2014 Minnesota State Auditor election

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

2014 Minnesota State Auditor election

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Nominee Rebecca Otto Randy Gilbert Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Popular vote 988,102 766,814 Percentage 51.51% 39.98%

County results Congressional district results Precinct results Otto:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Gilbert:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Dean:      40–50% Tie:      30–40%      40–50%      50%      No votes

State Auditor before election Rebecca Otto Democratic (DFL) Elected State Auditor Rebecca Otto Democratic (DFL)

Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor State Auditor Rebecca Otto ran for re-election to a third term in office. Primary elections were held on August 12, 2014. The Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) renominated Otto, the Republican Party nominated former Long Lake Mayor Randy Gilbert and the Independence Party nominated business owner Pat Dean.

Otto defeated Gilbert in the general election by a significant margin.

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

The Democratic–Farmer–Labor endorsement was made on May 31, 2014. Incumbent Rebecca Otto won the endorsement unopposed.^[1]

Former Minority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives Matt Entenza filed to run on June 3, 2014, less than an hour before the filing deadline. His surprise entrance into the race encountered criticism from prominent DFLers.^[2][3][4]

Candidates

Declared

• Matt Entenza, former Minority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives and candidate for Governor in 2010^[3]
• Rebecca Otto, incumbent State Auditor (party endorsed)^[5]

Results

Democratic primary election results^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Rebecca Otto (incumbent)	149,628	80.93
	Democratic (DFL)	Matt Entenza	35,258	19.07
Total votes			184,886	100

Republican primary

The Republican endorsement was made on May 30, 2014. Former mayor of Long Lake Randy Gilbert, who was a candidate for State Auditor in 2010, won the endorsement unopposed.^[7][8]

Candidates

Nominee

• Randy Gilbert, former mayor of Long Lake and candidate for State Auditor in 2010 (party endorsed)^[9]

Results

Republican primary election results^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Randy Gilbert	147,570	100
Total votes			147,570	100

Independence primary

The Independence Party endorsement was made on May 17, 2014. Pat Dean won the endorsement unopposed.^[10]

Candidates

Nominee

• Pat Dean, business owner (party endorsed)^[11]

Results

Independence primary election results^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independence	Patrick Dean	5,500	100
Total votes			5,500	100

General election

Candidates

• Rebecca Otto (DFL), incumbent State Auditor
• Randy Gilbert (Republican), former mayor of Long Lake and candidate for State Auditor in 2010
• Pat Dean (Independence), business owner
• Judith Schwartzbacker (Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis)^[12]
• Keegan Iversen (Libertarian), former member of the Minnesota Air National Guard and Iraq War veteran^[13][14][15]

Results

Minnesota State Auditor election, 2014^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic (DFL)	Rebecca Otto (incumbent)	988,102	51.51%	+3.12%
	Republican	Randy Gilbert	766,814	39.98%	−7.15%
	Independence	Pat Dean	76,845	4.01%	N/A
	Grassroots	Judith Schwartzbacker	55,132	2.87%	+1.12%
	Libertarian	Keegan Iversen	30,397	1.58%	N/A
	Write-in		800	0.04%	-0.02%
Total votes			1,918,090	100.0%
	Democratic (DFL) hold

Results by congressional district

Otto won six of eight congressional districts, including two that elected Republicans, with the remaining two going to Gilbert, including one that elected a Democrat.^[17]

District	Otto	Gilbert	Representative
1st	45.2%	44.9%	Tim Walz
2nd	49%	43%	John Kline
3rd	48%	45%	Erik Paulsen
4th	60%	31%	Betty McCollum
5th	70%	21%	Keith Ellison
6th	43%	49%	Tom Emmer
7th	45%	46%	Collin Peterson
8th	52%	40%	Rick Nolan

See also

• Minnesota elections, 2014