Tagminnesota

In Minnesota politics, state-level candidates and political action committees have received $229.1 million in total contributions between Jan. 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2022. The 10 largest contributors gave more than $12.5 million, or 5 percent of all contributions.

These are the top 10 individual contributors to Minnesota state-level candidates and committees in the 2022 election cycle, according to campaign finance reports submitted to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board:

Top 10 Minnesota Contributors (1/1/2021 – 12/31/2022)

The list of Minnesota contributors in this time period includes more than 643 individuals identified by name in the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board’s public records.

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active Minnesota committees submitted to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. Political expenditures that are not controlled by candidates or their campaigns, known as satellite spending, are not included in candidate totals. Federal committees are not required to report to state agencies. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

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.

Campaign finance requirements govern how much money candidates may receive from individuals and organizations, how often they must report those contributions, and how much individuals, organizations, and political entities may contribute to campaigns.

While campaign finance is not the only factor in electoral outcomes, successful fundraising can provide a candidate with advantages during a campaign. Fundraising can also indicate party momentum.

This article lists top fundraisers among Minnesota statewide officeholders and candidates, overall and by party. It is based on campaign finance reports that officeholders in and candidates for statewide elected offices submitted to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. It includes activity between July 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2022.

Statewide political positions are typically offices in the executive and judicial branches of government rather than the legislative, and they most often represent all citizens in the state, rather than those in a particular district.

Top Minnesota statewide fundraisers by party

The top fundraisers among Minnesota statewide officeholders and candidates are shown below. Individuals are presented with the office that they were on the ballot for in 2022, if applicable. If no office is indicated, the person was an incumbent and was not on the ballot in 2022.

In the Democratic Party, the top fundraisers in the most recent semiannual reporting period were:

• Tim Walz (Governor) – $2,628,236
• Keith Ellison (Attorney General) – $731,724
• Steve Simon (Secretary of State) – $547,110
• Julie Blaha (State Auditor) – $105,796

In the Republican Party, the top fundraisers in the most recent semiannual reporting period were:

• Scott Jensen (Governor) – $2,259,762
• Jim Schultz (Attorney General) – $807,330
• Ryan Wilson (State Auditor) – $336,637
• Kim Crockett (Secretary of State) – $167,627
• Doug Wardlow (Attorney General) – $28,693

Fundraising totals

Overall, Democratic officeholders and candidates raised $4.0 million in this period. Republican officeholders and candidates raised $3.6 million. Combined, all statewide officeholders and candidates in the July 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022, filing period raised $7.6 million.

These were the only Democratic statewide executive fundraisers during this reporting period. These were the only Republican statewide executive fundraisers during this reporting period.

The table below provides additional data from the campaign finance reports from the top 10 fundraisers during this period.

Campaign finance reporting periods

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that candidate committees submitted to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. Candidate committees represent individuals who have run for state or local office at any point, including past and present officeholders. This article does not include non-candidate committees. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

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.

Campaign finance requirements govern how much money candidates may receive from individuals and organizations, how often they must report those contributions, and how much individuals, organizations, and political entities may contribute to campaigns.

While campaign finance is not the only factor in electoral outcomes, successful fundraising can provide a candidate with advantages during a campaign. Fundraising can also indicate party momentum.

This article lists top fundraisers in the Minnesota House of Representatives, overall and by party. It is based on campaign finance reports that officeholders in and candidates for the House submitted to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. It includes activity between July 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2022.

Top fundraisers in the Minnesota House of Representatives by party

The top fundraisers in Minnesota House of Representatives elections are shown below. Individuals are presented with the office that they were on the ballot for in 2022, if applicable.

In the Democratic Party, the top fundraisers in the most recent semiannual reporting period were:

• Samakab Hussein (District 65A) – $70,600
• Lauren Bresnahan (District 45A) – $46,265
• Ethan Cha (District 47B) – $42,113
• Lucille Rehm (District 48B) – $35,834
• Kristi Pursell (District 58A) – $28,831

In the Republican Party, the top fundraisers in the most recent semiannual reporting period were:

• Jackie Schroeder (District 42B) – $57,941
• Thomas Knecht (District 49B) – $48,300
• Kurt Daudt (District 27B) – $38,200
• John Heinrich (District 35A) – $33,750
• Mark Bishofsky (District 33B) – $28,735

Fundraising totals

Overall, Democratic officeholders and candidates raised $1.4 million in this period. Republican officeholders and candidates raised $1.3 million. Combined, all House fundraisers in the July 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022, filing period raised $2.7 million.

