Elections: 1857-present. Elections for Governor (and most constitutional offices) were held for two-year terms in odd-numbered years beginning in 1857. A constitutional amendment was passed in 1883 requiring state elections to be held in even-numbered years beginning in 1886 with the winners of state offices in 1883 serving three-year terms. From 1886 through 1960, gubernatorial terms remained two years - increasing to four years in 1962. Beginning in 1974, the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor were elected jointly on a single ticket. State primaries for Governor were first held in September 1912. There have never been term limits for the office in Minnesota history.
Most recent elections
Date
Office
Stage
Winners
Details
11/08/2022
Governor
General
Tim Walz (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 1,312,349 votes (52.27%) and a winning margin of +7.66
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Tim Walz
Incumbentwith Peggy Flanagan
Man
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
1,312,349
52.27
Scott Jensen
with Matt Birk
Man
Republican
1,119,941
44.61
James McCaskel
with David Sandbeck
Man
Legal Marijuana Now
29,346
1.17
Steve Patterson
with Matt Huff
Man
Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis
22,599
0.90
Hugh McTavish
with Mike Winter
Man
Independence-Alliance
18,156
0.72
Gabrielle M. Prosser
with Kevin A. Dwire
Woman
Socialist Workers
7,241
0.29
Scattering
Write-In
1,009
0.04
Joyce Lynne Lacey
with Kent Edwards
Woman
Write-In
11
0.00
Mohamed Mourssi-Alfash
with Lance Harvey Hegland
Man
Write-In
5
0.00
Loner Blue
with Al Smith
Man
Write-In
4
0.00
Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan were reelected to a second term.
Jensen was a physician from Chaska and former State Senator (SD 47, 2017-2021); Birk was a retired NFL player from Mendota Heights.
James McCaskel (Legal Marijuana Now) won with 1,461 votes (51.86%) and a winning margin of +3.73
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
James McCaskel
with David Sandbeck
Man
Legal Marijuana Now
1,461
51.86
T. Christopher (Chris) Wright
with L.C. Lawrence Converse
Man
Legal Marijuana Now
1,356
48.14
Wright was a computer technician from Edina, co-founder of the Grassroots Party in 1986, Grassroots U.S. House nominee for the 5th CD in 1988, and Grassroots gubernatorial nominee in 1998, 2010, 2014, and 2018.
Scott Jensen (Republican) won with 288,499 votes (89.31%) and a winning margin of +82.72
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Scott Jensen
with Matt Birk
Man
Republican
288,499
89.31
Joyce Lynne Lacey
with Kent Edwards
Woman
Republican
21,308
6.60
Bob Carney
with Captain Jack Sparrow
Man
Republican
13,213
4.09
Jensen was a physician from Chaska and former State Senator (SD 47, 2017-2021); Birk was a retired NFL player from Mendota Heights.
Lacey was a pastor from Ashby.
Carney was a perennial candidate from Minneapolis; Sparrow was a community activist from Minneapolis candidate for Mayor of Minneapolis in 2013 and 2017 and for Hennepin County Commissioner (4th District) in 2014.
Tim Walz (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 416,973 votes (96.54%) and a winning margin of +93.08
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Tim Walz
Incumbentwith Peggy Flanagan
Man
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
416,973
96.54
Ole Savior
with Julia M. Parker
Man
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
14,950
3.46
Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan were renominated to a second term.
Savior was an artist and perennial candidate from Minneapolis and DFL gubernatorial candidate in 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2018, Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2010, and Republican U.S. Senate candidate in 2014.