2014 Minnesota Secretary of State election

2014 Minnesota Secretary of State election
← 2010 November 4, 2014 2018 →
 
Nominee Steve Simon Dan Severson
Party Democratic (DFL) Republican
Popular vote 901,450 879,022
Percentage 47.04% 45.87%
Simon:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Severson:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      20–30%      30–40%      40–50%      50%
     No votes
Secretary of State before election

Mark Ritchie
Democratic (DFL)

Elected Secretary of State

Steve Simon
Democratic (DFL)

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The 2014 Minnesota Secretary of State election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor Secretary of State Mark Ritchie did not run for re-election to a third term in office.[1] Primary elections were held on August 12, 2014. The Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) nominated State Representative Steve Simon, the Republican Party nominated State Representative Dan Severson and the Independence Party nominated business process analyst Bob Helland.

Simon narrowly defeated Severson in the general election.

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

The Democratic–Farmer–Labor endorsement was made on May 31, 2014. State Representative Steve Simon was endorsed by acclamation over fellow State Representative Debra Hilstrom, who conceded before the results of the first ballot were announced and withdrew from the race.[2]

Candidates

Declared

  • Dick Franson, perennial candidate[3]
  • Gregg Iverson[4]
  • Steve Simon, state representative (party endorsed)[5]

Withdrew

Declined

Results

Democratic primary election results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Steve Simon 65,634 42.67
Democratic (DFL) Dick Franson 44,700 29.06
Democratic (DFL) Gregg Iverson 43,478 28.27
Total votes 153,812 100

Republican primary

The Republican endorsement was made on May 30, 2014. Former state representative Dan Severson, the Republican nominee for secretary of state in 2010, was endorsed after one ballot when former state senator John Howe withdrew his name from consideration.[12]

Candidates

Declared

Withdrew

Declined

Results

Republican primary election results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Severson 152,754 100
Total votes 152,754 100

Independence primary

The Independence Party endorsement was made on May 17, 2014. Bob Helland won the endorsement.[18]

Candidates

  • Bob Helland, business process analyst (party endorsed)[18]
  • David Singleton[4]

Results

Independence primary election results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independence Bob Helland 3,059 51.52
Independence David Singleton 2,879 48.48
Total votes 5,938 100

General election

Candidates

  • Steve Simon (DFL), state representative
  • Dan Severson (Republican), former state representative, nominee for secretary of state in 2010 and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012
  • Bob Helland (Independence), business process analyst
  • Bob Odden (Libertarian)[4]

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Steve
Simon (DFL) 		Dan
Severson (R) 		Bob
Helland (IP)
Gravis Marketing[19] July 2–3, 2014 879 ± 3% 46% 41% 14%

Results

Minnesota Secretary of State election, 2014[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Steve Simon 901,450 47.04% −2.06%
Republican Dan Severson 879,022 45.87% +0.23%
Independence Bob Helland 94,065 4.91% −0.28%
Libertarian Bob Odden 40,729 2.13% N/A
Write-in 1,134 0.06% -0.01%
Total votes 1,916,400 100.0%
Democratic (DFL) hold

Results by congressional district

Despite losing the state, Severson won 5 of 8 congressional districts, including two that elected Democrats.[21]

District Simon Severson Representative
1st 42% 50% Tim Walz
2nd 43% 50% John Kline
3rd 43% 51% Erik Paulsen
4th 56% 37% Betty McCollum
5th 69% 24% Keith Ellison
6th 36% 57% Tom Emmer
7th 40% 52% Collin Peterson
8th 48% 45% Rick Nolan

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Stassen-Berger, Rachel E. (June 4, 2013). "Secretary of State Ritchie won't run again". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  2. ^ "DFLers endorse Dayton, Franken for 2nd terms". Associated Press. June 2, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  3. ^ Salibsury, Bill and Doug Belden (June 3, 2014). "15 minutes before deadline, Entenza jumps into state auditor race". Pioneer Press. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "2014 State General Election Candidate Filings, Executive Offices". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  5. ^ Scheck, Tom (August 6, 2013). "Democrat Simon says he's running for secretary of state". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  6. ^ Stassen-Berger, Rachel E. (August 2, 2013). "First in, first out. DFL Secretary of State candidate ends her campaign". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  7. ^ "DFLers endorse Dayton, Franken for 2nd terms". Post-Bulletin. Associated Press. June 2, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  8. ^ Kimball, Joe (October 7, 2013). "Former state Rep. Jeremy Kalin withdraws from secretary of state race". MinnPost. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  9. ^ "Reinert out, Kalin in for Minnesota secretary of state race". Duluth News Tribune. July 9, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  10. ^ Brooks, Jennifer and Rachel E. Stassen-Berger (June 25, 2013). "Minnesota DFL Rep. Ryan Winkler tweets, deletes "Uncle Thomas" reference to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  11. ^ a b c "Statewide Results for Secretary of State, Primary Election". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  12. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (May 30, 2014). "Dan Severson wins secretary of state endorsement at Minnesota Republican convention". MinnPost. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  13. ^ Sommerhauser, Mark (March 27, 2014). "Severson plans second run at Secretary of State seat". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  14. ^ Salisbury, Bill (June 5, 2014). "John Howe withdraws from Minnesota secretary of state race". Pioneer Press. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  15. ^ a b Brucato, Cyndy (March 10, 2014). "Republican Dennis Nguyen withdraws from secretary of state race". MinnPost. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  16. ^ Carlson, Heather J. (March 10, 2014). "Candidate drops out of race after alleged strip club visit with Rochester lawmaker". Post-Bulletin. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  17. ^ Mullen, Mike (October 7, 2013). "Kalin withdraws Secretary of State candidacy". Politics in Minnesota. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  18. ^ a b Kimball, Joe (May 19, 2014). "Independence Party endorses Nicollet for governor; Terrell for U.S. Senate". MinnPost. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  19. ^ Gravis Marketing
  20. ^ "Statewide Results for Secretary of State". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  21. ^ "Home - Election Results".