2018 Minnesota House of Representatives election


The 2018 Minnesota House of Representatives election was held in the U.S. state of Minnesota on November 6, 2018, to elect members to the House of Representatives of the 91st Minnesota Legislature. A primary election was held in several districts on August 14, 2018. The election coincided with the election for governor, a special election for the Minnesota Senate, and other elections.
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party won a majority of seats, ending the Republican majority that began with the 2014 election. The new legislature convened on January 8, 2019.

Background

The last election resulted in the Republicans winning a majority of 76 seats, increasing the majority of 72 seats it won in 2014. It was the first time that a party has retained control of the House of Representatives since the DFL in the 2008 election. In conjunction with the result of the Senate election, it also resulted in the return of all-Republican control of the Legislature since 2012—only the second time the Republicans have held control of both houses since the return of partisan elections to the House in 1974 and the Senate in 1976 and marking the end of two years of split control between a Republican-held House and a DFL-held Senate.
A special election was held for District 32B on February 14, 2017, following the invalidation of its general election results. On September 8, 2016, the Minnesota Supreme Court found Republican incumbent Bob Barrett ineligible for election because he did not reside in his district. As the ruling occurred within 80 days of the general election, Barrett's name could not be replaced on the ballot. Republican Anne Neu won the special election, increasing the Republican majority to 77 seats.

Electoral system

The 134 members of the House of Representatives were elected from single-member districts by first-past-the-post voting to two-year terms. Contested nominations of the DFL and Republican parties for each district were determined by an open primary election. Minor-party and independent candidates were nominated by petition. Write-in candidates had to file a request with the secretary of state's office for votes for them to be counted. The filing period was from May 22 through June 5, 2018.

Retiring members

Republican

MinnPost and MPR News considered a total of 18 House districts competitive in 2018, based on past election results, campaign spending trends, and conversations with campaigns. MinnPost considered 15 districts competitive, 11 of which were held by the Republicans and four by the DFL. According to MinnPost, their list was not exhaustive and could have spoken to broader trends in the election. MPR News also considered 15 districts competitive, 12 of which were held by the Republicans and three by the DFL.
DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected		2016
result		MinnPost
MPR News
Result
4BPaul MarquartDFL200053.85%Hold
5BSandy LaymanRepublican201653.61%Hold
19AClark JohnsonDFL201352.68%Hold
34BDennis SmithRepublican201455.83%DFL gain
36AMark UglemRepublican201258.21%DFL gain
37AErin KoegelDFL201647.17%Hold
38BMatt DeanRepublican200456.94%DFL gain
42ARandy JessupRepublican201650.18%DFL gain
44ASarah AndersonRepublican200654.04%DFL gain
47BJoe HoppeRepublican200262.47%Hold
49ADario AnselmoRepublican201651.04%DFL gain
52BRegina BarrRepublican201650.17%DFL gain
53BKelly FentonRepublican201456.35%DFL gain
54AKeith FrankeRepublican201651.43%DFL gain
55ABob LoonanRepublican201455.78%DFL gain
56BRoz PetersonRepublican201452.37%DFL gain
57AErin Maye QuadeDFL201652.23%Hold
57BAnna WillsRepublican201253.66%DFL gain

Primary elections results

A primary election was held in 21 districts to nominate Republican and DFL candidates. Eight Republican nominations and 14 DFL nominations were contested. Seven incumbents were opposed for their party's nomination. Notably, District 55A Republican incumbent Bob Loonan lost his party's nomination.

Results

District results

Seats changing parties

PartyIncumbentDistrictFirst
elected		WinnerParty
RepublicanMatt Bliss5A2016John PersellDFL
Jim Knoblach14B1994Dan WolgamottDFL-
Cindy Pugh33B2012Kelly MorrisonDFL-
Dennis Smith34B2014Kristin BahnerDFL-
Mark Uglem36A2012Zack StephensonDFL-
Matt Dean38B2004Ami WazlawikDFL-
Kathy Lohmer39B2010Shelly ChristensenDFL-
Randy Jessup42A2016Kelly MollerDFL-
Sarah Anderson44A2006Ginny KlevornDFL-
Jenifer Loon48B2008Carlie Kotyza-WitthuhnDFL-
Dario Anselmo49A2016Heather EdelsonDFL-
Regina Barr52B2016Ruth RichardsonDFL-
Kelly Fenton53B2014Steve SandellDFL-
Keith Franke54A2016Anne ClaflinDFL-
Bob Loonan55A2014Brad TabkeDFL-
Drew Christensen56A2014Hunter CantrellDFL-
Roz Peterson56B2014Alice MannDFL-
Anna Wills57B2012John HuotDFL-

Aftermath

On November 8, 2018, the newly elected House DFL caucus met to elect the leadership of the new House. House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman was elected speaker-designate unopposed. Ryan Winkler was elected majority leader and Liz Olson majority whip. The next day, the newly elected House Republican caucus met and elected outgoing Speaker Kurt Daudt minority leader, a position he held from 2013 to 2015.