The 1998 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1998. Reform Party candidate Jesse Ventura, the former mayor of Brooklyn Park and a former professional wrestler, won office, defeating Republican St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman and DFL state attorney general Skip Humphrey. He succeeded Republican incumbent Arne Carlson. Ventura's victory as a third-party candidate was considered a historic major upset.

As of 2026, the election marks the only time a Reform Party candidate won a major government office. It also remains the last time a third-party candidate won any statewide election in Minnesota. Ventura's vote share of 36.99% is the lowest for a Minnesota gubernatorial election winner since 1890.

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorMark DaytonMike FreemanSkip HumphreyDoug JohnsonJohn MartyTed MondaleUndecided
Mason-DixonAugust 28–30, 1998317 (LV)± 5.6%23%10%38%4%–10%15%
Mason-DixonMay 30 – June 1, 1998326 (LV)± 5.5%10%13%32%4%3%12%26%
Mason-DixonFebruary 20–22, 1998319 (LV)± 5.6%7%9%35%6%5%11%26%

Debate

1998 Minnesota gubernatorial election Democratic primary debate
No.DateHostModeratorLinkDemocraticDemocraticDemocraticDemocraticDemocratic
Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn
Mark DaytonMike FreemanSkip HumphreyDoug JohnsonTed Mondale
1Minnesota Public RadioGary EichtenPPPPP

Results

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic (DFL)Skip Humphrey182,56236.95%
Democratic (DFL)Mike Freeman93,71418.97%
Democratic (DFL)Doug Johnson91,88818.60%
Democratic (DFL)Mark Dayton88,07017.83%
Democratic (DFL)Ted Mondale36,2377.33%
Democratic (DFL)Ole Savior1,5980.32%
Total votes494,069100.0%

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Withdrawn

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorJoanne BensonDick BorrellNorm ColemanBill DahnAllen QuistUndecided
Mason-DixonAugust 28–30, 1998317 (LV)± 5.8%––75%11%–14%
Mason-DixonMay 30 – June 1, 1998309 (LV)± 5.7%20%2%39%–13%26%
Mason-DixonFebruary 20–22, 1998319 (LV)± 5.6%14%–37%–11%34%

Results

Coleman won the Republican nomination by winning the primary with token opposition.

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanNorm Coleman127,95791.32%
RepublicanBill Dahn12,1678.68%
Total votes140,124100.00%

General election

Candidates

Ventura ran unopposed in his party's primary.

Campaign

Humphrey was seen as the initial favorite, having scored a $6 billion settlement with the tobacco industry in May of that year. The DFL primary saw candidates mostly focusing on issues, rather than attacking Humphrey. Humphrey had nearly lost the party's endorsement to Mike Freeman. The Convention deadlock was broken when the labor caucus led by MAPE delegate David Schmidt, endorsed Skip Humphrey pushing him over the top. The primary was nicknamed the "My Three Sons" campaign, owing to the political pedigree of three of the candidates, Freeman, Mondale and Humphrey. and Mark Dayton, heir to the Dayton fortune. Humphrey was endorsed by the Star Tribune in the run up to November.

Coleman started as a strong challenger to Humphrey. Coleman received the Republican endorsement over more conservative candidates Allen Quist and Joanne Benson. Coleman ran as a social conservative, opposing abortion and gay marriage. He also campaigned on using the state's budget surplus to cut taxes, as well as expanding the state's school choice program to include school vouchers.

Ventura spent around $300,000 and combined it with an aggressive grassroots campaign that featured a statewide bus tour, pioneered use of the Internet for political purposes, and aired quirky TV ads designed by Bill Hillsman, who forged the phrase "Don't vote for politics as usual." Unable to afford many television ads, Ventura mainly focused on televised debates and public appearances, preaching his brand of libertarian politics. His speech at a parade in rural Minnesota during the summer attracted what organizers of the annual event described as one of its largest audiences. He ran on cutting taxes, reducing state government, and reducing public school classroom sizes to a 17 to 1 ratio. He also supported a public debate on the viability of legalized prostitution.

Polling

A poll taken in June showed that Coleman would defeat any other Democratic candidate than Humphrey; Humphrey would defeat Coleman 44% to 34%. However, Ventura polled in the double digits. No other candidate in the Reform Party's brief history in Minnesota has received more than 5 percent of the votes in a statewide election. Following the primary election in September, a poll on October 20 showed Humphrey leading 35% to Coleman (34%) and Ventura (21%). But the Star Tribune poll suggested that Ventura's surge with the voters had come mostly at Humphrey's expense. Since the primary, Humphrey's support among likely voters had dropped by 14 percentage points, while Coleman's had increased by 5 percentage points.

