2014 Minnesota Secretary of State election

The 2014 Minnesota Secretary of State election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor Secretary of State Mark Ritchie did not run for re-election to a third term in office. Primary elections were held on August 12, 2014. The Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) nominated State Representative Steve Simon, the Republican Party nominated State Representative Dan Severson and the Independence Party nominated business process analyst Bob Helland.

Simon narrowly defeated Severson in the general election.

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary
The Democratic–Farmer–Labor endorsement was made on May 31, 2014. State Representative Steve Simon was endorsed by acclamation over fellow State Representative Debra Hilstrom, who conceded before the results of the first ballot were announced and withdrew from the race.

Declared

 * Dick Franson, perennial candidate
 * Gregg Iverson
 * Steve Simon, state representative (party endorsed)

Withdrew

 * Rachel Bohman, former Hennepin County elections manager
 * Debra Hilstrom, state representative
 * Jeremy Kalin, former state representative

Declined

 * Roger Reinert, state senator
 * Mark Ritchie, incumbent secretary of state
 * Ryan Winkler, state representative

Republican primary
The Republican endorsement was made on May 30, 2014. Former state representative Dan Severson, the Republican nominee for secretary of state in 2010, was endorsed after one ballot when former state senator John Howe withdrew his name from consideration.

Declared

 * Dan Severson, former state representative, nominee for secretary of state in 2010 and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012

Withdrew

 * John Howe, former state senator
 * Dennis Nguyen, investment executive

Declined

 * Ted Daley, former state senator
 * Pat Garofalo, state representative
 * Kent Kaiser, professor at Northwestern College
 * Mary Kiffmeyer, state senator and former secretary of State
 * Joyce Peppin, state representative

Independence primary
The Independence Party endorsement was made on May 17, 2014. Bob Helland won the endorsement.

Candidates

 * Bob Helland, business process analyst (party endorsed)
 * David Singleton

Candidates

 * Steve Simon (DFL), state representative
 * Dan Severson (Republican), former state representative, nominee for secretary of state in 2010 and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012
 * Bob Helland (Independence), business process analyst
 * Bob Odden (Libertarian)