2014 Minnesota Secretary of State election

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

2014 Minnesota Secretary of State election

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Nominee Steve Simon Dan Severson Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Popular vote 901,450 879,022 Percentage 47.04% 45.87%

County results Congressional district results Precinct results 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)

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

• Rachel Bohman, former Hennepin County elections manager^[6]
• Debra Hilstrom, state representative^[7]
• Jeremy Kalin, former state representative^[8]

Declined

• Roger Reinert, state senator^[9]
• Mark Ritchie, incumbent secretary of state^[1]
• Ryan Winkler, state representative^[10]

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

• Dan Severson, former state representative, nominee for secretary of state in 2010 and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012^[13]

Withdrew

• John Howe, former state senator^[14]
• Dennis Nguyen, investment executive^[15][16]

Declined

• Ted Daley, former state senator^[15]
• Pat Garofalo, state representative^[1]
• Kent Kaiser, professor at Northwestern College^[1]
• Mary Kiffmeyer, state senator and former secretary of State^[17]
• Joyce Peppin, state representative^[1]

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

• 2014 Minnesota elections