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorJesse Ventura (Rf)Norm Coleman (R)Skip Humphrey (D)Undecided
Market Solutions GroupOctober 27–30, 19981,007 (A)± 3.0%27%30%35%8%
Mason-DixonOctober 23–25, 1998816 (RV)± 3.5%23%33%34%10%
Market Solutions GroupOctober 15–18, 1998806 (LV)± 3.5%21%34%35%10%
Mason-DixonOctober 10–13, 1998825 (RV)± 3.5%15%31%44%10%
Mason-DixonAugust 28–30, 1998812 (RV)± 3.5%13%29%43%15%
Mason-DixonMay 30 – June 1, 1998806 (RV)± 3.5%7%30%46%17%

Coleman vs. Humphrey

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorNorm Coleman (R)Skip Humphrey (D)Undecided
Mason-DixonOctober 23–25, 1998816 (RV)± 3.5%42%41%17%
Mason-DixonOctober 10–13, 1998825 (LV)± 3.5%31%44%25%
Minnesota Star TribuneSeptember 16–20, 19981,009 (A)± 4.3%29%49%22%
Mason-DixonAugust 28–30, 1998812 (LV)± 3.5%29%43%28%
Minnesota Star TribuneJuly 23–28, 19981,007 (LV)± 3.0%35%39%26%
Mason-DixonMay 30 – June 1, 1998806 (LV)± 3.5%30%46%24%
Mason-DixonFebruary 20–22, 1998827 (RV)± 3.5%33%39%28%

Ventura vs. Coleman vs. Dayton

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorJesse Ventura (Rf)Norm Coleman (R)Mark Dayton (D)Undecided
Mason-DixonAugust 28–30, 1998812 (RV)± 3.5%12%34%35%19%

Ventura vs. Coleman vs. Freeman

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorJesse Ventura (Rf)Norm Coleman (R)Mike Freeman (D)Undecided
Mason-DixonAugust 28–30, 1998812 (RV)± 3.5%12%36%32%20%
Mason-DixonMay 30 – June 1, 1998806 (RV)± 3.5%13%30%39%18%

Ventura vs. Coleman vs. Johnson

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorJesse Ventura (Rf)Norm Coleman (R)Doug Johnson (D)Undecided
Mason-DixonAugust 28–30, 1998812 (RV)± 3.5%8%40%25%27%

Ventura vs. Coleman vs. Mondale

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorJesse Ventura (Rf)Norm Coleman (R)Ted Mondale (D)Undecided
Mason-DixonAugust 28–30, 1998812 (RV)± 3.5%11%32%35%21%
Mason-DixonMay 30 – June 1, 1998806 (RV)± 3.5%11%36%37%16%

Ventura vs. Benson vs. Freeman

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorJesse Ventura (Rf)Joanne Benson (R)Mike Freeman (D)Undecided
Mason-DixonMay 30 – June 1, 1998806 (RV)± 3.5%13%28%35%24%

Ventura vs. Benson vs. Humphrey

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorJesse Ventura (Rf)Joanne Benson (R)Skip Humphrey (D)Undecided
Mason-DixonMay 30 – June 1, 1998806 (RV)± 3.5%10%20%55%15%

Ventura vs. Benson vs. Mondale

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorJesse Ventura (Rf)Joanne Benson (R)Ted Mondale (D)Undecided
Mason-DixonMay 30 – June 1, 1998806 (RV)± 3.5%11%24%45%20%

Ventura vs. Quist vs. Freeman

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorJesse Ventura (Rf)Allen Quist (R)Mike Freeman (D)Undecided
Mason-DixonMay 30 – June 1, 1998806 (RV)± 3.5%14%19%36%31%

Ventura vs. Quist vs. Humphrey

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorJesse Ventura (Rf)Allen Quist (R)Skip Humphrey (D)Undecided
Mason-DixonMay 30 – June 1, 1998806 (RV)± 3.5%12%17%56%15%

Ventura vs. Quist vs. Mondale

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorJesse Ventura (Rf)Allen Quist (R)Ted Mondale (D)Undecided
Mason-DixonMay 30 – June 1, 1998806 (RV)± 3.5%12%18%51%19%

Coleman vs. Freeman

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorNorm Coleman (R)Mike Freeman (D)Undecided
Mason-DixonFebruary 20–22, 1998827 (RV)± 3.5%36%29%35%

Coleman vs. Mondale

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorNorm Coleman (R)Ted Mondale (D)Undecided
Mason-DixonFebruary 20–22, 1998827 (RV)± 3.5%34%33%33%

