Population  (Source: U.S. Census Bureau) Total Population, July 2008 est.          5,220,393 Registration, Nov. 4, 2008, 7 a.m.       3,199,981 plus same day registrants: 542,140 Note: Minnesota has Election Day registration. Minnesota has: 87 counties. Largest counties: Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka, Washington. > Five largest cities: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Bloomington. > Government Governor: Tim Pawlenty (R) elected 2002, re-elected in 2006. State Legislature: Minnesota State Legislature   House: 134 seats  Senate: 67 seats Local: Local Government   NACO Counties U.S. House: 5DFL, 3R - 1. T.Walz (D) | 2. J.Kline (R) | 3. J. Ramstad (R) | 4. B.McCollum (DFL) | 5. K.Ellison (DFL) | 6. M.Bachmann (R) | 7. C.Peterson (DFL) | 8. J.Oberstar (DFL).  U.S. Senate: Norm Coleman (R) up for re-election in 2008, Amy Klobuchar (DFL) elected in 2006. 2008 update U.S. Senate:  In the most expensive ($35.4 million) and longest Senate race this cycle, Sen. Norm Coleman (R) faced comedian Al Franken (DFL) and former Sen. Dean Barkley of the Independence Party.  The race was not settled until almost eight months after Election Day; after a recount and legal proceedings that went to the state Supreme Court, Coleman conceded on June 30, 2009.  Franken's margin of victory was 312 votes. U.S. House:  Rep. Jim Ramstad (R)'s retirement opened up the 3rd CD (suburban Hennepin County); State Rep. Erik Paulsen (R) held the seat for the GOP, defeating attorney and veteran Ashwin Madia (DFL) and Independence Party candidate David Dillon.  The 6th CD race heated up in October when freshman Rep. Michele Bachmann (R) appeared on MSNBC's 'Hardball" and got into a discussion with Chris Matthews about whether Obama and some members of Congress are "anti-American;" she nonetheless narrowly defeated El Tinklenberg (DFL) by 46.41% to 43.43% and 10.04% for the Independence Party candidate.  The U.S. House delegation remains at 5DFL, 3R.     > Democrats likely to pick up U.S. Senate seat.  MORE

State of Minnesota Secretary of State Constitution Party of MN Green Party of MN Libertarian Party of MN MN DFL Party Republican Party of MN Independence Party of MN Star Tribune Newspapers TV, Radio Politics1-MN MN E-Democracy MN-politics.com Land of 10,000 Lakes

Setting the Caucuses Date
Minnesota Statutes (202A.14) set out the date for precinct caucuses as the first Tuesday in March, which in 2008 is March 4.  However, the Minnesota Republican Party and the Minnesota DFL have moved to hold caucuses on Feb. 5, 2008.  On July 10, 2007 the Minnesota Republican Party executive committee voted to hold caucuses on Feb. 5, and in August 2007 the DFL State Central Committee approved the change to Feb. 5 in a mail ballot.

Earlier there were legislative efforts to move the date forward, but party leaders determined that step was not necessary.
-In February 2007 State Sen. Dan Larson (DFL-Bloomington) introduced S.F. No. 893 to move the precinct caucuses from  the first Tuesday in March to the third Tuesday in February and the state primary from September to June.  On May 9 Larson offered an amendment, which was approved, to change the date of the precinct caucuses not to the third Tuesday, but to the second Tuesday in February.  On May 11 the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 55-9, and it was sent on to the House where it went to committee.
-In 2005 there was bipartisan support for efforts to move the precinct caucuses from the first Tuesday of March to the third Tuesday in February (another change > would move the state primary from mid-September to June).  The thinking was that February precinct caucuses would coincide with the Wisconsin primary to create a "Super Tuesday of the North" or "Frozen Tuesday."
-In 2003 legislation to move the date of the precinct caucuses passed the Senate but stalled in the House.

See:  "Minnesota appears likely to move up '08 party caucuses."  Associated Press, June 25, 2007. (in the Star Tribune)
         Bill Salisbury.  "Minnesota Legislature / Caucuses could be moved up in 2008."  Pioneer Press, May 9, 2007.

General Election -- Tuesday, November 2, 2004

Voting Eligible Population: 3,609,185. VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 78.4%.

Cobb/LaMarche 4,408 (0.16) Bush/Cheney (Rep.) 1,346,695 (47.61) +Kerry/Edwards (DFL) 1,445,014 (51.09) Van Auken/Lawrence (SEP) 539 (0.02) Calero/Hawkins (SWP) 416 (0.01) Harens/Ryan (CF) 2,387 (0.08) Nader Camejo (BL) 18,683 (0.66) Peroutka/Baldwin (Const.) 3,074 (0.11) Badnarik/Campagna (Lib.) 4,639 (0.16) Write Ins 2,532 Total........2,828,387

2004 Overview Kerry widened the margin upon Gore's 2000 showing, gaining a plurality of 98,319 votes (3.48 percentage points).  Kerry finished ahead in the 4th, 5th and 8th CDs.  At the meeting of the Electoral College on Dec. 13, 2004 Minnesota earned an asterisk when one of the 10 electors voted for John Edwards for president. General Election Details Kerry/Allies  |  Bush/Cheney '04

[State Primary Election: September 14, 2004]

General Election -- Tuesday, November 7, 2000

Voting Eligible Population: 3,506,432. VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 69.5%.

Phillips/Frazier (Const.)  3,272  (0.13) +Gore/Lieberman (DFL)  1,168,266 (47.91) Bush/Cheney (Rep.)  1,109,659 (45.50) Harris/Trowe (SWP)  1,022 (0.04) Buchanan/Foster(Ref.MN)  22,166 (0.91) Hagelin/Goldhaber (Ref.) 2,294 (0.09) Browne/Olivier (Lib.)  5,282  (0.22) Nader/LaDuke (Grn.) 126,696 (5.20) Declared Write Ins (3)  28 -  Total........2,438,685 Total Voters: 2,457,156.

2000 Overview Bush made a close race for Minnesota's 10 electoral votes, but on Election Day Gore came out on top, gaining a plurality of 58,607 votes (2.41 percentage points).  Gore carried 16 counties to 71 for Bush.  The last Republican presidential candidate to carry Minnesota was Richard Nixon, seeking re-election in 1972 against George McGovern.  Yet in October at least one poll showed Bush ahead.  The state experienced a crush of activity in the closing weeks of the campaign.  Nader supporters hoped to obtain as much as 10 percent, which, had it happened could have tipped the state to Bush.  Gov. Ventura, who has roiled Minnesota politics since his upset win in 1998, remained neutral in the presidential race. General Election Activity

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