1982 United States Senate election in Minnesota

← 1978 (special) November 2, 1982 1988 →

Nominee David Durenberger Mark Dayton Party Ind.-Republican Democratic (DFL) Popular vote 949,207 840,401 Percentage 52.60% 46.57%

County results Durenberger:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Dayton:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election David Durenberger Ind.-Republican Elected U.S. Senator David Durenberger Ind.-Republican

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v t e

The 1982 United States Senate election in Minnesota was held on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator David Durenberger was reelected to a second term (his first full term) against challenger Mark Dayton.^[1]

Dayton would go on to be elected to this seat in 2000 and would later be elected Governor of Minnesota in 2010 and 2014.

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Candidates

• William A. Branstner
• Mark Dayton, businessman
• Eugene McCarthy, former U.S. Senator
• Charles E. Pearson

Results

Independent-Republican primary

Candidate

• David Durenberger, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Mary Jane Rachner

Results

General election

Campaign

Dayton, 35, self-financed his campaign. Married to a Rockefeller and heir to a department store, his net worth was an estimated $30 million. Durenberger won the special election to finish the term of the late Hubert Humphrey. He was considered a moderate, but supported Reagan's tax cuts. Dayton ran against Reaganomics. He has also campaigned against tax breaks for the wealthy and even promised "to close tax loopholes for the rich and the corporations—and if you think that includes the Daytons, you're right."^[3] Dayton spent over $7 million, Durenberger over $4 million.^[4]

Results