Minnesota

Minnesota joined the Union in May 1858. The state was formed from land acquired through the Louisiana Purchase and additional land ceded by the British Empire after their colonial rule in North America ended.

The state was a strong supporter of the Republican Party from 1860 until the beginning of the Great Depression (1929-1939), except in 1912, when Minnesota voters supported Theodore Roosevelt, who was running as a Progressive Party candidate.

Since 1932, Minnesota has largely supported Democratic candidates in presidential elections, voting for a Republican candidate only in 1972 when it chose Richard Nixon. With this exception, the Democratic Party has maintained its longest winning streak within a state.

Senator Walter Mondale won only his home state of Minnesota in the 1984 presidential election. The Democratic streak was nearly broken in 2016, but Democrat Hillary Clinton narrowly won the state by 1.5% over Donald Trump.

The Democrats secured another victory in Minnesota in 2020 when Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in the presidential election. Minnesota has had 10 electoral votes in the Electoral College since 1964.