2008 Election Recap

Summary

Nearly three million Minnesota voters cast their ballots in the 2008 election. The Democrats won a decisive victory in the presidential election, while the Republicans won a close race for the U.S. Senate seat, although a recount is certain. All incumbents in Minnesota's eight-member U.S. House delegation won re-election, with Republicans winning the two hotly contested races. Minnesota Democrats (Democratic-Farmer-Laborites, or "DFLers") picked up both Minnesota Senate seats that were up for grabs, although a recount will be conducted in one of the races. And while the DFLers picked up two seats in the Minnesota House, they fell short of the 90-vote majority required to override a veto by Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty.

President-elect Barack Obama's coattails did not appear to benefit other Minnesota Democrats—notably Al Franken. This could be a sign that voters were acting independently. Given the unprecedented amounts spent on political campaigns and the fact that it was a presidential election year, voters also may have come to the polls more engaged and knowledgeable than in previous years. Further, Republicans who supported Obama may have been persuaded by arguments against giving total control of the government to the Democrats, motivating them to split their tickets and vote Republican in the statewide and local races.

Following is a recap of Minnesota highlights from Tuesday's election results:

Obama Defeats McCain by 10 Percentage Points in Minnesota

Barack Obama won a decisive victory over Republican candidate John McCain in Tuesday's presidential election, winning 54 percent of the more than 2.9 million votes cast in Minnesota—a 10 percentage-point margin over McCain.

Republican Norm Coleman Keeps His Seat—by a Slim Margin

Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman defeated Democratic candidate Al Franken by a margin of fewer than 250 votes. A final margin of less than 0.5 percent triggers a mandatory recount, which will likely be completed within the next month.

U.S. House Races

In two hotly contested races, Republicans prevailed. Incumbent Republican Michele Bachmann of the 6th Congressional District held onto her seat by defeating Democratic challenger Elwyn Tinklenberg, while former Minnesota House Republican Majority Leader Erik Paulsen defeated Democratic candidate Ashwin Madia in the open 3rd District (incumbent Republican Jim Ramstad retired).

Five Minnesota Democrats seeking re-election held on to their seats, including Congressman Tim Walz, 1st District; Congresswoman Betty McCollum, 4th District; Congressman Keith Ellison, 5th District; Congressman Collin Peterson, 7th District; and Congressman Jim Oberstar, 8th District.

Incumbent Republican Congressman John Kline was re-elected in the 2nd District, defeating Democrat Steve Sarvi.

State Legislative Races

There were two open seats filled in special elections in the Minnesota Senate. DFLers won both, resulting in a new margin of 46 DFL/21 Republican in the Senate. DFLers increased their already veto-proof majority in the Senate to 46 from 45. Lisa Fobbe (DFL-Zimmerman) won Republican Sen. Betsy Wergin's open seat in District 16 (in the St. Cloud area). Ken Kelash (DFL-Minneapolis) will replace DFL Sen. Dan Larson in District 63 (south Minneapolis, Richfield, north Bloomington).

Twenty-two new representatives and one former representative were elected to the Minnesota House. Prior to the election, the DFLers held an 85-49 majority. They gained two seats in the election, for a new margin of 87 DFL/47 Republican. Although DFLers gained two seats, giving them a total of 87 in the House, they fell three seats short of the 90-vote majority needed to override a veto by Governor Pawlenty.

Following is a list of the newly-elected representatives in each party and their respective districts:

DFLers replacing or defeating DFL members

District 4A—John Persell (Bemidji) (replaces Frank Moe)

District 7B—Roger Reinert (Duluth) (replaces Mike Jaros)

District 20A—Andrew Falk (Murdock) (replaces Aaron Peterson)

District 58B—Bobby Joe Champion (Minneapolis) (defeated Willie Dominguez)

District 61B—Jeff Hayden (Minneapolis) (replaces Neva Walker)

DFLers replacing or defeating Republican members

District 16A—Gail Kulick Jackson (Milaca) (defeated Sondra Erickson) (pending recount)

District 26A—Kory Kath (Owatonna) (replaces Connie Ruth)

