State Overview

The Minnesota DFL is the longest running state party coordinated campaign in the country. Each year, the State Party engages in a comprehensive democratic process which culminates in the selection of the State’s endorsed Democratic Ticket. These endorsed candidates then have access to the State’s financial, political, and technological resources. While candidates failing to secure the State Party endorsement may continue to run outside of the establishment, the State Party’s accumulated resources go to the candidates selected by its members. By holding true to this process, Minnesota Democrats experience excellent results. In 2006 voters returned the state to Democrats increasing their majority in the Minnesota Senate by six seats, gaining 19 seats in the State House and electing a new Secretary of State. Nationally, Democrats won the open U.S. Senate seat – electing its first female Senator – and picked up two U.S. Congressional seats.

Progressively since 2002, the Minnesota DFL has increased turnout to record numbers. In 2000, nearly 1.2 million votes were cast for Gore while in 2004, Kerry garnered over 1.4 million votes. Since Minnesota is a same day registration state, successful GOTV plans focus heavily on identifying and moving voters to the polls. This reality, coupled with the population sure occurring in the Twin Cities, continues to be a key motivator behind emphasis on early-voting tendencies in the last few years which contribute to the tightening and unpredictability of victory margins.