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MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Millions Pour Into Minnesota Elections as Anoka and Blaine Senate Seats Draw Outside Spending
ANOKA, MN (September 24, 2026). Political organizations and party committees are pouring millions of dollars into Minnesota’s 2026 elections, with Senate districts representing Anoka, Blaine and other competitive communities among the races attracting substantial outside attention.
The surge is unfolding as Democrats defend a one-seat majority in the Minnesota Senate and the House enters the election divided 67-67. That mathematical balance means a small number of suburban and Greater Minnesota districts could determine control of both legislative chambers.
Republican Sens. Jim Abeler of Anoka and Michael Kreun of Blaine are among the suburban incumbents identified as targets of significant spending for and against legislative candidates. Other closely watched Senate contests involve Republican Julia Coleman of Waconia and DFL Sens. Grant Hauschild, Judy Seeberger, Aric Putnam and Rob Kupec.
Campaign-finance information examined by MPR News shows that political parties and outside groups had spent approximately $8 million on Minnesota legislative races by the middle of September. Candidates have additional reporting deadlines ahead, meaning the final cost of the fight for the Legislature will be considerably higher.
The spending is even more pronounced at the top of the ballot.
DFL gubernatorial nominee Amy Klobuchar reported raising more than $13 million during 2026 and had approximately $3.5 million available as of September 15. Republican nominee Lisa Demuth reported raising about $2.6 million, including a $1.3 million public campaign subsidy, and had approximately $618,000 available.
Outside organizations can spend independently without being subjected to the same contribution limits that apply to candidates, provided they do not coordinate directly with campaigns.
Restore Sanity, a Republican-aligned political group supporting Demuth, reported receiving approximately $14 million, nearly all of it from a national organization substantially financed by Wisconsin manufacturing executive Richard Uihlein. The group had spent about $4.3 million supporting Demuth and another $2.7 million opposing Klobuchar.
DFL-aligned organizations are also spending heavily. The Alliance for a Better Minnesota had directed approximately $1.3 million toward advertising critical of Demuth, while the Minnesota DFL reported spending about $757,000 to support Klobuchar.
Altogether, independent spending in the governor’s race had reached approximately $8.1 million.
The attorney general’s contest between DFL incumbent Keith Ellison and Republican challenger Ron Schutz has also generated more than $5 million in party and outside spending. More than half of that amount was directed against Ellison.
The concentration of money in Anoka and Blaine legislative districts shows that the North Metro is not merely observing the statewide battle for political control. Its voters are positioned near the center of it.
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