Minnesota Attorney General election, 2018
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The 2018 Minnesota Attorney General election will be held on November 6, 2018, to elect the attorney general of the U.S. state of Minnesota. A primary election was held on August 14, 2018, to nominate Republican and Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL) candidates.
Background
DFL incumbent Lori Swanson was first elected in 2006—succeeding two-term DFL incumbent Mike Hatch, who did not seek re-election in order to seek election to be governor. She was re-elected in 2010 and 2014. Swanson announced on January 28, 2018, that she would seek re-election. The announcement came after months of speculation that she would instead seek election to be governor.[1] Swanson withdrew on June 4, 2018.[2]
Candidates
Republican Party of Minnesota
- Sharon Anderson, perennial candidate[3]
- Bob Lessard, member of the Minnesota Senate from 1977 to 2003[4][5][6]
- Doug Wardlow, attorney for the Alliance Defending Freedom; member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013[6][7][8]
Wardlow was endorsed by the Republicans on June 2, 2018, at their state convention.[9]
Withdrawn
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
- Keith Ellison, Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee since 2017; U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district since 2007[12][13]
- Tom Foley, former Ramsey County attorney[14][15]
- Debra Hilstrom, member of the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2001; former Anoka County assistant attorney[16][17]
- Initially withdrew in January 2018 following Swanson's announcement that she would seek re-election.[18] Re-entered the race following Swanson's withdrawal.
- Matt Pelikan, attorney; activist; former clerk for Minnesota Supreme Court Justices Paul Anderson and David Lillehaug[19][20][21]
- Mike Rothman, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce from 2011 to 2017[22][23]
- Initially withdrew on February 16, 2018, following Swanson's announcement that she would seek re-election.[22] Re-entered the race following Swanson's withdrawal.
It was reported in late January 2018 that Ellison was exploring the possibility of seeking election to be attorney general. According to several people he had spoken with recently, Ellison was not likely to run but found it enticing.[24] Following Swanson's withdrawal from the election on June 4, 2018, it was reported that Ellison was likely to enter the race, which he did the next day.[25]
On June 2, 2018, the DFL endorsed Pelikan at their state convention. Swanson received 52 percent over Pelikan after the first round of balloting, but not the required 60 percent. Swanson then withdrew her nomination for the party's endorsement, but did not indicate if she would run in the primary election.[9]
On June 4, 2018, Swanson announced she would no longer seek re-election to be attorney general and instead seek election to be governor.[2] The day after her announcement, Ellison, Foley, Hatch, Hilstrom, and Rothman entered the race.[12] Hatch said he did not think Pelikan had sufficient courtroom experience and would withdraw if someone he thought was qualified entered the race, which he did the next day saying Hilstrom, Rothman, and Foley were all experienced and that he might endorse one of them.[26]
Withdrawn
- Sam Clark, former Saint Paul city attorney; former state director and counsel for U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar[27]
- Withdrew on January 31, 2018, following Swanson's announcement that she would seek re-election.[28]
- Mike Hatch, attorney general from 1999 to 2007[12]
- Withdrew on June 6, 2018.[26]
- John Lesch, member of the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2003; Saint Paul assistant city attorney[29]
- Withdrew on September 15, 2017, saying he wanted to spend more time with his infant daughter, to help the DFL win control of the Minnesota of House of Representatives, and cited the uncertainty of whether DFL incumbent Lori Swanson would seek re-election.[30]
- Lori Swanson, incumbent since 2007[1]
- Ryan Winkler, general counsel for Biothera; member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2007 to 2015[31]
- Withdrew in January 2018 following Swanson's announcement that she would seek re-election.[18]
Minor parties and independents
- Noah Johnson (Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party), attorney[32][33]
Endorsements
| Keith Ellison (D)[34] |
|---|
|
