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Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

Updated: Wikipedia source

Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) is a political party in the U.S. state of Minnesota affiliated with the national Democratic Party. The party was formed by a merger between the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1944. The DFL is one of two state Democratic Party affiliates with a different name from that of the national party, the other being the neighboring North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party. The DFL controls four of Minnesota's eight U.S. House seats, both of its U.S. Senate seats, the Minnesota Senate, and all other statewide offices, including the governorship, making it the dominant party in the state. In the Minnesota House, it has a power-sharing agreement with its main political rival, the Republican Party of Minnesota, following a tie in the 2024 election.

Infobox

Abbreviation
DFL
Chairperson
Richard Carlbom
Governor
Tim Walz
Lieutenant Governor
Peggy Flanagan
Senate President
Bobby Joe Champion
Senate Leader
Erin Murphy
House Leader
Zack Stephenson
Founded
April 15, 1944; 81 years ago (1944-04-15)
Merger of
Minnesota Democratic Party and Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party
Headquarters
255 Plato Boulevard EastSaint Paul, Minnesota
Youth wing
Minnesota Young DFL (MYDFL)
Ideology
Modern liberalismProgressivismPopulism
Political position
Center-left
National affiliation
Democratic Party
Colors
mw- Blue
State Senate
34 / 67
State House
67 / 134
Statewide Executive Offices
5 / 5
U.S. Senate
2 / 2
U.S. House of Representatives
4 / 8