Benson vs. Freeman

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorJoanne Benson (R)Mike Freeman (D)Undecided
Mason-DixonFebruary 20–22, 1998827 (RV)± 3.5%27%30%43%

Benson vs. Humphrey

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorJoanne Benson (R)Skip Humphrey (D)Undecided
Mason-DixonFebruary 20–22, 1998827 (RV)± 3.5%25%49%26%

Benson vs. Mondale

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorJoanne Benson (R)Ted Mondale (D)Undecided
Mason-DixonFebruary 20–22, 1998827 (RV)± 3.5%26%37%37%

Debate

1998 Minnesota gubernatorial election debates
No.DateHostModeratorLinkReformRepublicanDemocratic
Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn
Jesse VenturaNorm ColemanSkip Humphrey
1Oct. 1, 1998League of Women VotersJudy DuffyPPP
2Oct. 16, 1998League of Women VotersCatherine SeverinPPP
3Oct. 24, 1998KARE (TV), KMSP-TV, KSTP-TV & KTCAKen StonePPP
4Oct. 30, 1998Insight News, KMOJ, KTCA-TV, MPR & Star TribuneKaren Louise Boothe Lori SturdevantPPP

Results

County Flips: Democratic Hold Flip Republican Hold Reform Flip
1998 Minnesota gubernatorial election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ReformJesse Ventura773,71336.99%New
RepublicanNorm Coleman717,35034.29%−29.04%
Democratic (DFL)Skip Humphrey587,52828.09%−6.02%
GreenKen Pentel7,0340.34%n/a
LibertarianFrank Germann1,9320.09%−0.80%
GrassrootsChris Wright1,7270.08%−1.12%
People's ChampionFancy Ray McCloney9190.04%n/a
Socialist WorkersThomas Fiske7870.04%−0.14%
Write-ins776n/a
Majority56,3632.69%
Turnout2,091,76660%
Reform gain from RepublicanSwing