Organizations
National Figures
State Senators
State Representatives
County Commissioners
Mayors
City Councilors
Others
|
| Doug Wardlow (R) |
|---|
|
Primary election
Results
Results by county:
Ellison
- 60-70%
- 50–60%
- 40–50%
- 30–40%
- 20–30%
Hilstrom
- 30–40%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Party of Minnesota | Doug Wardlow | 135,971 | 46.26 | |
| Sharon Anderson | 94,245 | 32.06 | ||
| Bob Lessard | 63,722 | 21.68 | ||
| Subtotal | 293,938 | 100.00 | ||
| Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | Keith Ellison | 281,142 | 49.81 | |
| Debra Hilstrom | 108,048 | 19.14 | ||
| Tom Foley | 70,786 | 12.54 | ||
| Matt Pelikan | 59,876 | 10.61 | ||
| Mike Rothman | 44,522 | 7.89 | ||
| Subtotal | 564,374 | 100.00 | ||
| Total | 858,312 | 100.00 | ||
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State[43] | ||||
General election
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Keith Ellison (D) |
Doug Wardlow (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason-Dixon | September 10–12, 2018 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 41% | 36% | 5% | 18% |
| SurveyUSA | September 6–8, 2018 | 574 | ± 4.9% | 41% | 41% | 4% | 14% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DFL | Keith Ellison | ||||
| Republican | Doug Wardlow | ||||
| LMN | Noah Johnson | ||||
| Majority | |||||
| Total votes | |||||
See also
References
- 1 2 Coolican, J. Patrick (January 28, 2018). "Attorney General Lori Swanson running for re-election, not governor". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- 1 2 3 Coolican, J. Patrick; Golden, Erin (June 5, 2018). "Attorney General Lori Swanson shakes up DFL field in governor's race". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
- ↑ Featherly, Kevin (August 9, 2018). "Quirky candidate Anderson's running for AG—again". Minnesota Lawyer. BridgeTower Media. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ↑ Beager, Laurel (June 12, 2018). "'The Old Trapper' seeks state's top legal post". International Falls Journal. Big Fish Media. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
- ↑ Featherly, Kevin (July 27, 2018). "Bob Lessard runs for attorney general to protect Legacy funds". Minnesota Lawyer. BridgeTower Media. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- 1 2 Salisbury, Bill (August 9, 2018). "Former Rep. Wardlow faces longtime DFLer in Minnesota attorney general primary". Pioneer Press. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ↑ Bierschbach, Briana (January 10, 2018). "The campaign to become Minnesota's next attorney general is crowded, intense — and very much under the radar". MinnPost. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- ↑ Featherly, Kevin (July 20, 2018). "As attorney general, Doug Wardlow would insist on 'rule of law'". Minnesota Lawyer. BridgeTower Media. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- 1 2 Van Berkel, Jessie; Rao, Maya (June 2, 2018). "DFL endorses Pelikan for AG after Swanson drops bid for party nod". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
- ↑ Lopez, Ricardo (April 17, 2017). "Republican attorney Harry Niska joins race for AG". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- ↑ Bakst, Brian (November 6, 2017). "Republican lawyer Niska leaves Minn. AG race". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- 1 2 3 Van Berkel, Jessie (June 6, 2018). "DFL candidates flood the field on final filing day". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
- ↑ Featherly, Kevin (July 13, 2018). "Keith Ellison thinks it's 'the right moment'". Minnesota Lawyer. BridgeTower Media. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ↑ Featherly, Kevin (July 5, 2018). "Tom Foley: Attorney general job isn't just anti-Trump megaphone". Minnesota Lawyer. BridgeTower Media. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ↑ Callaghan, Peter (July 10, 2018). "Tom Foley stresses his legal and administrative skills as differentiating factor in AG race". MinnPost. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ↑ Featherly, Kevin (June 28, 2018). "Debra Hilstrom: 'A work horse, not a show horse'". Minnesota Lawyer. BridgeTower Media. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ↑ Callaghan, Peter (July 13, 2018). "In run for attorney general, Hilstrom touts experience as both legislator and prosecutor". MinnPost. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- 1 2 Pugmire, Tim (January 29, 2018). "Swanson's plan thins DFL field for attorney general". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