The five largest Democratic fundraisers were responsible for 16 percent of all Democratic House fundraising. The five largest Republican fundraisers were responsible for 16 percent of all Republican House fundraising.

The table below provides additional data from the campaign finance reports from the top 10 fundraisers during this period.

Campaign finance reporting periods

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that candidate committees submitted to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. Candidate committees represent individuals who have run for state or local office at any point, including past and present officeholders. This article does not include non-candidate committees. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

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.

Elections for all 67 seats in the Minnesota State Senate took place on Nov. 8, 2022. Republicans held a 34-31-1 majority heading into the election.

This article details the five candidates who raised the most money and lost their election. In the 2022 election cycle, 59 of 67 general elections were contested. The losing candidates are shown along with the percentage of the vote they received compared to the winner. In cases where the race was pushed to a runoff, vote percentages for both advancing candidates are included.

State Senate candidates who raised the most money and lost their general election

This information comes from candidate reports to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board covering the period of Jan. 1, 2021, through Oct. 24, 2022.

The candidates who raised the most money and lost their election were:

• Kathleen Fowke – $355,694 – District 45 (Lost general 44% – 56%)
• Aleta Borrud – $169,846 – District 24 (Lost general 42% – 58%)
• Doug Fulton – $158,200 – District 50 (Lost general 37% – 63%)
• Tom Dippel – $134,483 – District 41 (Lost general 50% – 50%)
• Kari Rehrauer – $122,987 – District 35 (Lost general 50% – 50%)

State Senate candidates who raised the most money and lost their general election last cycle

This information comes from candidate reports to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board covering the period of Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 31, 2020.

The candidates who raised the most money and lost their election were:

• Aleta Borrud – $242,648 – District 26 (Lost general 49% – 51%)
• Bonnie Westlin – $209,649 – District 34 (Lost general 49% – 51%)
• Gretchen Piper – $197,852 – District 33 (Lost general 46% – 54%)
• Rita Albrecht – $151,905 – District 5 (Lost general 37% – 56%)
• Matt Little – $149,162 – District 58 (Lost general 45% – 55%)

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active Minnesota PACs submitted to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. Political expenditures that are not controlled by candidates or their campaigns, known as satellite spending, are not included in candidate totals. Federal PACs are not required to report to state agencies. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

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.

Elections for all 134 seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives took place on Nov. 8, 2022. Democrats held a 69-63-1 majority heading into the election.

This article details the five candidates who raised the most money and lost their election. In the 2022 election cycle, 119 of 134 general elections were contested. The losing candidates are shown along with the percentage of the vote they received compared to the winner. In cases where the race was pushed to a runoff, vote percentages for both advancing candidates are included.

House candidates who raised the most money and lost their general election

This information comes from candidate reports to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board covering the period of Jan. 1, 2021, through Oc. 24, 2022.

The candidates who raised the most money and lost their election were:

• Lauren Bresnahan – $175,224 – District 45A (Lost general 47% – 53%)
• Erik Mortensen – $121,912 – District 54A (Lost general 44% – 52%)
• Thomas Knecht – $90,262 – District 49B (Lost general 42% – 58%)
• Matt Norri – $90,144 – District 7B (Lost general 49% – 51%)
• Mark Bishofsky – $79,976 – District 33B (Lost general 46% – 54%)

House candidates who raised the most money and lost their general election last cycle

This information comes from candidate reports to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board covering the period of Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 31, 2020.

The candidates who raised the most money and lost their election were:

• Pam Myhra – $88,698 – District 56A (Lost general 48% – 52%)
• Andrew Myers – $86,801 – District 33B (Lost general 49% – 51%)
• Kelsey Waits – $79,920 – District 54B (Lost general 46% – 54%)
• Roz Peterson – $74,800 – District 56B (Lost general 48% – 52%)
• Amir Malik – $74,408 – District 37B (Lost general 48% – 52%)

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active Minnesota PACs submitted to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. Political expenditures that are not controlled by candidates or their campaigns, known as satellite spending, are not included in candidate totals. Federal PACs are not required to report to state agencies. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

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.

