2022 Minnesota Senate election

The 2022 Minnesota Senate election was held in the U.S. state of Minnesota on November 8, 2022, to elect members of the Senate of the 93rd Minnesota Legislature. A primary election was held in several districts on August 9, 2022. The election coincided with the election of the other house of the Legislature, the Minnesota House of Representatives, and all other statewide elections.

Democrats (DFL) gained three seats, giving them a majority of 34 out of 67 seats and winning control of the chamber for the first time since 2012. Simultaneously with Democrats retaining control of the state house, and Governor Tim Walz winning re-election, the DFL won a trifecta in the state for the first time since 2012.

Background
The last election in 2020 resulted in the Republican Party of Minnesota retaining a majority of seats, after winning a majority from the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) only four years earlier in the previous election in 2016. Control of the Senate had alternated between the Republicans and the DFL in every election since 2010. All-Republican control of the Legislature ended when the DFL won a majority in the House in 2018.

Electoral system
The 67 members of the Senate were elected from single-member districts via first-past-the-post voting for four-year terms. Contested nominations of recognized major parties (DFL, Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis, Legal Marijuana Now, and Republican) for each district were determined by an open primary election. Minor party candidates were to be nominated by petition. Write-in candidates had to file a request with the Secretary of State's office for votes for them to be counted. Candidates for the state Senate in 2022 were required to file to run between May 17, 2022, and May 31, 2022.

Republican

 * Bill Ingebrigsten, 8th
 * Paul Gazelka, 9th
 * Carrie Ruud, 10th
 * Scott Newman, 18th
 * Mike Goggin, 21st
 * Julie Rosen, 23rd
 * Dave Senjem, 25th
 * Mary Kiffmeyer, 30th
 * Michelle Benson, 31st
 * David Osmek, 33rd

DFL

 * Kent Eken, 4th
 * Jerry Newton, 37th
 * Chris Eaton, 40th
 * Chuck Wiger, 43rd
 * Ann Johnson Stewart, 44th
 * Melisa Lopez Franzen, 49th
 * Susan Kent, 53rd
 * Karla Bigham, 54th
 * Greg Clausen, 57th
 * Patricia Torres Ray, 63rd

Independent

 * Tom Bakk, 3rd
 * David Tomassoni, 6th (died before election)

Reapportionment
Due to the 2020 United States Census, the law required redistricting to occur before February 15, 2022, in order to give candidates ample notice before the legislative filing window in late May. Historically, the legislature has often been unable to agree on redistricting, leading to a court decision on the issue.

In August 2021, hearings began in both the House and Senate Redistricting Committee, with the Senate committee members having their first meeting in Bemidji on August 9, and the House committee members having their first meeting on August 18.

A legal challenge was filed against the congressional and legislative maps, predicting that the state legislature would not draw valid maps and would malapportion the districts.

On March 22, 2021, the Minnesota Supreme Court appointed a special redistricting panel, but issued a stay on its proceedings; on June 30, the Supreme Court appointed judges to the panel and allowed it to proceed with its appointed business.

On February 15, 2022, after the Minnesota Legislature missed the redistricting deadline, the special redistricting panel released its own congressional and legislative maps.

Close races
Districts where the margin of victory was under 10%:
 * 1)  District 35, 0.54% 
 * 2) District 41, 0.75% 
 * 3) District 3, 1.62%  (gain)
 * 4) District 14, 4.70% 
 * 5)  District 33, 5.64% 
 * 6)  District 58, 5.68% 
 * 7) District 36, 5.68%  (gain)
 * 8) District 4, 5.69% 
 * 9)  District 32, 5.98% 
 * 10)  District 7, 6.99%  (gain)
 * 11)  District 48, 8.72% 
 * 12) District 34, 9.82% 
 * 13)  District 37, 9.84%