2012 United States presidential election in Minnesota

none June 2025 September 2023 2012 United States presidential election 2012 United States presidential election in Minnesota Minnesota File:Flag of Minnesota (1983-2024).svg presidential 1983 no 2008 United States presidential election in Minnesota 2008 2016 United States presidential election in Minnesota 2016 November 6, 2012 76.42%http://www.sos.state.mn.us/election-administration-campaigns/data-maps/historical-voter-turnout-statistics/ Office of the State Of Minnesota Secretary of State www.sos.state.mn.us en 2017-07-22 x200px President Barack Obama, 2012 portrait crop.jpg Barack Obama Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Illinois Joe Biden 10 1,546,167 52.65% Mitt Romney by Gage Skidmore 6 cropped.jpg Mitt Romney Republican Party of Minnesota Massachusetts Paul Ryan 0 1,320,225 44.96% 320px County results 320px Congressional district results 320px Precinct results Obama #B9D7FF 40–50% #86B6F2 50–60% #4389E3 60–70% #1666CB 70–80% #0645B4 80–90% #002B84 90–100% Romney #F2B3BE 40–50% #E27F90 50–60% #CC2F4A 60–70% #D40000 70–80% #AA0000 80–90% #800000 90–100% Tie/No Data #D4C4DC #808080 President Barack Obama Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Barack Obama Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party The 2012 United States presidential election in Minnesota took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. State voters chose ten electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent DFL President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan. Minnesota backed Obama for re-election, giving him 52.65% of the vote, while Republican challenger Mitt Romney took 44.96%, a victory margin of 7.69%. With ten Democratic wins in a row, Minnesota has the longest current streak of voting for the Democratic candidate in presidential elections of any state, having not voted Republican since Richard Nixon in 1972. This is the longest streak for the Democrats in history amongst non-Southern states.2012-04-30 Will Vermont's 27-Cycle GOP Presidential Streak Ever Be Broken? https://smartpolitics.lib.umn.edu/2012/04/30/will-vermonts-27-cycle-gop-pre/ 2021-06-22 Smart Politics en-US However, Romney was able to significantly improve on McCain's performance in Minnesota, as he did nationally. Fourteen counties that voted for Obama in 2008 flipped and voted for the Republican Party in 2012, while many Democratic counties had a margin of victory much narrower than in 2008. Big Stone County voted Republican for the first time since 1980, and Pine County since 1972. Obama thus became the first Democrat to win the White House without carrying Big Stone County since Grover Cleveland in 1892.Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ 2020-09-02 uselectionatlas.org Obama also became the first ever Democrat to win the White House without carrying Red Lake County, as well as the first to do so without carrying Lincoln, Marshall, Pennington, or Polk Counties since Woodrow Wilson in 1912, the first to do so without carrying Grant or Pine Counties since Woodrow Wilson in 1916. As of the 2024 presidential election, this is the last time the Democratic candidate won the following counties: Beltrami, Chippewa, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Itasca, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Mahnomen, Mower, Norman, Rice, Swift, and Traverse, or won a majority of congressional districts in the state. Caucuses Democratic caucuses 2012 Democratic Party presidential primaries 2012 Minnesota Democratic presidential caucus Minnesota File:Flag of Minnesota (1983-2024).svg presidential no 2008 Minnesota Democratic presidential caucuses 2008 2016 Minnesota Democratic presidential caucuses 2016 2012 02 07 President Barack Obama, 2012 portrait crop.jpg Barack Obama 1e90ff Illinois 91 16,733 96.3% Minnesota Democratic presidential