District 37B—Phil Sterner (Rosemount) (replaces Dennis Ozment)

District 38B—Mike Obermueller (Eagan) (defeated Lynn Wardlow)

District 41B—Paul Rosenthal (Edina) (replaces Neil Peterson)

District 49B—Jerry Newton (Coon Rapids) (replaces Kathy Tinglestad)

Republicans replacing or defeating Republican members

District 10B—Mark Murdock (Ottertail) (replaces Dean Simpson)

District 13A—Paul Anderson (Starbuck) (replaces Bud Heidgerken)

District 16B—former Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer (Big Lake) (replaces Mark Olson)

District 21B—Paul Torkelson (St. James) (replaces Brad Finstad)

District 33B—Connie Doepke (Wayzata) (replaces John Berns)

District 41A—Keith Downey (Edina) (defeated Ron Erhardt)

District 42B—Jenifer Loon (Eden Prairie) (replaces Erik Paulsen)

District 49A—Peggy Scott (Andover) (replaces Chris DeLaForest)

Republicans replacing or defeating DFL members

District 28A—Tim Kelly (Red Wing) (defeated Sandy Wollschlager)

District 31B—former Rep. Greg Davids (Preston) (defeated Ken Tschumper)

District 37A—Tara Mack (Apple Valley) (defeated Shelley Madore)

District 51A—Tim Sanders (Blaine) (replaces Scott Kranz)

Legislative recounts

Mandatory recounts are required for three state legislative races in which the seat was won by a margin of less than 0.5 percent. In Senate District 16, DFLer Lisa Fobbe (Zimmerman) won by 96 votes against Republican Alison Krueger. In House District 16A, DFLer Gail Kulick Jackson (Milaca) won by 99 votes against incumbent Republican Sondra Erickson. And in House District 12B, incumbent DFLer Al Doty (Royalton) won by 76 votes against Republican opponent Mike LeMieur.

Constitutional Amendment to Raise State Sales Tax for the Environment and Arts Funding

Voters approved a constitutional amendment that will increase the state sales tax to fund outdoor, environmental and arts and other cultural programs.

As a result of the amendment's passing, the State will begin collecting an additional 0.375 percent in state sales tax beginning July 1, 2009, and continuing into 2034. The revenue generated by the tax increase will raise an estimated $274 million in 2011. The revenues collected from this additional sales tax will be allocated as follows to four separate funds targeting specific purposes:

• Outdoor Heritage Fund (33 percent of revenues)
• Clean Water Fund (33 percent of revenues)
• Parks and Trails Fund (14.25 percent of revenues)
• Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (19.75 percent of revenues)

At this point, only one fund has a specified mechanism for allocating the revenues: The Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council, which was also established by legislation in 2008, is charged with making recommendations to the Legislature about how the revenues earmarked for the Outdoor Heritage Fund should be spent. The other three funds have no similar mechanism. The environment and finance committees and the committees dealing with the Minnesota State Arts Board are the likely avenues for decision-making on expenditures, although separate councils could be established to make recommendations for the use of the remaining three funds as well.

The passage of this amendment may be due in part to its placement on the ballot—on the first page, rather than buried on the second page after the judge's races (which lots of voters traditionally ignore). Secretary of State Mark Ritchie had discretion regarding where to place the amendment on the ballot.

This is the second time in recent years that voters have approved a ballot question dealing with sales tax revenues dedicated for public projects. Minnesota voters passed a constitutional amendment on transportation funding in November 2006 that called for dedication of existing sales tax revenues on motor vehicles for state highways, local roads and public transit, phased in over five years.

Is this a signal of things to come? Given the successful passage of these first two amendments, legislators may send additional difficult funding decisions and tax hikes to the ballot for voter approval.

Conclusion

While the 2008 elections put a Democrat in the White House, they did not significantly change the political landscape in Minnesota. Without a veto-proof majority in the Minnesota House, DFLers in the Legislature pose no greater obstacle to Governor Pawlenty than they did in the last session.

For a closer look at what the 2009 session of the Legislature holds, stay tuned for our session preview, coming soon.