Walz went on to defeat Johnson by the largest margin for a DFL candidate since 1986, receiving more votes than any other gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota history. This was the first Minnesota gubernatorial election since 1958 in which any party won more than two consecutive elections, as well as the first time since 1998 where the party of the incumbent president lost.
On February 6, 2018, the DFL conducted a statewide straw poll among registered Democrats in Minnesota. Caucus-goers were scheduled to elect delegates to their party's Senate district and county conventions, which in turn will elect state convention delegates who will endorse candidates for governor, two U.S. Senate seats, attorney general, state auditor and secretary of state. Congressional district delegates will endorse U.S. House candidates. Since the straw poll the three lowest performing candidates withdrew from the race (Paul Thissen, Chris Coleman, and Tina Liebling).
^Based on an estimated number of 4,064,389 eligible voters[1]
^The Fox News Midterm Power Rankings uniquely does not contain a category for Safe/Solid races
Debates
The debate season began only three days after the primaries with Johnson and Walz participating in two debates on Friday, August 17. A third debate was held Friday, August 31.[102][103]
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^ a b c"Marco Rubio Endorses Jeff Johnson For Minnesota Gov". October 24, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
^LBTQ Victory Fund endorsed Erin Maye Quade for Lieutenant Governor "Victory Fund Endorses 16 More LGBTQ Candidates for 2018, Including Two Historic Statewide Candidates". Victory Fund. 2018-07-24. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
^ a b[email protected], Heather J. Carlson (25 September 2017). "Political Notebook: Nelson decision coming soon?". Retrieved 22 May 2018.
^ a b c d"Congressman Collin Peterson and R.T. Rybak Support Tim!". Tim Walz for Governor. April 4, 2017. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
^ a b"Tim Walz". facebook.com. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
^ a bJacob Frey. "After I sat down with @Tim_Walz & @peggyflanagan months ago to talk about the election, I knew who I wanted to lead Minnesota. I'm THRILLED that they're leading our ticket. I can't wait for them to win in November & I can't wait to have such strong allies in the Governor's office". Twitter.
^ a bFue Lee. "Kicking off the Weekend of Action for the @Tim_Walz-@peggyflanagan Campaign at the @MinnesotaDFL North Minneapolis Office. Thank you @MNSteveSimon for the opening #OneMinnesota #MNVotesEarly #BeAVoter". Twitter.
^ a b"Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
^"Our View / Endorsement: DFLers have a leader in Walz". Duluth News Tribune. August 2, 2018.
^ a b"Education Minnesota Endorses Tim Walz For Governor". Tim Walz for Governor. May 19, 2018. Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
^ a b"Operating Engineers Local 49 Endorses Tim Walz For Governor!". Tim Walz for Governor. February 6, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
^ a b"LiUNA! Minnesota and North Dakota Endorses Tim Walz For Governor!". Tim Walz for Governor. February 8, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
^ a b"Sheet Metal Workers Local 10 Union Endorses Tim Walz For Governor & Peggy Flanagan for Lt. Governor". Tim Walz for Governor. February 12, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
^ a b"Teamsters Joint Council 32 Endorses Tim Walz For Minnesota Governor!". Tim Walz for Governor. February 28, 2018. Archived from the original on April 11, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
^ a b"MAPE Endorses Tim Walz For Governor!". Tim Walz for Governor. April 3, 2018. Archived from the original on April 11, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
^ a b"AFGE Endorses Minnesota's Tim Walz for Governor". Tim Walz for Governor. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
^Tim Holden and Olé Savior with 0%, other 1%
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^Van Berkel, Jessie (May 14, 2018). "Jeff Johnson picks Donna Bergstrom as running mate in governor's race". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
^Coolican, J. Patrick (April 5, 2018). "Tim Pawlenty makes it official: He's running for governor again". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
^Coolican, J Patrick (May 31, 2018). "Pawlenty picks Fischbach as running mate". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
^Morris, William (March 21, 2017). "Former Medford man launches run for governor". Owatonna People's Press. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
^"Woodbury mayor files to run for governor as Republican". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Archived from the original on 2017-11-30. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
^"GOP endorses Jeff Johnson for Governor". Kare 11. June 2, 2018.
^"Giuliani Stephens names Backer to ticket in GOP governor bid". Star Tribune. May 2, 2018. Archived from the original on May 5, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
^Lease, Lawrence (December 31, 2016). "MN native Christopher Chamberlin running for governor in 2018". News Record. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
^Pugmire, Tim (December 7, 2017). "As Dayton weighs Franken replacement, who may run in 2018?". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
^The Associated Press, "Republican Matt Dean Is No Longer Running For Governor", WCCO, January 25, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^Stassen-Berger, Rachel E. (July 24, 2017). "Keith Downey, former GOP chair, is running for governor with the message: 'I believe in you.'". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
^Salisbury, Bill (April 18, 2018). "Keith Downey, former MN GOP chairman, drops out of governor's race". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
^"Ramsey County Commissioner Blake Huffman to run for governor". St. Paul Pioneer Press. April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
^Stassen-Berger, Rachel E. (September 3, 2017). "Ramsey County's Blake Huffman withdraws from race for MN governor". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
^The Associated Press (January 8, 2018). "David Osmek says his campaign for Minnesota governor is over". twincities.com. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
^Coolican, J. Patrick (February 18, 2017). "Rep. Sarah Anderson: A name for the 2018 statewide mix?". Star Tribune. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
^Montgomery, David (July 19, 2017). "Michele Bachmann warns about 'radical Islam'". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
^ a b c d e fLopez, Ricardo (November 29, 2014). "Handicapping the next race for governor: The Republicans". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
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^"Pillow mogul Mike Lindell denies report he is considering run for governor". Star Tribune. January 17, 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
^Carlson, Heather J. (June 7, 2017). "Miller out, but plenty of other GOPers mull 1st District bids". Post-Bulletin. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
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^"State Rep. Josh Heintzeman endorses Pawlenty-Fischbach for Governor/Lt. Governor". Tim Pawlenty for Governor. June 25, 2018.[permanent dead link]
^Tim Pawlenty for Governor. "It's great to see one of our supporters, @SenatorJasinski, out promoting the Pawlenty-Fischbach ticket in Faribault! Don't forget to vote on Tuesday, August 14th! 🇺🇸 #mngov". Twitter.