caucus election results, 2012.svg 280px County results #1E90FF Barack Obama #CCCCCC No votes 2012 Minnesota Democratic caucusPresidential Preference by County http://minnesotaelectionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20120207/mediadisplay.asp?MediaID=7 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20161009115655/http://minnesotaelectionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20120207/mediadisplay.asp?MediaID=7 2016-10-09 2016-10-07 Minnesota Secretary of StateCandidateVotesPercentageDelegates14x14px Barack Obama (incumbent)16,73396.30%91Uncommitted6433.70%0 Republican caucuses 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries 2012 Minnesota Republican presidential caucus Minnesota File:Flag of Minnesota (1983-2024).svg presidential no 2008 Minnesota Republican presidential caucuses 2008 2016 Minnesota Republican presidential caucuses 2016 2012 02 07 x125px Rick Santorum by Gage Skidmore.jpg Rick Santorum 008000 Pennsylvania 21,988 44.95% Ron Paul by Gage Skidmore 3 (crop 2).jpg Ron Paul FFCC00 Texas 13,282 27.15% Mitt Romney by Gage Skidmore 6 cropped.jpg Mitt Romney FF6600 Massachusetts 8,240 16.85% Newt Gingrich by Gage Skidmore 3 (cropped).jpg Newt Gingrich 800080 Georgia 5,263 10.76% 2012 Minnesota Republican Primaries Counties.svg 280px County resultsSantorum: #aae5aa 30–40% #7fdc80 40–50% #5fd361 50–60% #37c837 60–70% #30b032 70–80% #279029 80–90% Paul: #ffeeaa 30–40% #ffde5c 50–60% Tie: #e0e0e0 30–40% MO ME The Republican caucuses were held on February 7, 2012.Scheck Tom September 30, 2011 MNGOP keeping Feb. 7 Caucus date Capitol View Minnesota Public Radio http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/archive/2011/09/mngop_keeping_f.shtml The events coincided with the Colorado Republican caucuses as well as the Missouri Republican primary. Minnesota has a total of 40 delegates, 37 of which are tied to the caucuses while 3 are unpledged RNC delegates. The non-binding straw poll was won by Rick Santorum, but Ron Paul won 32 of the 40 delegates to the Republican National Convention. Election ReportingElection Reporting System: Statewide Results for Republican Party http://caucusresults.sos.state.mn.us/ElecRsltsCaucus.asp?M=PTY&PtyCd=R March 1, 2012 Minnesota Secretary of StateApril 15, 2012 Paul supporters chosen as delegates in three congressional districts Pierce County Herald http://www.piercecountyherald.com/event/article/id/44552/ dead April 17, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120419220900/http://www.piercecountyherald.com/event/article/id/44552 April 19, 2012 mdy-allAnderson Pat 21 April 2012 Ron Paul gets 20/24 Congressional District delegates. CD4 3, CD2 3, CD8 2, CD1 2 #mngop #mnleg https://twitter.com/patandersonmn/status/193855672230739968 22 April 2012 twitter.com TwitterApril 22, 2012 Rep. Paul supporters elected to half of Minnesota GOP convention delegation Pierce County Herald http://www.piercecountyherald.com/event/article/id/44707/ dead April 22, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120425041427/http://www.piercecountyherald.com/event/article/id/44707 April 25, 2012 mdy-allRon Paul Wins Minnesota State Convention https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/ron-paul-wins-minnesota-state-convention/ 20 May 2012 Candidate Votes Delegates Total Percentage Total PercentageRick Santorum21,98844.95% 2 5%14px Ron Paul 13,282 27.15%3280%Mitt Romney 8,240 16.85% 1 2.5%Newt Gingrich 5,263 10.76% 0 0%Write-in 143 0.29% 0 0% Unpledged delegates: 5 12.5%Total:48,916100.0%40100.0% Conventions There is no formal system of allocating delegates to candidates in any step of the election process. At each meeting the participants decides what the best course of action is. The state convention can vote to bind the 13 at-large delegates to a candidate. The 24 delegates elected at the CD conventions and the 3 automatic (RNC) delegates are not legally bound to vote for a candidate. 