1982 United States Senate election in Minnesota

The 1982 United States Senate election in Minnesota was held on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator David Durenberger was reelected to a second term (his first full term) over DFL nominee Mark Dayton.^[1]

1982 United States Senate election in Minnesota

← 1978 (special) November 2, 1982 1988 →

Nominee David Durenberger Mark Dayton Party Ind.-Republican Democratic (DFL) Popular vote 949,207 840,401 Percentage 52.60% 46.57%

County results Durenberger:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Dayton:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election David Durenberger Ind.-Republican Elected U.S. Senator David Durenberger Ind.-Republican

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Candidates

• William A. Branstner
• Mark Dayton, businessman
• Eugene McCarthy, former U.S. Senator
• Charles E. Pearson

Results

Democratic primary election results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Mark Dayton	359,014	69.06%
	Democratic (DFL)	Eugene McCarthy	125,229	24.09%
	Democratic (DFL)	Charles E. Pearson	19,855	3.82%
	Democratic (DFL)	William A. Branstner	15,754	3.03%
Total votes			519,852	100.00%

Independent-Republican primary

Candidate

• David Durenberger, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Mary Jane Rachner

Results

Republican primary election results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Ind.-Republican	David Durenberger (Incumbent)	287,651	94.38%
	Ind.-Republican	Mary Jane Rachner	20,401	6.62%
Total votes			308,052	100.00%

General election

Campaign

Dayton, 35, self-financed his campaign. Married to a Rockefeller and heir to a department store, his net worth was an estimated $30 million. Durenberger won the special election to finish the term of the late Hubert Humphrey. He was considered a moderate, but supported Reagan's tax cuts. Dayton ran against Reaganomics. He has also campaigned against tax breaks for the wealthy and even promised "to close tax loopholes for the rich and the corporations—and if you think that includes the Daytons, you're right."^[3] Dayton spent over $7 million, Durenberger over $4 million.^[4]

Results

General election results^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Ind.-Republican	David Durenberger (Incumbent)	949,207	52.60%
	Democratic (DFL)	Mark Dayton	840,401	46.57%
	Socialist Workers	Bill Onasch	5,897	0.33%
	Libertarian	Frederick Hewitt	5,870	0.33%
	New Union Party	Jeffrey M. Miller	3,300	0.18%
Total votes			1,804,675	100.00%
Majority			108,806	6.03%
Turnout				67.65
	Ind.-Republican hold

See also

• 1982 United States Senate elections