Minnesota Democratic candidates have raised $2.2 million more than Republicans


In Minnesota, state-level candidates have raised $33 million between Jan. 1, 2021, and Sept. 20, 2022. Democratic candidates have raised $17.1 million and Republican candidates have raised $14.9 million. 

Minnesota Campaign Finance Snapshot (1/1/2021 – 9/20/2022)

Top 10 Democratic candidates, by donations (1/1/2021 – 9/20/2022)

In the 2022 election cycle, 404 state-level Democrats have filed campaign finance reports with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. Here are the 10 Democratic candidates who have raised the most.

RankDemocratic CandidateTotal Raised
1.Tim Walz$8,048,831.64
2.Keith Ellison$1,537,647.31
3.Steve Simon$1,200,249.96
4.Julie Blaha$295,194.30
5.Kelly Morrison$245,776.17
6.Lauren Bresnahan$127,995.30
7.Aleta Borrud$117,888.14
8.Melissa A Hortman$102,676.67
9.Dan Wolgamott$102,674.71
10.Grant Hauschild$100,655.21

Top 10 Republican candidates, by donations (1/1/2021 – 9/20/2022)

During the same time period, 361 Republicans have filed campaign finance reports with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. These are the 10 Republican candidates with the highest reported donations for the 2022 election cycle so far.

RankRepublican CandidateTotal Raised
1.Scott Jensen$4,835,444.27
2.Dennis J Smith$1,021,833.05
3.James Schultz$884,749.98
4.Paul Gazelka$693,380.50
5.Kendall Qualls$678,493.77
6.Doug Wardlow$516,963.24
7.Ryan Wilson$351,285.03
8.Michelle R Benson$305,876.01
9.Dr Shah Neil$303,398.22
10.Kathleen Fowke$192,652.00

In some states, officeholders may accept donations to their campaign accounts when they are not up for election. Those donations are included in candidate campaign finance numbers.

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active Minnesota candidate PACs submitted to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines. State or federal law may require filers to submit additional reports.

Report NameReport Due Date
2022 Jan Annual1/31/2022
2022 First Report4/14/2022
2022 Second Report6/14/2022
2022 Third Report7/25/2022
9/27/2022
2022 Fourth Report
2022 Fifth Report10/31/2022
2022 Jan Annual1/31/2023

This article is a joint publication from Ballotpedia and Transparency USA, who are working together to provide campaign finance information for state-level elections. Learn more about our work here.