17 February - 31 March: BPOU conventions elect delegates to the state convention and the congressional district conventions. 14–21 April: Eight congressional conventions elect 3 National Convention delegates each. 18–19 May: State convention elect 13 National Convention delegates.Republican Party of Minnesota Events http://www.mngop.com/inner.asp?z=20 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120517155136/http://www.mngop.com/inner.asp?z=20 17 May 2012 4 May 2012 Convention ResultsCandidate1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8thStatePartyleadersTotal14px Ron Paul2333331212032Rick Santorum00000020002Mitt Romney00000000101Unknown1135Total2413340 General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofHuffington PostHuffington Post Election Dashboard HuffPost https://elections.huffingtonpost.com/2012/romney-vs-obama-electoral-map https://archive.today/20130813173708/http://web.archive.org/web/20120502191502/https://elections.huffingtonpost.com/2012/romney-vs-obama-electoral-map 2013-08-13Safe DNovember 6, 2012CNNAmerica's Choice 2012 Election Center: CNN Electoral Map CNN http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2012/ecalculator#?battleground dead https://archive.today/20130119130158/http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2012/ecalculator%23?battleground 2013-01-19Safe DNovember 6, 2012 New York TimesElection 2012 - The Electoral Map: Building a Path to Victory The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2012/electoral-map.html https://archive.today/20120708093751/http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/electoral-map July 8, 2012 Safe D November 6, 2012Washington Post2012 Presidential Election Results The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/election-map-2012/president/ limited live https://web.archive.org/web/20120726195644/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/election-map-2012/president/ 2012-07-26Safe DNovember 6, 2012RealClearPolitics http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/2012_elections_electoral_college_map.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110608112207/http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/2012_elections_electoral_college_map.html 2011-06-08 RealClearPolitics - 2012 Election Maps - Battle for White HouseLean DNovember 6, 2012Sabato's Crystal Ball https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/projection-obama-will-likely-win-second-term/ PROJECTION: OBAMA WILL LIKELY WIN SECOND TERMLikely DNovember 5, 2012FiveThirtyEight https://www.masslive.com/news/2012/11/nate_silvers_political_calcula.html Nate Silver's political calculations predict 2012 election outcomeSolid DNovember 6, 2012 Results 2012 United States presidential election in Minnesotahttps://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/2012/2012-general-election-results/ Minnesota Secretary of State 2012-11-10 https://web.archive.org/web/20121110025230/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/ENR/Results/FederalResults/1?id=President&officeInElectionId=1 2012-11-10 live PartyCandidateRunning mateVotesPercentageElectoral votes Democratic (DFL) Barack Obama (incumbent) Joe Biden (incumbent) 1,546,167 52.65% 10 Republican Mitt Romney Paul Ryan 1,320,225 44.96% 0 Libertarian Gary Johnson Jim Gray 35,098 1.20% 0 Green Jill Stein Cheri Honkala 13,023 0.44% 0 Constitution Virgil Goode Jim Clymer 3,722 0.13% 0 Grassroots Jim Carlson George McMahon 3,149 0.11% 0 Justice Rocky Anderson Luis J. Rodriguez 1,996 0.07% 0 Constitutional Government Dean Morstad Josh Franke-Hyland 1,092 0.04% 0 Socialist Workers James Harris Maura DeLuca 1,051 0.04% 0 Socialism and Liberation Peta Lindsay Yari Osorio 397 0.01% 0 Write-Ins 10,641 0.36% 0 Totals 2,936,561 100.00% 10 Voter turnout (eligible voters) 75.74% By county County Barack