Minnesota's 2022 attorney general race was the closest contest for the office since 1956.
In short: Incumbent Keith Ellison narrowly secured a second term as Minnesota's chief legal officer in 2022. While his Republican challenger Jim Schultz gained ground in rural areas, Ellison's strong performance in the Twin Cities metropolitan region ultimately decided the outcome of this historic and unusually tight statewide election.
The 2022 election for Minnesota attorney general concluded on November 8, 2022, resulting in a victory for the incumbent, Keith Ellison. Ellison, a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party, defeated his Republican opponent, Jim Schultz, by a margin of 50.37% to 49.53%. This result marked the fourteenth consecutive win for the DFL in this specific race. The contest was notable for its intensity, standing as the second-closest attorney general election in the state's history and the tightest since 1956.
The attorney general serves as the state's primary legal representative, managing legal proceedings for over 100 government agencies. The office also handles consumer protection matters, including antitrust enforcement, and provides assistance to counties during complex criminal prosecutions. Historically, the position has functioned as a political springboard; every individual who held the office since Douglas Head, who won in 1966, has subsequently campaigned for the governorship. Republicans have held this office for only four years since 1954.
Ellison, who was the first person of African descent to win a statewide election in Minnesota and the first Muslim to hold any statewide office in the United States, faced a crowded field of challengers. During his first term, he gained significant national and international attention for his role in prosecuting Derek Chauvin and advocating for policing reforms following the murder of George Floyd. He also utilized his office to challenge businesses over COVID-19 public health violations and price gouging. Despite Schultz winning five of the state's eight congressional districts, Ellison's margins in the Twin Cities proved insurmountable for the Republican challenger.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2022 Minnesota Attorney General election
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