2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election

2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election

← 2006 November 2, 2010 2014 →

Nominee Mark Dayton Tom Emmer Tom Horner Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Independence Running mate Yvonne Prettner Solon Annette Meeks Jim Mulder Popular vote 919,232 910,462 251,487 Percentage 43.6% 43.2% 11.9%

County results Precinct results Dayton:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Emmer:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Horner:      30–40%      40–50%      60–70%      >90% Tie:      30–40%      40–50%      50%      No votes

Governor before election Tim Pawlenty Republican Elected Governor Mark Dayton Democratic (DFL)

Elections in Minnesota
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State legislative elections Senate elections 1890 1894 1898 1902 1906 1910 1976 1980 1982 1986 1990 1992 1996 2000 2002 2006 2010 2012 2016 2020 2022 2026 House of Representatives elections 1910 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 Special elections Senate House of Representatives
Ballot questions 2012 Amendment 1 Amendment 2
Minneapolis General elections 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021 Mayoral elections 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021 City Council elections 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021 2023 City ballot questions Question 2 (2021)
Saint Paul Mayoral elections 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021
v t e

The 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 to elect the 40th Governor of the U.S. state of Minnesota for a four-year term to begin in January 2011. The general election was contested by the major party candidates State Representative Tom Emmer (R–Delano), former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton (DFL), and Independence Party candidate Tom Horner. After a very close race, Dayton was elected governor.^[1] Emmer would be elected to the United States House of Representatives four years later.^[2]

This was the first time the Democrats won the governorship since Rudy Perpich won re-election in 1986. With a margin of 0.4%, this election was the closest race of the 2010 gubernatorial election cycle.