ObamaDFL Mitt RomneyRepublican Various candidatesOther parties Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Aitkin 4,412 48.26% 4,533 49.58% 197 2.16% -121 -1.32% 9,142 Anoka 88,614 47.52% 93,430 50.11% 4,421 2.37% -4,816 -2.59% 186,465 Becker 6,829 41.69% 9,204 56.18% 349 2.13% -2,375 -14.49% 16,382 Beltrami 11,818 53.59% 9,637 43.70% 596 2.71% 2,181 9.89% 22,051 Benton 8,173 41.66% 10,849 55.30% 597 3.04% -2,676 -13.64% 19,619 Big Stone 1,345 48.23% 1,385 49.66% 59 2.11% -40 -1.43% 2,789 Blue Earth 18,164 53.00% 14,916 43.52% 1,194 3.48% 3,248 9.48% 34,274 Brown 5,630 40.42% 7,938 56.99% 361 2.59% -2,308 -16.57% 13,929 Carlton 11,389 61.78% 6,586 35.72% 461 2.50% 4,803 26.06% 18,436 Carver 20,745 39.22% 31,155 58.90% 999 1.88% -10,410 -19.68% 52,899 Cass 6,858 42.49% 8,957 55.49% 326 2.02% -2,099 -13.00% 16,141 Chippewa 3,083 49.72% 2,967 47.85% 151 2.43% 116 1.87% 6,201 Chisago 12,524 42.54% 16,227 55.12% 690 2.34% -3,703 -12.58% 29,441 Clay 15,208 52.65% 12,920 44.73% 758 2.62% 2,288 7.92% 28,886 Clearwater 1,753 41.77% 2,359 56.21% 85 2.02% -606 -14.44% 4,197 Cook 1,993 59.99% 1,221 36.75% 108 3.26% 772 23.24% 3,322 Cottonwood 2,433 41.50% 3,316 56.57% 113 1.93% -883 -15.07% 5,862 Crow Wing 14,760 42.27% 19,415 55.60% 745 2.13% -4,655 -13.33% 34,920 Dakota 116,255 50.37% 109,516 47.45% 5,050 2.18% 6,739 2.92% 230,821 Dodge 4,487 43.45% 5,522 53.47% 318 3.08% -1,035 -10.02% 10,327 Douglas 8,653 41.30% 11,884 56.72% 416 1.98% -3,231 -15.42% 20,953 Faribault 3,407 44.17% 4,104 53.21% 202 2.62% -697 -9.04% 7,713 Fillmore 5,713 52.45% 4,913 45.11% 266 2.44% 800 7.34% 10,892 Freeborn 9,326 55.82% 6,969 41.72% 411 2.46% 2,357 14.10% 16,706 Goodhue 12,212 47.33% 12,986 50.33% 603 2.34% -774 -3.00% 25,801 Grant 1,647 47.23% 1,748 50.13% 92 2.64% -101 -2.90% 3,487 Hennepin 423,982 62.34% 240,073 35.30% 16,010 2.36% 183,909 27.04% 680,065 Houston 5,281 50.56% 4,951 47.40% 214 2.04% 330 3.16% 10,446 Hubbard 4,676 40.59% 6,622 57.48% 222 1.93% -1,946 -16.89% 11,520 Isanti 8,024 39.69% 11,675 57.75% 518 2.56% -3,651 -18.06% 20,217 Itasca 12,852 53.73% 10,501 43.90% 566 2.37% 2,351 9.83% 23,919 Jackson 2,268 41.77% 3,044 56.06% 118 2.17% -776 -14.29% 5,430 Kanabec 3,593 44.09% 4,328 53.10% 229 2.81% -735 -9.01% 8,150 Kandiyohi 9,805 45.68% 11,240 52.36% 420 1.96% -1,435 -6.68% 21,465 Kittson 1,241 51.28% 1,095 45.25% 84 3.47% 146 6.03% 2,420 Koochiching 3,451 53.44% 2,841 43.99% 166 2.57% 610 9.45% 6,458 Lac qui Parle 1,974 49.55% 1,938 48.64% 72 1.81% 36 0.91% 3,984 Lake 4,043 59.28% 2,610 38.27% 167 2.45% 1,433 21.01% 6,820 Lake of the Woods 859 38.45% 1,306 58.46% 69 3.09% -447 -20.01% 2,234 Le Sueur 6,753 45.64% 7,715 52.15% 327 2.21% -962 -6.51% 14,795 Lincoln 1,429 45.80% 1,595 51.12% 96 3.08% -166 -5.32% 3,120 Lyon 5,465 44.12% 6,594 53.23% 329 2.65% -1,129 -9.11% 12,388 Mahnomen 1,276 58.48% 871 39.92% 35 1.60% 405 18.56% 2,182 Marshall 1,998 42.53% 2,569 54.68% 131 2.79% -571 -12.15% 4,698 Martin 4,054 36.96% 6,657 60.69% 257 2.35% -2,603 -23.73% 10,968 McLeod 6,968 37.56% 11,069 59.66% 516 2.78% -4,101 -22.10% 18,553 Meeker 4,969 40.68% 6,913 56.60% 332 2.72% -1,944 -15.92% 12,214 Mille Lacs 5,829 44.53% 6,951 53.10% 311 2.37% -1,122 -8.57% 13,091 Morrison 6,153 36.81% 10,159 60.78% 402 2.41% -4,006 -23.97% 16,714 Mower 11,129 60.03% 6,938 37.42% 472 2.55% 4,191 22.61% 18,539 Murray 2,160 45.31% 2,504 52.53% 103 2.16% -344 -7.22% 4,767 Nicollet 9,652 52.58% 8,214 44.75% 491 2.67% 1,438 7.83% 18,357 Nobles 3,793 44.52% 4,581 53.77% 146 1.71% -788 -9.25% 8,520 Norman 1,730 53.94% 1,384 43.16% 93 2.90% 346 10.78% 3,207 Olmsted 39,338 50.23% 36,832 47.03% 2,146 2.74% 2,506 3.20% 78,316 Otter Tail 12,165 38.41% 18,860 59.55% 645 2.04% -6,695 -21.14% 31,670 Pennington 3,024 46.40% 3,305 50.71% 188 2.89% -281 -4.31% 6,517 Pine 6,750 48.34% 6,845 49.02% 370 2.64% -95 -0.68% 13,965 Pipestone 1,725 37.13% 2,826 60.83% 95 2.04% -1,101 -23.70% 4,646 