Minnesota is typically at or near the top when it comes to voter turnout, and it appears like the 2026 midterm is no exception.
Speaking to WCCO's Adam and Jordana, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, who himself was reelected on Tuesday night, says the numbers aren't official but they are very high. Simon defeated Republican challenger Tad Jude with 55% of the vote.
"Turnout in Minnesota was outstanding," explains Simon. "It's looking like now, we're still looking at the final numbers, that we're going to be close to 67% turnout. Which is a modern day high for a midterm. And we are poised to be, we can't announce it yet because we're waiting on a couple of other states, but we're in a good position to be number one in the country."
Early and mail-in voting drove some of these large numbers, with nearly a million voters in Minnesota casting ballots prior to Tuesday.
64.89% is the highest midterm number recently, going back to 2000. 64% also turned out in 2018, and 2022 saw a 61% turnout. Those numbers are traditionally lower than Presidential Election years, which in Minnesota usually exceed 70%.
Simon also said there were few issues with the election across the state, with only minor, isolated incidents.
As for what's next for Simon, he has been rumored to be on a shortlist of candidates to replace Senator Amy Klobuchar in Washington D.C. as she becomes the state's first-ever female governor. Simon says he will support whatever decision Klobuchar makes, and would accept the position if he is appointed.
"A U.S. Senate seat is an opportunity to do so much good for so many people," Simon adds. "So, I think almost anyone would say yes to that kind of opportunity."
Other names rumored to be considered are former Congresswoman Angie Craig, who lost the U.S. Senate primary against Senator-Elect Peggy Flanagan (DFL), and current DFL 3rd District Congresswoman Kelly Morrison.
Simon also confirming there are a few races in Minnesota likely heading to a mandatory recount, including a couple of state legislative races, a race for mayor in Spring Lake Park that is actually tied, and a very close race in Congressional District 1.
In CD1, DFL candidate Jake Johnson holds a slim, 322 vote advantage over Republican incumbent Brad Finstad. If that holds, it would be the only flip of a Congressional race in Minnesota during this election.
"We're going to be close to 67% turnout," says Sec. of State Steve Simon
"We're going to be close to 67% turnout," says Sec. of State Steve Simon
