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Minnesota

Minnesota Senate Races Will Test DFL Majority

Three DFL senators seek reelection in districts that President Donald Trump carried during the 2024 election cycle.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Political Parties

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Three DFL senators face critical reelection challenges in Minnesota, as Republicans seek to flip the seat and capture the state Senate majority. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Three DFL senators face critical reelection battles in Minnesota districts won by President Donald Trump in 2024. These races are central to the future of the Minnesota state Senate, which currently maintains a fragile one-seat DFL majority.

Why it matters

The outcome of these three races will determine which party controls the Minnesota state Senate after the November 3, 2026, election. Republicans are aiming to flip these seats to regain a majority in the chamber.

Official campaign finance filings show that Republican-aligned groups have spent $2.9 million across these three races, significantly outpacing the $350,000 reported by DFL-aligned groups as of the September 15, 2026, deadline. The Minnesota state Senate currently operates with a narrow one-seat DFL majority.

The players

Aric Putnam

He is a DFL state senator representing a district won by the president.

Rob Kupec

He is an incumbent DFL senator facing a challenge from Austin Peterson.

Grant Hauschild

He is a DFL state senator currently defending his seat against Andrea Zupancich.

Donald Trump

He is the President of the United States.

GOPAC

This is a political action committee focused on electing Republicans to state and local offices.

The details

Senators Aric Putnam, Rob Kupec, and Grant Hauschild are campaigning on their personal brands and local district interests, while Republican challengers Austin Peterson, Bernie Perryman, and Andrea Zupancich cite the incumbents' party-line voting records. GOPAC and the Republican State Leadership Committee have been primary financial drivers for the group Advance Minnesota, which is backing the Republican efforts to flip these seats.

Timeline

  1. September 15, 2026: Campaign Finance Board filing deadline.

  2. September 28, 2026: Andrea Zupancich criticized the voting record of Grant Hauschild.

  3. November 3, 2026: Minnesota midterm election date.

Political Context

The push to flip these three seats represents a major effort to shift the current one-seat majority held by the DFL in the Minnesota state Senate. Opposition figures argue that these districts need new leadership to provide political balance in the state Capitol.

The outcome of these Senate races will dictate the regulatory and legislative priorities passed in the state Capitol. Taxpayers and residents should expect these results to influence state funding allocations and local policy shifts for the next legislative session.

The takeaway

These races highlight how incumbents in swing districts must balance party loyalty with the specific priorities of their local constituents. Voters in these districts play a decisive role in determining the overall legislative power balance of the state.

What happens next

The Minnesota midterm election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, which will determine the final composition of the state Senate.

Further reading

For more on the current landscape of Political Parties in Minnesota, visit our section page.

Source note: This article includes information reported by INFORUM.

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