Polk 6,773 46.10% 7,615 51.83% 305 2.07% -842 -5.73% 14,693 Pope 2,981 47.73% 3,142 50.30% 123 1.97% -161 -2.57% 6,246 Ramsey 184,938 66.33% 86,800 31.13% 7,084 2.54% 98,138 35.20% 278,822 Red Lake 928 46.99% 978 49.52% 69 3.49% -50 -2.53% 1,975 Redwood 3,008 38.61% 4,570 58.66% 212 2.73% -1,562 -20.05% 7,790 Renville 3,394 44.02% 4,149 53.81% 167 2.17% -755 -9.79% 7,710 Rice 17,054 52.85% 14,384 44.58% 829 2.57% 2,670 8.27% 32,267 Rock 1,946 40.16% 2,810 57.99% 90 1.85% -864 -17.83% 4,846 Roseau 2,772 37.70% 4,409 59.97% 171 2.33% -1,637 -22.27% 7,352 St. Louis 73,378 63.48% 39,131 33.85% 3,085 2.67% 34,247 29.63% 115,594 Scott 29,712 41.47% 40,323 56.28% 1,612 2.25% -10,611 -14.81% 71,647 Sherburne 17,597 37.84% 27,848 59.88% 1,064 2.28% -10,251 -22.04% 46,509 Sibley 2,916 37.31% 4,693 60.05% 206 2.64% -1,777 -22.74% 7,815 Stearns 33,551 42.75% 43,015 54.81% 1,911 2.44% -9,464 -12.06% 78,477 Steele 8,706 45.52% 9,903 51.78% 515 2.70% -1,197 -6.26% 19,124 Stevens 2,742 48.51% 2,766 48.94% 144 2.55% -24 -0.43% 5,652 Swift 2,751 53.74% 2,248 43.91% 120 2.35% 503 9.83% 5,119 Todd 4,819 40.83% 6,719 56.93% 265 2.24% -1,900 -16.10% 11,803 Traverse 943 51.06% 861 46.62% 43 2.32% 82 4.44% 1,847 Wabasha 5,415 46.03% 6,049 51.42% 299 2.55% -634 -5.39% 11,763 Wadena 2,492 36.70% 4,143 61.01% 156 2.29% -1,651 -24.31% 6,791 Waseca 4,370 44.83% 5,116 52.49% 261 2.68% -746 -7.66% 9,747 Washington 70,203 49.39% 69,137 48.64% 2,793 1.97% 1,066 0.75% 142,133 Watonwan 2,494 48.48% 2,517 48.93% 133 2.59% -23 -0.45% 5,144 Wilkin 1,258 39.04% 1,884 58.47% 80 2.49% -626 -19.43% 3,222 Winona 14,980 55.01% 11,480 42.16% 772 2.83% 3,500 12.85% 27,232 Wright 25,741 37.96% 40,466 59.67% 1,609 2.37% -14,725 -21.71% 67,816 Yellow Medicine 2,465 45.53% 2,806 51.83% 143 2.64% -341 -6.30% 5,414Totals1,546,16752.65%1,320,22544.96%70,1692.39%225,9427.69%2,936,561 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Aitkin (largest city: Aitkin) Big Stone (largest city: Ortonville) Grant (largest city: Elbow Lake) Lincoln (largest city: Tyler) Marshall (largest city: Warren) Murray (largest city: Slayton) Pennington (largest city: Thief River Falls) Pine (largest city: Pine City) Polk (largest city: East Grand Forks) Pope (largest city: Glenwood) Red Lake (largest city: Red Lake Falls) Stevens (largest city: Morris) Watonwan (largest city: St. James) Yellow Medicine (largest city: Granite Falls) right 280px Swing by county 280px Trend relative to the state by county Legend #aaeeff Democratic — +2.5-5% #d5f6ff Democratic — +0-2.5% #ffd5d5 Republican — +0-2.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5-5% #ff8080 Republican — +5-7.5% #ff5555 Republican — +7.5-10% #ff2a2a Republican — +10-12.5% #ff0000 Republican — +12.5-15% #d40000 Republican — +>15% 280px County flips Legend Democratic #92c5de Hold Republican #f48882 Hold #ca0120 Flip By congressional district Obama won six of eight congressional districts, including two held by Republicans. Romney won two, including one held by a Democrat.https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20121106 Home - Election Results District Obama Romney RepresentativeMinnesota 1 1st 49% 48%Tim WalzMinnesota 2 2nd 48.9% 48.8%John KlineMinnesota 3 3rd49.5% 48.7%Erik PaulsenMinnesota 4 4th62% 35%Betty McCollumMinnesota 5 5th73% 24%Keith EllisonMinnesota 6 6th 41% 56%Michele BachmannMinnesota 7 7th 44% 54%Collin PetersonMinnesota 8 8th 51% 46%Rick Nolan See also United States presidential elections in Minnesota 2012 Republican Party presidential debates and forums 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries Results of the 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries References External links 2012 Election Central: 2012 Primary Schedule The Green Papers: Minnesota Republican Delegation 2012 The Green Papers: Major state elections in chronological order expanded Minnesota United States president 2012