Walz Re-elected, Senate Flips to DFL Control

November 10, 2022

Democrats were the big winners in Tuesday’s election, including flipping control of the Senate from a Republican to Democratic majority, and the election of three DFL physicians - Matt Klein, MD, Kelly Morrison, MD, and Alice Mann, MD.  

Sen. Klein was reelected to a third term in the Senate, with Senator-Elect Morrison, and Senator-Elect Mann making the switch to the Senate. 

What some are calling a “blue wave,” DFLers won control of the governorship, the Senate and the House of Representatives.  

Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov Peggy Flanagan were elected to serve a second term. The other constitutional offices remained with DFL incumbents - Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Secretary of State Steve Simon and State Auditor Julie Blaha. 

The DFL won a majority in the Minnesota Senate for the first time since 2014 with a single vote DFL majority (34 DFL, 33 R). Republicans have been in control since 2016.  

DFLers maintained a majority in the Minnesota House of Representatives, but their majority is also very slim.  As this goes to print, they hold a 70-64 majority, with two Republican seats with such close margins that they will have an automatic recount.  

The DFL’s flipping control of the state Senate breaks Minnesota’s four-year streak of a divided Legislature.  

The 93rd Minnesota Legislature convenes on January 3, 2023. DFLers, who now hold “the trifecta” of power, will be charged with approving a state budget with a likely $9+ billion budget surplus before adjourning on May 22. 

NOTE: Voting numbers referenced are accurate as of the writing of this article. They are subject to future updating, per the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Updated election results can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.