, turnout was about 54% of registered voters, with about 20% of ballots cast before Election Day.
  • As of Oct. 28, a total of 15,525 ballots had been cast in Minneapolis before Election Day. Both state Senate Districts 29 and 47 had about 59,000 registered voters as of June.
  • In the 2024 presidential election, the AP first reported results in Hennepin County at 9:34 p.m. ET, or 34 minutes after polls closed. The election night tabulation ended at 2:59 a.m. ET with more than 99% of total votes counted.

Statistics:

  • There are approximately 253,000 registered voters in Minneapolis.
  • Turnout in the 2021 mayoral election was about 54% of registered voters.
  • About 20% of ballots in the 2021 mayoral election were cast before Election Day.
  • As of Oct. 28, a total of 15,525 ballots had been cast in Minneapolis before Election Day.
  • Both state Senate Districts 29 and 47 have approximately 59,000 registered voters.
  • In the 2022 general election, turnout was about 68% of registered voters in District 29, with about 16% of voters casting ballots early or by absentee.
  • In District 47, turnout in 2022 was about 69% of registered voters, with about 32% of voters casting ballots early or by absentee.
  • In the 2024 presidential election, the AP first reported results in Hennepin County at 9:34 p.m. ET, or 34 minutes after polls closed.
  • The election night tabulation ended at 2:59 a.m. ET with more than 99% of total votes counted.

Sources:

  • Associated Press, "Washington (AP) — The who led the city during the is seeking reelection Tuesday against more than a dozen challengers" (date not specified)
  • Associated Press, "Minneapolis implemented ranked-choice voting in 2009" (date not specified)
  • Associated Press, "Every mayoral race since 2013 has gone to at least a second round of ranked-voting" (date not specified)
  • Associated Press, "District 47 is vacant after its former senator, Democrat Nicole Mitchell, resigned" (date not specified)
  • Associated Press, "State Sen. Bruce Anderson, a Republican, died in July" (date not specified)
  • Associated Press, "The AP will provide vote results and declare winners in the Minneapolis mayoral race and in the two state Senate special elections" (date not specified)
  • Associated Press, "As of June, there were about 253,000 registered voters in Minneapolis" (June)
  • Associated Press, "In the 2021 mayoral election, turnout was about 54% of registered voters" (2021)
  • Associated Press, "As of Oct. 28, a total of 15,525 ballots had been cast in Minneapolis before Election Day" (Oct. 28)
  • Associated Press, "There are approximately 59,000 registered voters in both state Senate Districts 29 and 47" (date not specified)
  • Associated Press, "In the 2024 presidential election, the AP first reported results in Hennepin County at 9:34 p.m. ET, or 34 minutes after polls closed" (2024)