Record participation, including early ballots
The new total exceeded the 2.6 million votes recorded in Minnesota's 2018 midterms, according to the Secretary of State's Office. Turnout in the 2024 presidential election was higher, at 3.2 million votes.
Minnesota also set a non-presidential-year record for voting before Election Day. By 7 a.m. on Nov. 4, 2026, local officials had accepted 983,558 absentee or mail ballots: 699,815 cast in person and 283,743 returned by mail, CBS Minnesota reported, citing the Secretary of State's Office.
The state estimated its voting-eligible population at 4,404,656 for the 2026 election. At 7 a.m. on Election Day, 3,927,588 people were registered, according to figures from the Secretary of State's Office reported by FOX 9.
"Minnesota has once again made history for voter participation," Secretary of State Steve Simon said in a statement. "This is a victory for every Minnesotan who showed up during the voting period to take part in our shared democracy."
Simon also recognized the people who administered the election. "Credit is also due to dedicated local election officials and to the more than 30,000 Minnesotans who stepped up to serve as election workers," he said. "Without their efforts, elections simply would not happen."
Minnesota's place in the national turnout figures
Six states reached turnout rates of at least 60%, the Election Lab calculated. Maine ranked second behind Minnesota at 65.8%, followed by Michigan at 63.6%, Colorado at 61.8%, Oregon at 61.7% and Wisconsin at 60.3%.
Nationally, preliminary Election Lab figures showed about 124 million voters participated in the 2026 midterms, compared with 112 million in 2022 and 118.6 million in 2018. A WLWT analysis published Nov. 4, 2026, reported those figures and a preliminary national turnout rate of about 63%.
Statewide winners and results awaiting certification
Democrat Amy Klobuchar became the first woman elected governor of Minnesota, winning 1,569,094 votes, or 55.47%. Republican Lisa Demuth received 1,205,788 votes, or 42.63%, according to state figures reported by FOX 9.
In the contest for the open U.S. Senate seat vacated by Tina Smith, Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan defeated Republican Michele Tafoya. With 99% of votes counted, Flanagan had 1,520,299 votes, or 53.7%, to Tafoya's 1,232,683, or 43.6%, FOX 9 reported.
Simon, a DFLer who took office in 2015, secured a fourth term as secretary of state. State figures reported by FOX 9 showed him with 1,528,571 votes, or 54.7%, while Republican challenger Tad Jude had 1,167,898 votes, or 41.8%.
Minnesota's DFL also regained a governing "trifecta," with control of the governor's office and both legislative chambers, according to FOX 9. The party's previous trifecta began with the 2022 election and was broken up in 2024.
A close congressional contest could face a recount. In Minnesota's First Congressional District, the margin between Republican U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad and Democrat Jake Johnson qualifies for a publicly funded recount, the Star Tribune reported.
Results for state and federal offices remain unofficial pending certification by the Minnesota State Canvassing Board, which is scheduled to meet Nov. 19, 2026, according to FOX 9.
