Voter turnout for the August 11 primary election in Cook and Lake Counties reflected a historic surge in Minnesota. Over 1.1 million Minnesotans cast ballots in the August 11 primary election—roughly 25% of eligible voters. This marked the first time in state history that total primary participation surpassed 1 million votes, eclipsing the previous record high of 925,554 set in 2018. While the total number of ballots set a record, the percentage of eligible voters participating, less than 25%, did not break the state percentage record. Earlier decades saw higher turnout, notably nearly 40% in 1966. Cook and Lake Counties nearly doubled the statewide turnout; however, this reflected the community spirit that prevails in the Arrowhead.
Turnout was driven in part by high-profile primary races in both parties and a heightened political climate shaped by actions and failures of both federal and state governments.
Major party endorsements in Minnesota are decided at state and congressional district conventions. While party endorsement provides major organizational and funding support, candidates who do not receive the convention endorsement still retain the right to run in the August primary election, and often do. Sometimes, they prevail over the endorsed candidate, as in the U.S. Senate race won by Michelle Tafoya over the endorsed candidate, Royce White.
Vote tallies in Cook and Lake County showed that DFL ballots were about double the Republican count. In the race for Congressional District 8, Republican-endorsed incumbent Pete Stauber and DFL-endorsed Trina Swanson each won their slot for the November election decisively. For that position, there were 1,541 Republican ballots cast in Lake and Cook County against 3,101 DFL ballots.
In the US Senate contest, Republican-endorsed candidate Royce White fell hard against Michele Tafoya, who secured the nomination with 52% of the vote statewide. White even lost to challenger Adam Schwarze.
On the DFL ticket, party-endorsed candidate and current Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan won the nomination with more than 70% of the Cook and Lake County votes against her main challenger, US Representative Angie Craig.
In an upset for the gubernatorial nomination, the current House Speaker and Republican-endorsed Lisa Demuth fell to the self-proclaimed Pillow Guy Mike Lindell. Republican voters in Lake and Cook gave Lindell 688 votes to Demuth’s 500. Statewide, however, Demuth won the nomination with 43.4% of the vote over Lindell’s 32.5% and Kendall Qualls 21.4%.
On the DFL side, endorsed candidate Senator Amy Klobuchar, to no one’s surprise, won with about 95% of the vote.
In the only local non-partisan primary race that day, Cook County District 1 voters whittled a three-candidate field for County Commissioner down to two who advance to the November general election. The incumbent Commissioner, Deb White of Hovland, received 132 votes; challenger Matt Kelm, also of Hovland, captured 63 votes. Grand Portage resident Christine Childs garnered 52 votes. White and Kelm advance to November.
