So, everyone was watching the North Star State this year, mostly because the sitting governor, Tim Walz, was actually on the national ticket. People were wondering: would his presence give the Democrats a massive "home field" advantage, or would the rural-urban divide that's been simmering for a decade finally boil over? Honestly, the election results 2024 Minnesota delivered a bit of both, creating a political landscape that is, well, kinda complicated.
The Big Picture: Top of the Ticket
Let’s get the headline out of the way first. Kamala Harris kept Minnesota’s "blue streak" alive, making it thirteen consecutive presidential elections where the state went for the Democratic nominee. That is currently the longest active streak in the entire country. But if you look at the raw numbers, the margin was a lot tighter than some of the 2020 polls might have suggested.
Harris and Walz took the state with roughly 50.9% of the vote, while Donald Trump pulled in about 46.7%. If you’re doing the math, that’s a gap of 4.2 percentage points. To put that in perspective, Joe Biden won the state by over 7 points in 2020. Even with a Minnesotan on the ballot, the state shifted about 3% to the right.
It wasn't just a "Twin Cities vs. Everywhere Else" story either. While the metro area stayed deep blue, Trump saw gains in nearly every county. Only Cook, Lake, and Lincoln counties bucked that trend and nudged further left. It basically shows that the "red wall" in Greater Minnesota is getting even more solid, while the Democratic stronghold in the cities is facing some serious pressure.
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The Great Tie: Control of the State House
If the presidential race was a slight nudge, the state legislature was a full-on earthquake. For the last couple of years, Democrats (the DFL) had a "trifecta"—they controlled the Governor’s mansion, the State Senate, and the State House. They used that power to pass some huge stuff: universal school meals, paid family leave, and codifying abortion rights.
Well, the voters decided to hit the brakes.
The Minnesota House of Representatives ended up in a literal 67-67 tie. Yeah, you read that right. Out of 134 seats, it’s a perfect split. This hasn't happened since 1979, and back then, they had to share the Speaker’s gavel and the committee chairs. This time around, the drama was high. There were recounts in places like Shakopee (District 54A) and St. Cloud (District 14B) where the margins were as thin as a single sheet of paper. In Shakopee, Brad Tabke held on by just 15 votes.
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Because of this tie, the "trifecta" is dead. Minnesota is back to a divided government. After weeks of post-election maneuvering and even a brief boycott by the DFL to prevent a quorum, the two parties finally hammered out a power-sharing deal in early 2025. Lisa Demuth, the Republican leader, took the Speaker’s chair, but the committees are split. It basically means nothing big is getting passed without both sides agreeing, which, in today's climate, is a tall order.
Why the Election Results 2024 Minnesota Surprised People
One of the most interesting nuggets from the data is the voter turnout. Minnesotans love to vote. It’s sorta our thing. In 2024, the state saw a turnout rate of about 76.4%.
- Youth Power: Minnesota actually led the nation in youth voter turnout. About 62% of people aged 18-29 showed up.
- National Standing: We narrowly lost the #1 overall turnout spot to Wisconsin (they hit 76.6%), but being #2 in the country is still pretty impressive compared to the national average of around 64%.
- The Klobuchar Factor: Amy Klobuchar won her fourth term in the U.S. Senate, beating Republican Royce White by about 15.7 points. Even though she won comfortably, this was actually the "weakest" performance of her career. She usually wins by 20+ points, so even a moderate icon like her felt the shift.
The Congressional Map: No Movement
While the state house was flipping all over the place, the U.S. House seats stayed remarkably stagnant. All eight incumbents kept their jobs. Minnesota still has a 4-4 split in its congressional delegation.
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- District 1 (Southern MN): Brad Finstad (R) cruised to victory.
- District 2 (Suburban/South): Angie Craig (D) held off a challenge from Joe Teirab. This was one of the most expensive races in the state, but Craig won by double digits.
- District 3 (Western Suburbs): Kelly Morrison (D) won the seat formerly held by Dean Phillips.
- District 5 (Minneapolis): Ilhan Omar (D) won easily, as expected.
- Districts 6, 7, & 8: Tom Emmer, Michelle Fischbach, and Pete Stauber all kept their seats for the Republicans with comfortable margins.
That One Ballot Measure Everyone Liked
Despite all the partisan bickering, there was one thing almost everyone agreed on: the environment. Amendment 1, which asked to keep sending state lottery money to the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, passed with a massive 83% of the vote. It was supported in every single one of Minnesota's 87 counties. It’s a rare moment of unity—Minnesotans might disagree on who should be President, but they definitely want their lakes and parks protected until 2050.
What This Means for You
If you’re looking at these election results 2024 Minnesota and wondering "now what?", here’s the reality: gridlock is the new normal in St. Paul. With a 67-67 tie in the House, the frantic pace of legislation we saw in 2023 is over.
If you want to stay involved, the best thing you can do is keep an eye on your local representative. In a tied chamber, every single vote is the "deciding" vote. This is actually a great time for constituents to have more leverage because no party can afford to lose even one member on a bill.
Actionable Steps for Minnesotans
- Check Your New Districts: If you haven't looked at the updated maps from the last redistricting, do it now. Your "usual" rep might have changed.
- Monitor the Power-Sharing Deal: Watch how the House handles the budget. Since they have to co-chair committees, the 2025-2026 sessions will be a masterclass in compromise (or frustration).
- Get Ready for 2026: The State Senate wasn't up for a full election this time (just one special election), but the whole thing goes back on the ballot in 2026. The fight for control is already starting.
- Follow the Money: Watch the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Now that it's extended, billions will be flowing into conservation projects over the next few decades—make sure your local projects are on the list.
The era of one-party dominance in Minnesota was short-lived. The 2024 results proved that while the state is "blue" on a map, it’s a very purple reality on the ground.