^ a b"Two former GOP Speakers of the Minnesota House endorse Pawlenty and Fischbach". Tim Pawlenty for Governor. June 11, 2018.[permanent dead link]
^"Housing First Minnesota Endorses Tim Pawlenty for Governor". Housing First Minnesota. May 31, 2018.[permanent dead link]
^"Associated Builders and Contractors Endorses Tim Pawlenty for Governor". Tim Pawlenty for Governor. June 28, 2018.[permanent dead link]
^"Minnesota Chamber Leadership Fund PAC endorses Pawlenty for governor". Tim Pawlenty for Governor. July 2, 2018.[permanent dead link]
^Minnesota College Republicans. "MNCRs endorse @TPaw2018 for Governor!". Twitter.
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^ a b"Johnson, Walz spar at State Fair governor's debate". August 31, 2018.
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^"Almanac | Jeff Johnson + Tim Walz in the first post-primary TV debate | Season 2018 | Episode 48".
^Donald J. Trump. "Jeff Johnson of Minnesota had a big night in winning the Republican nomination for Governor against a very strong and well known opponent! Thanks for all of the support you showed me. You have my complete and total Endorsement. You will win in November!". Twitter.
^Michael R. Pence. "CONGRATS to @MNJeffJohnson & @PeteStauber on their primary victories in Minnesota last night. They are the kind of strong leaders we need supporting @realDonaldTrump's agenda!". Twitter.
^Tom Emmer. "Congratulations to @MNJeffJohnson and @doug_wardlow on their primary wins. Look forward to working with the entire @mngop ticket to #TurnMNRed this November". Twitter.
^"Former Lt. Gov. snubs old boss Tim Pawlenty, endorses Jeff Johnson". 4 May 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
^"Republican race for governor: Matt Dean drops out, throws support behind Jeff Johnson", Twin Cities Pioneer Press, January 25, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^Tim Pawlenty. "Although the primary results were not what I had hoped, I have no regrets about the run. Am so grateful for Mary, my campaign team, supporters and friends for the great help and support. I wish @MNJeffJohnson the best as he strives to become MN's next Governor. Support him!". Twitter.
^Jeff Johnson. "I'm so proud to have the support of my friend, Gov. Al Quie. He just turned 95, is sharp as a tack and wears his button with pride wherever he goes. God bless you, Al". Twitter.
^Michelle Benson. "Update on @Tim_Walz government health care plan. @MNJeffJohnson is correct, it is not good for hospitals. #MNGov". Twitter.
^Mike Lindell. ".@MNJeffJohnson for MN Governor! #voteAugust14th". Twitter.
^Jeff Johnson. "FARMER ENDORSED. Our campaign is proud to have the endorsement of @MNFarmBureau MN Farmers are the people who move our state forward & help nourish our entire country. We're beyond excited to represent them come November! #OverthrowTheStatusQuo #MNGov". Twitter.
^"Job Creators Strongly Support Jeff Johnson for Minnesota Governor". NFIB. September 25, 2018.
^Smith, Kelly (October 16, 2018). "Minneapolis police union endorses Republican Jeff Johnson for Minnesota governor". Star Tribune.
^Barack Obama. "Today, I'm proud to endorse even more Democratic candidates who aren't just running against something, but for something—to expand opportunity for all of us and to restore dignity, honor, and compassion to public service. They deserve your vote". Twitter.
^Amy Klobuchar. "Great event at @HoopsBrewing in Duluth for my friend @Tim_Walz with a big crowd of supporters. Tim is standing up for Minnesota values and for our future. Looking forward to seeing him and @peggyflanagan win in November!". Twitter.
^Tina Smith. "I am SO excited to see the incredible turnout everywhere @Tim_Walz and I go. We are hopeful. We have the momentum. And we are not taking ANYTHING for granted over the next 38 days. #OneMinnesota". Twitter.
^News Tribune (12 March 2018). "Nolan endorses Walz for Minnesota governor". Duluth News Tribune.
^Eric Garcetti. "Kicking off #EGinMN at the @MinnesotaDFL Founders' Day Dinner listening to @Tim_Walz -- a teacher and coach, veteran and congressman. Fired up by his speech, inspired by the leader he'll be for Minnesota". Twitter.
^Jennifer Shultz. "Looking good, Duluth! TY @amyklobuchar, @Tim_Walz & @TonyLourey for visiting with us". Twitter.
^"IFO Endorses Tim Walz For Governor!". Tim Walz for Governor. September 28, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
^ a b cChris Wright (GLC) with 2%
^Chris Wright (GLC) with 4%
^Chris Wright (GLC) with 1%
^"Minnesota Secretary of State - 2018 General Election Results". Archived from the original on 2020-04-10. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
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