The 2024 Election was held on Tuesday, November 5th. Several key races occurred, the results of which are explored below.

U.S. President and Vice President

Vice President Kamala Harris (D) won Minnesota and its 10 electoral votes. Harris got 51.1% of the vote compared to Republican Donald Trump’s 46.9% of the vote, a 4.2% difference. Although she won Minnesota, Harris failed to secure the presidency.

Trump won 312 electoral votes compared to Harris’ 226, with 270 needed to win the presidency. Trump swept the 7 key swing states of Arizona (52.2% to 46.7%), Georgia (50.7% to 48.5%), Michigan (49.7% to 48.3%), Nevada (50.6% to 47.5%), North Carolina (51.0%, 47.8%), Pennsylvania (50.4% to 48.6%), and Wisconsin (49.7% to 48.8%). In 2020, Trump lost all of the above-mentioned swing states, except for North Carolina.

In all, Trump won 30 states and ME-02*, while Harris won 20 states, NE-02*, and Washington D.C. Trump also won the national popular vote 50% to 48.4%. Now, Trump becomes only the second president to serve two non-consecutive terms. He will be inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States on January 20th, 2025, and his running mate, Senator JD Vance (R-OH) will be inaugurated as the 50th Vice President of the United States on the same day

U.S. Senate

Incumbent U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D) won re-election to the U.S. Senate, defeating Republican Royce White with 56.3% of the vote compared to his 40.5% of the vote. Nationally, Republicans flipped the Senate, gaining seats in Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The makeup of the Senate is now 53 Republicans to 47 Democrats (including independents who caucus with the Democrats).

U.S. House of Representatives

In District 3, Democrat Kelly Morrison defeated Republican Tad Jude with 58.5% of the vote compared to his 41.5%. Incumbent representative Dean Phillips opted to not seek re-election. Nationally, Republicans maintained control of the House of Representatives. There are still 5 races that are yet to be called, but at the time of writing, there have been 218 Republicans elected compared to 212 Democrats, with 218 needed for a majority.

Minnesota Senate

In District 45, Democrat-Farmer-Labor (DFL) nominee Ann Johnson Stewart beat Republican Kathleen Fowke with 52.4% of the vote compared to Fowke’s 47.5%. This was the only Minnesota Senate seat up for grabs this election, as it was vacated upon then-Minnesota Senator Kelly Morrison’s resignation to run for U.S. Congress. As a result, the DFL retook control of the Minnesota Senate with a 34-33 majority.

Minnesota House of Representatives

In District 45A, Incumbent Andrew Myers (R) defeated DFLer Tracey Breazeale with 55.0% of the vote compared to her 44.9% of the vote. Statewide, the balance of the Minnesota House remains unclear. Republicans successfully flipped 3 seats previously held by the DFL. 2 races remain uncalled, meaning that the eventual makeup of the Minnesota house could result in a Republican Majority and flip or a 67-67 tie.

Orono Mayor and City Council

In the non-partisan race, former Orono School Board chair Bob Tunheim defeated incumbent mayor Dennis Walsh with 66.4% of the vote compared to Walsh’s 33.5%. Tunheim’s endorsed Orono City Council candidates Jaqueline Ricks and Steve Persian won election to both city council seats up for grabs with 31.4% of the vote and 32% of the vote, respectively. Following the election, current city council member, Walsh-aligned Matt Johnson resigned from his seat on November 12th.

Orono School Board

Timothy Usset, Gavin Temporo, and incumbent Laura Wallander were elected to the Orono School Board with 30.8%, 28.9%, and 35.4% of the vote, respectively, to the 3 open seats. They were running unopposed.

Minnesota Constitutional Amendment

The ‘Minnesota Continue to Provide Lottery Revenue to Environment and Natural Resources Fund Amendment’ passed with 77.2% of the vote compared to 16.2% against. This Amendment allows revenue generated by the state-run lottery to continue to be used, in part, to fund the Environment and Natural Resources Fund through December 31, 2050. It also increases the amount of money that can be distributed to the agency from the lottery from 5.5% to 7.0% of the lottery’s market value and makes a grant program to encourage action regarding environmental affairs.

*Maine and Nebraska split their electoral votes by Congressional district; Trump won ME-02, while Harris won NE-02.

**All information regarding vote count and percentage of vote count are current as of publishing time.