By county

Source

CountyColemanVotesHumphreyVotesVenturaVotesOthersVotes
Aitkin31.6%2,44730.3%2,34737.4%2,8970.6%47
Anoka29.3%37,11119.7%24,97550.7%64,1000.3%363
Becker41.4%5,03035.7%4,34922.4%2,7210.5%62
Beltrami39.8%5,87235.9%5,28923.0%3,3871.3%195
Benton33.2%4,38820.8%2,75045.6%6,0270.4%47
Big Stone31.9%91240.0%1,14427.5%7860.5%15
Blue Earth30.9%7,03124.9%5,66643.8%9,9730.6%111
Brown45.2%5,15021.2%2,41733.3%3,7940.4%44
Carlton31.0%3,92942.9%5,43925.5%3,2260.6%70
Carver39.9%11,47916.1%4,62143.8%12,6060.3%88
Cass42.0%4,78128.9%3,28828.7%3,2680.5%55
Chippewa28.3%1,72134.0%2,06437.4%2,2710.3%19
Chisago28.0%5,37618.9%3,62152.8%10,1380.4%71
Clay34.7%6,20043.5%7,76621.8%3,7970.5%91
Clearwater44.8%1,43935.0%1,12419.5%6250.7%24
Cook38.6%1,01039.6%1,04618.0%4743.8%100
Cottonwood39.6%2,42030.8%1,88429.2%1,7880.5%29
Crow Wing39.7%9,55926.0%6,25733.9%8,1620.4%104
Dakota37.3%56,24222.0%33,25340.4%60,9090.3%484
Dodge37.4%2,61921.2%1,48441.0%2,8670.4%27
Douglas42.1%6,32323.3%3,50334.3%5,1620.3%41
Faribault34.2%2,77829.3%2,38236.0%2,9230.4%34
Fillmore39.7%3,35933.4%2,82326.2%2,2190.7%56
Freeborn39.5%5,46333.3%4,60526.9%3,7060.5%65
Goodhue33.9%6,78622.7%4,54743.0%8,6100.5%92
Grant30.6%1,05531.6%1,08937.5%1,2940.3%10
Hennepin31.9%155,31130.2%147,05936.9%179,9541.0%4,778
Houston48.8%3,61637.7%2,79712.0%8911.5%111
Hubbard42.6%3,69730.1%2,60926.7%2,3170.7%57
Isanti27.3%3,71919.6%2,66552.9%7,2090.3%36
Itasca37.8%7,18141.6%7,91119.8%3,7680.8%143
Jackson34.9%1,79633.5%1,72831.1%1,6050.5%24
Kanabec29.0%1,89521.1%1,37449.6%3,2380.3%17
Kandiyohi34.5%6,28729.3%5,33735.9%6,5300.2%45
Kittson32.2%75750.3%1,18516.5%3891.0%23
Koochiching46.4%2,72134.9%2,34718.1%1,0640.56%31
Lac Qui27.6%1,13339.5%1,62132.4%1,3300.4%16
Lake30.1%1,76642.2%2,47226.4%1,5451.3%75
Lake of the Woods41.5%83742.2%85214.3%2882.1%41
Le Sueur30.4%3,58222.2%2,61447.1%5,5510.3%35
Lincoln36.4%1,12936.7%1,13626.3%8150.6%18
Lyon39.1%4,04328.7%2,96631.7%3,2770.6%66
McLeod30.9%4,75415.9%2,44952.8%8,1260.3%50
Mahnomen41.8%82136.5%71620.7%4061.1%21
Marshall40.5%1,95941.5%2,00817.2%8340.8%38
Martin38.8%3,67626.7%2,53434.2%3,2430.2%23
Meeker31.3%3,32019.7%2,08348.6%5,1530.4%39
Mille Lacs31.0%2,89821.4%1,99847.2%4,4040.4%39
Morrison40.6%5,37721.9%2,89937.0%4,9050.6%78
Mower34.9%5,52939.3%6,23425.2%3,9900.7%111
Murray38.7%1,81934.5%1,62026.2%1,2330.6%30
Nicollet33.2%4,34525.9%3,38440.3%5,2720.6%78
Nobles39.0%3,26531.8%2,66428.7%2,4040.4%34
Norman31.4%1,02449.7%1,62118.3%5960.6%19
Olmsted42.7%19,48026.8%12,20530.1%13,7100.4%199
Otter Tail45.0%10,78529.1%6,98225.3%6,0690.5%116
Pennington38.8%2,22639.3%2,25321.4%1,2260.6%35
Pine26.9%2,86925.6%2,73047.1%5,0270.4%48
Pipestone46.8%2,12735.7%1,62116.6%7520.9%43
Polk40.7%2,34743.5%4,46215.5%1,6990.4%44
Pope33.6%1,95432.9%1,73836.1%2,0990.3%17
Ramsey32.4%69,24032.1%68,61934.6%73,9930.8%1,714
Red Lake39.6%84243.3%92016.0%3391.1%24
Redwood42.8%3,14022.5%1,65434.5%2,5330.2%17
Renville30.7%2,51425.4%2,07943.7%3,5830.3%24
Rice29.7%6,73228.5%6,51841.3%9,4440.7%170
Rock47.7%1,83236.1%1,38415.5%5960.7%25
Roseau49.8%2,97531.2%1,86318.1%1,0811.0%57
St. Louis28.1%24,43947.3%41,20823.8%20,6820.8%17
Scott34.9%12,07516.7%5,78748.1%16,6120.3%97
Sherburne32.1%8,13916.4%4,16351.2%13,0040.3%73
Sibley32.1%2,26117.9%1,26249.7%3,4970.3%24
Stearns38.5%20,73121.7%11,69639.2%21,1160.6%320
Steele38.5%5,39921.6%3,02239.7%5,5590.3%37
Stevens40.7%2,05229.9%1,50728.9%1,4550.5%25
Swift26.7%1,41035.1%1,85238.0%2,0060.2%11
Todd39.3%4,29322.4%2,42637.9%4,1460.5%60
Traverse34.2%73333.7%72131.5%6740.7%14
Wabasha35.8%3,36323.6%2,22140.2%3,7760.4%41
Wadena43.1%2,56325.9%1,53730.3%1,7821.1%63
Waseca35.8%3,06422.3%1,90441.4%3,5430.5%42
Washington35.8%32,56522.2%20,20541.7%37,9100.3%300
Watonwan33.4%1,71127.9%1,42938.3%1,9650.4%19
Wilkin43.2%1,18132.6%89223.4%6390.8%22
Winona42.9%7,85633.7%6,17622.1%4,0391.3%235
Wright32.1%11,95716.2%6,02751.4%19,1240.3%106
Yellow Medicine29.8%1,62833.7%1,83836.0%1,9660.5%25
Totals34.29%717,35028.09%587,52836.99%773,7130.63%13,175

Counties that flipped from Republican to Reform

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Notes

Partisan clients

Further reading

  • (PDF). Archived from (PDF) on December 14, 2006.
  • . FiveThirtyEight. May 27, 2015. Archived from on May 28, 2015.