Minnesota Democratic candidates have spent $5.4 million more than Republicans


In Minnesota, state-level candidates have spent $40.4 million between Jan. 1, 2021, and Oct. 24, 2022. Democratic candidates have spent $22.4 million and Republican candidates have spent $17 million. 

Minnesota Campaign Finance Snapshot (1/1/2021 – 10/24/2022)

Top 10 Democratic candidates, by expenditures (1/1/2021 – 10/24/2022)

In the 2022 election cycle, 410 state-level Democrats have filed campaign finance reports with the Minnesota Secretary of State. Here are the 10 Democratic candidates who have spent the most.

RankDemocratic CandidateTotal spent
1.Tim Walz$9,905,440.30
2.Keith Ellison$1,763,302.73
3.Steve Simon$1,170,345.02
4.Julie Blaha$272,429.52
5.Kelly Morrison$251,883.72
6.Aleta Borrud$201,379.69
7.Erin Murphy$199,787.28
8.Lauren Bresnahan$169,622.81
9.Jamie Long$157,810.02
10.Bonnie S Westlin$153,378.20

Top 10 Republican candidates, by expenditures (1/1/2021 – 10/24/2022)

During the same time period, 368 Republicans have filed campaign finance reports with the Minnesota Secretary of State. These are the 10 Republican candidates with the highest reported expenditures for the 2022 election cycle so far.

RankRepublican CandidateTotal spent
1.Scott Jensen$5,319,258.22
2.James Schultz$1,078,267.58
3.Kendall Qualls$646,219.29
4.Doug Wardlow$524,555.52
5.Ryan Wilson$441,969.13
6.Paul Gazelka$386,649.20
7.Dennis J Smith$376,890.12
8.Michelle R Benson$370,795.80
9.Kathleen Fowke$311,614.13
10.Kim Crockett$286,378.95

In some states, officeholders may make expenditures from their campaign accounts when they are not up for election. Those expenditures 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 Secretary of State. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines. State or federal law may require filers to submit additional reports.

StateReport NameDue Date
MN2022 Jan Annual1/31/2022
MN2022 Q14/14/2022
MN2022 Q26/14/2022
MN2022 Jul Semiannual7/25/2022
MN2022 Q39/27/2022
MN2022 Q410/31/2022
MN2022 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.