After a disastrous midterm cycle four years prior, the DFL responded with former Governor Rudy Perpich winning back his old job in the open seat race with Marlene Johnson on the ticket. Johnson became the first woman Lieutenant Governor in state history. Fellow DFLers Secretary of State Joan Anderson Growe won a third term, Skip Humphrey won the open seat for Attorney General, and former Auditor Bob Mattson, Jr. won the open seat for Treasurer. Auditor Arne Carlson was reelected and the only Independent-Republican to win a constitutional office.
After redistricting, the DFL flipped two U.S. House seats and to control five in the eight seat delegation: Tim Penny defeated Tom Hagedorn in the 1st CD and Gerry Sikorski unseated Arlen Erdahl in the 6th CD.
The DFL did lose two seats in the state Senate (still retaining a 44-23 advantage) while netting seven in the state House for a 77-57 partisan split over the GOP.
Appointed Associate Justice John Simonett won a full term to the Supreme Court.
Elections
Date
Office
Stage
Winners
Details
11/02/1982
U.S. Senate
General
Dave Durenberger (Independent-Republican) won with 949,207 votes (52.60%) and a winning margin of +6.03
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Dave Durenberger
Incumbent
Man
Independent-Republican
949,207
52.60
Mark Dayton
Man
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
840,401
46.57
Bill Onasch
Man
Socialist Workers
5,897
0.33
Fred G. Hewitt
Man
Libertarian
5,870
0.33
Jeffrey M. Miller
Man
New Union
3,300
0.18
Senator Durenberg was reelected to a second term. He was the first Republican to win reelection to the U.S. Senate since Edward J. Thye in 1952.
Dayton was a resident of Minneapolis, former legislative aide to U.S. Senator Walter Mondale, former aide to Governor Rudy Perpich, and Minnesota Department of Economic Development Commissioner.
Onasch was a machine operator for Litton Microwave Cooking from St. Paul. Onasch was nominated by petition.
Hewitt was a staff scientist for Sperry Univac from Eagan and nominee for U.S. Senate in 1978's special election. Hewitt was nominated by petition.
Miller was a self-employed groundskeeper from Minneapolis, New Union nominee for the 5th CD in 1980, and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1984. Miller was nominated by petition.