Minnesota and voters all across the U.S. will head to the polls Tuesday to decide a number of key races, including which party controls Washington, a number of governors' offices, legislatures and state leadership in the final two years of Republican Donald Trump’s presidency.
In Minnesota, all Congressional districts are up for election, as is the governor's office, one of the state's two U.S. Senate seats, and what is expected to be massive turnover in the state House and Senate.
WCCO Radio political analyst Blois Olson says he's keeping a close eye on voter turnout, especially in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties where there could be higher turnout, as that will go a long way to determining if the GOP can break a two-decade long losing streak in statewide races.
"And if that proves to be true, and Democrats are able to match presidential level turnout, which by the way, they did between 2016 and 2018, if they are able to do that, then there'll be a wave-ish type thing in Minnesota, probably," notes Olson.
He also says Republican turnout is typically 9 to 10% lower in midterm elections, but this year could be different.
"But they're fired up this year and they've got candidates they're fired up about," he adds. "So I think that we'll know pretty early based on turnout in a few key counties where we're headed. But I think you're gonna have so much new, that there's going to be a lot of chance for change no matter what."
Olson adds that however it shakes out, there will be change.
"No matter what, the results of Tuesday are gonna be somewhat historical," Olson explains. "We're gonna have our first female governor, we're gonna have a new U.S. Senator. And over 30-40% of the legislature will be new. So, no matter what, there will be change and no matter what, people will be disappointed."
Already, early voting and mail-in voting has surpassed the last midterm, with well over 40 million Americans already casting a ballot. As of Friday, 729,000 Minnesotans had voted according to data from the Secretary of State's office.
Olson also says that high early voting will have some impact.
"Somewhere in the 7-8% points of Minnesotans don't traditionally vote in midterms, but if those 7-8% vote in a midterm that usually only vote in a presidential race, that's going to change the entire dynamics and model," says Olson. Especially as we head into a presidential race in two years."
Early voting ends Monday night, and election officials say if you still have an absentee ballot at home, skip the mailbox and return it in person so your vote counts. Unlike a handful of other states, Minnesota does not count those mail-in ballots even if they are postmarked by Election Day.
Polls open at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday morning and close at 8:00 p.m. WCCO Radio will have full election coverage beginning at 8:00 with Jason DeRusha and Gracie Stockton, plus a team of reporters and experts to break down the results.
On Monday, the WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar talked to the candidates two of the state's highest profile races, the governor's office and the U.S. Senate seat held by Tina Smith (D) who chose not to run for reelection.
Listen to all four of the main candidates in those two races here:
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, and Michele Tafoya all joined WCCO on Monday for their closing statements
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, and Michele Tafoya all joined WCCO on Monday for their closing statements