Elections for all 67 seats in the Minnesota State Senate took place on Nov. 8, 2022. Republicans held a 34-31-1 majority heading into the election.

Committee chair fundraising

State legislative committee chairs set a committee’s legislative agenda. Some committee chairs raise significantly more money than their non-chair counterparts in the state legislature. The average amount raised by delegates who did not serve as a committee chair was $64,398. The funds raised by each of the State Senate’s 26 committee chairs are shown below.

• Aging and Long-Term Care Policy Committee – Karin Housley – $105,721
• Agriculture and Rural Development Finance and Policy Committee – Torrey Westrom – $102,710
• Civil Law and Data Practices Policy Committee – Andrew Mathews – $54,737
• Driver and Vehicle Systems Oversight Committee – Scott Newman – $13,904
• Education Finance and Policy Committee – Roger Chamberlain – $96,925
• Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy Committee – David Senjem – $26,025
• Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee – Bill Ingebrigtsen – $20,950
• Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance Committee – Carrie Ruud – $13,290
• Finance Committee – Julie Rosen – $16,402
• Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee – Michelle Benson – $306,029
• Human Services Licensing Policy Committee – Paul Utke – $63,030
• Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee – Jim Abeler – $109,930
• Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy Committee – Eric Pratt – $89,954
• Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee – Warren Limmer – $72,071
• Labor and Industry Policy Committee – Jason Rarick – $52,042
• Local Government Policy Committee – John Jasinski – $65,925
• Mining and Forestry Policy Committee – Justin Eichorn – $70,586
• MNsure Legislative Oversight Committee – Michelle Benson – $306,029
• Rules and Administration Committee – Paul Gazelka – $693,381
• Senate Capital Investment Committee – Thomas Bakk – $78,468
• Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee – Gary Dahms – $115,276
• Senate Housing Finance and Policy Committee – Rich Draheim – $22,518
• Senate Redistricting Committee – Mark Johnson – $77,292
• Senate Taxes Committee – Carla Nelson – $97,053
• Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee – Scott Newman – $13,904
• State Government Finance and Policy and Elections Committee – Mary Kiffmeyer – $22,135
• Technology and Reform Policy Committee – Mark Koran – $37,404
• Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee – Andrew Lang – $43,641

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active Minnesota PACs submitted to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. Political expenditures that are not controlled by candidates or their campaigns, known as satellite spending, are not included in candidate totals. Federal PACs are not required to report to state agencies. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

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.

Elections for all 134 seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives took place on Nov. 8, 2022. Democrats held a 69-63-1 majority heading into the election.

Committee chair fundraising

State legislative committee chairs set a committee’s legislative agenda. Some committee chairs raise significantly more money than their non-chair counterparts in the state legislature. The average amount raised by delegates who did not serve as a committee chair was $47,485. The funds raised by each of the House’s 24 committee chairs are shown below.

• Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee – Mike Sundin – $4,600
• Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee – Jamie Long – $87,776
• Commerce Finance and Policy Committee – Zack Stephenson – $116,239
• Driver and Vehicle Systems Oversight Committee – Frank Hornstein – $7,856
• Early Childhood Finance and Policy Committee – Dave Pinto – $94,964
• Education Finance Committee – Jim Davnie – $4,675
• Education Policy Committee – Ruth Richardson – $38,520
• Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee – Rick Hansen – $73,522
• Ethics Committee – Jim Davnie – $4,675
• Health Finance and Policy Committee – Tina Liebling – $52,516
• House Capital Investment Committee – Fue Lee – $19,447
• House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee – Connie Bernardy – $27,070
• House Housing Finance and Policy Committee – Alice Hausman – $1,528
• House Redistricting Committee – Mary Murphy – $51,180
• House Taxes Committee – Paul Marquart – $6,875
• House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee – Frank Hornstein – $7,856
• Human Services Finance and Policy Committee – Jennifer Schultz – $9,470
• Industrial Education and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee – Gene Pelowski Jr. – $29,782
• Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee – Jamie Becker-Finn – $51,599
• Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee – Rob Ecklund – $97,733
• Legacy Finance Committee – Leon Lillie – $30,602
• Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy Committee – Carlos Mariani – $2,100
• Rules and Legislative Administration Committee – Ryan Winkler – $25,754
• State Government Finance and Elections Committee – Michael Nelson – $23,266
• Ways and Means Committee – Rena Moran – $13,297
• Workforce and Business Development Finance and Policy Committee – Mohamud Noor – $35,520

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active Minnesota PACs submitted to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. Political expenditures that are not controlled by candidates or their campaigns, known as satellite spending, are not included in candidate totals. Federal PACs are not required to report to state agencies. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

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.

General elections for all 67 districts in the Minnesota State Senate took place on Nov. 8, 2022. Of the 67 districts up for election in 2022, 59 had a general election with more than one candidate.

Across all contested general elections, candidates raised $8.3 million. Incumbents raised an average of $78,494 per candidate and challengers raised an average of $58,486 per candidate.

Five general elections with the most fundraising

The table below details the five general elections with the most fundraising in the State Senate. Winning candidates’ names are in bold.

The officeholders above are listed for the current districts they hold. However, this is a redistricting year, so candidates have been identified below as incumbents even if they are running in a different district than they currently hold.

#1 District 45 – $722,283

Kelly Morrison raised $366,589 and Kathleen Fowke raised $355,694.

Kelly Morrison won with 56 percent of the vote and Kathleen Fowke received 44 percent of the vote.

#2 District 3 – $268,533

Grant Hauschild raised $157,241 and Andrea Zupancich raised $111,292.

Grant Hauschild won with 51 percent of the vote and Andrea Zupancich received 49 percent of the vote.

#3 District 41 – $267,078

Tom Dippel raised $134,483 and Judy Seeberger raised $132,594.

Tom Dippel received and Judy Seeberger received.

#4 District 24 – $266,900

Incumbent Carla Nelson raised $97,053 and Aleta Borrud raised $169,846.

Carla Nelson won with 58 percent of the vote and Aleta Borrud received 42 percent of the vote.

#5 District 50 – $255,989

Doug Fulton raised $158,200 and Alice Mann raised $97,789.

Alice Mann won with 63 percent of the vote and Doug Fulton received 37 percent of the vote.

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active Minnesota PACs submitted to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. Political expenditures that are not controlled by candidates or their campaigns, known as satellite spending, are not included in candidate totals. Federal PACs are not required to report to state agencies. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

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.

General elections for all 134 districts in the Minnesota House of Representatives took place on Nov. 8, 2022. Of the 134 districts up for election in 2022, 119 had a General election with more than one candidate.

Across all contested General elections, candidates raised $8.9 million. Incumbents raised an average of $51,310 per candidate and challengers raised an average of $28,289 per candidate.

Five general elections with the most fundraising

The table below details the five General elections with the most fundraising in the House of Representatives. Winning candidates’ names are in bold.

The officeholders above are listed for the current districts they hold. However, this is a redistricting year, so candidates have been identified below as incumbents even if they are running in a different district than they currently hold.

#1 District 45A – $276,597

Lauren Bresnahan raised $175,224 and Andrew Myers raised $101,373.

Andrew Myers won with 53 percent of the vote and Lauren Bresnahan received 47 percent of the vote.

#2 District 54A – $208,455

Incumbent Erik Mortensen raised $121,912, Brad Tabke raised $86,543, and Ryan Martin raised.

Brad Tabke won with 52 percent of the vote, Erik Mortensen received 44 percent of the vote, and Ryan Martin received 4 percent of the vote.

#3 District 35A – $174,300

Incumbent John Heinrich raised $58,060 and Incumbent Zack Stephenson raised $116,239.

Zack Stephenson won with 52 percent of the vote and John Heinrich received 48 percent of the vote.

#4 District 42B – $163,354

Incumbent Ginny Klevorn raised $87,936 and Jackie Schroeder raised $75,418.

Ginny Klevorn won with 61 percent of the vote and Jackie Schroeder received 39 percent of the vote.

#5 District 33B – $160,183

Josiah Hill raised $80,207 and Mark Bishofsky raised $79,976.

Josiah Hill won with 54 percent of the vote and Mark Bishofsky received 46 percent of the vote.

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active Minnesota PACs submitted to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. Political expenditures that are not controlled by candidates or their campaigns, known as satellite spending, are not included in candidate totals. Federal PACs are not required to report to state agencies. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

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.