- ↑ Coolican, J. Patrick (September 18, 2017). "Attorney, activist from Northfield seeks DFL running for attorney general". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- ↑ Featherly, Kevin (June 13, 2018). "Matt Pelikan thinks he has a solid shot". Minnesota Lawyer. BridgeTower Media. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ↑ Callaghan, Peter (July 11, 2018). "Instead of just being depressed by Trump's victory, Matt Pelikan decided to run for Minnesota attorney general". MinnPost. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- 1 2 Featherly, Kevin (June 21, 2018). "DFLer Mike Rothman says he's ready from day one". Minnesota Lawyer. BridgeTower Media. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ↑ Callaghan, Peter (July 6, 2018). "Is running the Department of Commerce great training for being Minnesota attorney general? That's the case Mike Rothman is making". MinnPost. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ↑ Dovere, Edward-Isaac (January 26, 2018). "Ellison exploring Minnesota AG run". Politico. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ↑ Dovere, Edward-Isaac (June 4, 2018). "DNC Deputy Chair Ellison expected to run for Minnesota AG". Politico. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
- 1 2 Van Berkel, Jessie (June 6, 2018). "Mike Hatch says he will withdraw from Minnesota attorney general race". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
- ↑ Van Berkel, Jessie (December 14, 2017). "St. Paul City Attorney Sam Clark announces campaign for Minnesota attorney general". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- ↑ Clark, Sam (January 31, 2018). "Announcement". Facebook. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
- ↑ Bakst, Brian (April 4, 2017). "DFLer Lesch sets up campaign to run for Minnesota AG". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- ↑ Bakst, Brian (September 15, 2017). "DFL state Rep. Lesch ends bid for attorney general". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- ↑ Golden, Erin (November 16, 2016). "Former state Rep. Ryan Winkler announces 2018 run for Minnesota attorney general". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- ↑ Featherly, Kevin (June 14, 2018). "Bar Buzz: Pro-pot AG candidate's got high hopes". Minnesota Lawyer. BridgeTower Media. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
- ↑ Featherly, Kevin (August 3, 2018). "Weed backer hopes to smoke competition in AG race". Minnesota Lawyer. BridgeTower Media. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ↑ https://keithellison.org/endorsements
- ↑ Bernie Sanders. "It was great to support @EllisonCampaign in Minnesota, @tammybaldwin and @IronStache in Wisconsin, and @JohnFetterman in Pennsylvania this weekend and to see thousands and thousands of people across the country ready to work for progressive change". Twitter.
- ↑ Tom Emmer. "Congratulations to @MNJeffJohnson and @doug_wardlow on their primary wins. Look forward to working with the entire @mngop ticket to #TurnMNRed this November". Twitter.
- ↑ Doug Wardlow. "I'm proud to have the endorsement of Congressman Jason Lewis! "Doug Wardlow understands better than most the Attorney General is there to enforce the laws of the state of Minnesota- and not there to create them." #VoteWardlow #MNAG". Twitter.
- ↑ Doug Wardlow. ""We've had far too much activism in that office in the past and @EllisonCampaign, along with the help of his supporters like Angie Craig, would surely be more of the same. That's why I'm glad to support Doug." #VoteWardlow #MNAG". Twitter.
- ↑ Doug Wardlow. ""We trust that as Attorney General, Doug Wardlow will have our back. He will stand with law enforcement and work with us to keep Minnesota families safe." - Lt. Bob Kroll #VoteWardlow". Twitter.
- ↑ Doug Wardlow. "I'm proud to have earned the endorsement of the Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association PAC! As Attorney General, I will fight to improve the economic climate for our agriculture industry. #VoteWardlow #MNAG". Twitter.
- ↑ "Editorial Board endorsement: GOP's Wardlow for attorney general". Star Tribune. August 3, 2018.
- ↑ "Our View / Endorsement: Remove politics from AG's office with Wardlow". Duluth News Tribune. October 10, 2018.
- ↑ "Statewide Results for Attorney General". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
External links
- Official Minnesota Attorney General candidate websites
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