


In the 2020 Senate race for MN Senate seat, Tina Smith (D) won with 48.7% of the vote, defeating Jason Lewis (R) who received 43.5%. 3 additional candidates split the remaining vote. Tina Smith's 5.2-point lead over the runner-up showed solid but not overwhelming support.
This was an open-seat race with no incumbent running — Al Franken (D) previously held the seat. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. The 2020 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket. This seat will likely stay on party watch lists as potentially competitive in future cycles.
In the 2018 Senate race for MN Senate seat, Tina Smith (D) won with 26.4% of the vote, defeating Karin Housley (R) who received 21.1%. 2 additional candidates split the remaining vote. Tina Smith's 5.3-point lead over the runner-up showed solid but not overwhelming support.
This was an open-seat race with no incumbent running — Al Franken (D) previously held the seat. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. As a Democrat, Tina Smith benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Republican in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats.