On Aug. 9, Minnesota voters went to the polls to determine who would advance from the primary elections to the general elections. At the top-of-the-ticket, Gov. Tim Walz (DFL) and Dr. Scott Jensen (GOP) both easily won their primaries. Additionally, GOP-endorsed candidate Jim Schultz beat 2018 candidate Doug Wardlow handily 52%-35% in the attorney general race.

In a special election to fill the seat held by late Rep. Jim Hagedorn, former state legislator Brad Finstad (GOP) beat Jeff Ettinger (DFL) by four points. The two will square off again in November. Rep. Betty McCollum (DFL) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (DFL) held off primary challengers. Omar’s competitior, Don Samuels, came within two points of an upset.

In the state Legislature, incumbents Sen. Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks), Sen. Paul Utke (R-Park Rapids), Sen. Jeff Jowe (R-Rockville) Sen. Gene Dornink (R-Brownsdale), Sen. Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake), Sen. Gary Dahms (R-Redwood Falls), Sen. Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul), Rep. Kurt Daudt (R-Zimmerman) and Rep. Greg Davids (R-Preston) all held off primary challengers.