Tables

Class 1
1946
1946
Year
1946
Candidate
Theodore Jorgenson
Votes
349,520
%
39.8
Won
No
1952
1952
Year
1952
Candidate
William E. Carlson
Votes
590,011
%
42.5
Won
No
1958
1958
Year
1958
Candidate
Eugene McCarthy
Votes
608,847
%
53.0
Won
Yes
1964
1964
Year
1964
Candidate
931,363
Votes
60.3
%
Yes
1970
1970
Year
1970
Candidate
Hubert Humphrey
Votes
788,256
%
57.8
Won
Yes
1976
1976
Year
1976
Candidate
1,290,736
Votes
67.5
%
Yes
1978 (sp)
1978 (sp)
Year
1978 (sp)
Candidate
Bob Short
Votes
538,675
%
34.6
Won
No
1982
1982
Year
1982
Candidate
Mark Dayton
Votes
840,401
%
46.6
Won
No
1988
1988
Year
1988
Candidate
Skip Humphrey
Votes
856,694
%
40.9
Won
No
1994
1994
Year
1994
Candidate
Ann Wynia
Votes
781,860
%
44.1
Won
No
2000
2000
Year
2000
Candidate
Mark Dayton
Votes
1,181,553
%
48.8
Won
Yes
2006
2006
Year
2006
Candidate
Amy Klobuchar
Votes
1,278,849
%
58.1
Won
Yes
2012
2012
Year
2012
Candidate
1,854,595
Votes
65.2
%
Yes
2018
2018
Year
2018
Candidate
1,566,174
Votes
60.3
%
Yes
2024
2024
Year
2024
Candidate
1,792,441
Votes
56.2
%
Yes
Year
Candidate
Votes
%
Won
1946
Theodore Jorgenson
349,520
39.8
No
1952
William E. Carlson
590,011
42.5
No
1958
Eugene McCarthy
608,847
53.0
Yes
1964
931,363
60.3
Yes
1970
Hubert Humphrey
788,256
57.8
Yes
1976
1,290,736
67.5
Yes
1978 (sp)
Bob Short
538,675
34.6
No
1982
Mark Dayton
840,401
46.6
No
1988
Skip Humphrey
856,694
40.9
No
1994
Ann Wynia
781,860
44.1
No
2000
Mark Dayton
1,181,553
48.8
Yes
2006
Amy Klobuchar
1,278,849
58.1
Yes
2012
1,854,595
65.2
Yes
2018
1,566,174
60.3
Yes
2024
1,792,441
56.2
Yes
Class 2
1948
1948
Year
1948
Candidate
Hubert Humphrey
Votes
729,494
%
59.8
Won
Yes
1954
1954
Year
1954
Candidate
642,193
Votes
56.4
%
Yes
1960
1960
Year
1960
Candidate
884,168
Votes
57.5
%
Yes
1966
1966
Year
1966
Candidate
Walter Mondale
Votes
685,840
%
53.9
Won
Yes
1972
1972
Year
1972
Candidate
981,320
Votes
56.7
%
Yes
1978
1978
Year
1978
Candidate
Wendell R. Anderson
Votes
638,375
%
40.4
Won
No
1984
1984
Year
1984
Candidate
Joan Growe
Votes
852,844
%
41.3
Won
No
1990
1990
Year
1990
Candidate
Paul Wellstone
Votes
911,999
%
50.5
Won
Yes
1996
1996
Year
1996
Candidate
1,098,430
Votes
50.3
%
Yes
2002
2002
Year
2002
Candidate
Walter Mondale
Votes
1,067,246
%
47.3
Won
No
2008
2008
Year
2008
Candidate
Al Franken
Votes
1,212,629
%
42.0
Won
Yes
2014
2014
Year
2014
Candidate
1,053,205
Votes
53.2
%
Yes
2018 (sp)
2018 (sp)
Year
2018 (sp)
Candidate
Tina Smith
Votes
1,370,540
%
53.0
Won
Yes
2020
2020
Year
2020
Candidate
1,566,522
Votes
48.7
%
Yes
Year
Candidate
Votes
%
Won
1948
Hubert Humphrey
729,494
59.8
Yes
1954
642,193
56.4
Yes
1960
884,168
57.5
Yes
1966
Walter Mondale
685,840
53.9
Yes
1972
981,320
56.7
Yes
1978
Wendell R. Anderson
638,375
40.4
No
1984
Joan Growe
852,844
41.3
No
1990
Paul Wellstone
911,999
50.5
Yes
1996
1,098,430
50.3
Yes
2002
Walter Mondale
1,067,246
47.3
No
2008
Al Franken
1,212,629
42.0
Yes
2014
1,053,205
53.2
Yes
2018 (sp)
Tina Smith
1,370,540
53.0
Yes
2020
1,566,522
48.7
Yes
· Electoral history › Federal › U.S. House
2000
2000
Election
2000
Votes
1,234,204
%
52.2
Seats (MN)
5 / 8
±
1
%
62.5
2002
2002
Election
2002
Votes
1,097,911
%
49.9
Seats (MN)
4 / 8
±
1
%
50.0
2004
2004
Election
2004
Votes
1,399,624
%
51.4
Seats (MN)
4 / 8
±
0
%
50.0
2006
2006
Election
2006
Votes
1,152,621
%
52.9
Seats (MN)
5 / 8
±
1
%
62.5
2008
2008
Election
2008
Votes
1,612,480
%
57.5
Seats (MN)
5 / 8
±
0
%
62.5
2010
2010
Election
2010
Votes
1,002,026
%
47.9
Seats (MN)
4 / 8
±
1
%
50.0
2012
2012
Election
2012
Votes
985,760
%
55.5
Seats (MN)
5 / 8
±
1
%
62.5
2014
2014
Election
2014
Votes
985,760
%
50.2
Seats (MN)
5 / 8
±
0
%
62.5
2016
2016
Election
2016
Votes
1,434,590
%
50.2
Seats (MN)
5 / 8
±
0
%
62.5
2018
2018
Election
2018
Votes
1,420,748
%
55.1
Seats (MN)
5 / 8
±
0
%
62.5
2020
2020
Election
2020
Votes
1,554,373
%
48.7
Seats (MN)
4 / 8
±
1
%
50.0
2022
2022
Election
2022
Votes
1,250,479
%
50.1
Seats (MN)
4 / 8
±
0
%
50.0
2024
2024
Election
2024
Votes
1,579,742
%
50.2
Seats (MN)
4 / 8
±
0
%
50.0
Election
Votes
%
Seats (MN)
±
%
2000
1,234,204
52.2
5 / 8
1
62.5
2002
1,097,911
49.9
4 / 8
1
50.0
2004
1,399,624
51.4
4 / 8
0
50.0
2006
1,152,621
52.9
5 / 8
1
62.5
2008
1,612,480
57.5
5 / 8
0
62.5
2010
1,002,026
47.9
4 / 8
1
50.0
2012
985,760
55.5
5 / 8
1
62.5
2014
985,760
50.2
5 / 8
0
62.5
2016
1,434,590
50.2
5 / 8
0
62.5
2018
1,420,748
55.1
5 / 8
0
62.5
2020
1,554,373
48.7
4 / 8
1
50.0
2022
1,250,479
50.1
4 / 8
0
50.0
2024
1,579,742
50.2
4 / 8
0
50.0
· Electoral history › State › Governor
1944
1944
Year
1944
Candidate
Byron G. Allen
Votes
430,132
%
37.8
Won
No
1946
1946
Year
1946
Candidate
Harold H. Barker
Votes
349,565
%
39.7
Won
No
1948
1948
Year
1948
Candidate
Charles Halsted
Votes
545,766
%
45.1
Won
No
1950
1950
Year
1950
Candidate
Harry H. Peterson
Votes
400,637
%
38.3
Won
No
1952
1952
Year
1952
Candidate
Orville Freeman
Votes
624,480
%
44.0
Won
No
1954
1954
Year
1954
Candidate
607,099
Votes
52.7
%
Yes
1956
1956
Year
1956
Candidate
731,180
Votes
51.4
%
Yes
1958
1958
Year
1958
Candidate
658,326
Votes
56.8
%
Yes
1960
1960
Year
1960
Candidate
760,934
Votes
49.1
%
No
1962
1962
Year
1962
Candidate
Karl Rolvaag
Votes
619,842
%
49.7
Won
Yes
1966
1966
Year
1966
Candidate
607,943
Votes
46.9
%
No
1970
1970
Year
1970
Candidate
Wendell Anderson
Votes
737,921
%
54.0
Won
Yes
1974
1974
Year
1974
Candidate
786,787
Votes
62.8
%
Yes
1978
1978
Year
1978
Candidate
Rudy Perpich
Votes
718,244
%
45.3
Won
No
1982
1982
Year
1982
Candidate
718,244
Votes
58.8
%
Yes
1986
1986
Year
1986
Candidate
790,138
Votes
56.1
%
Yes
1990
1990
Year
1990
Candidate
836,218
Votes
46.8
%
No
1994
1994
Year
1994
Candidate
John Marty
Votes
589,344
%
34.1
Won
No
1998
1998
Year
1998
Candidate
Skip Humphrey
Votes
587,528
%
28.1
Won
No
2002
2002
Year
2002
Candidate
Roger Moe
Votes
821,268
%
36.5
Won
No
2006
2006
Year
2006
Candidate
Mike Hatch
Votes
1,007,460
%
45.7
Won
No
2010
2010
Year
2010
Candidate
Mark Dayton
Votes
919,232
%
43.6
Won
Yes
2014
2014
Year
2014
Candidate
989,113
Votes
50.1
%
Yes
2018
2018
Year
2018
Candidate
Tim Walz
Votes
1,393,096
%
53.8
Won
Yes
2022
2022
Year
2022
Candidate
1,312,349
Votes
52.3
%
Yes
Year
Candidate
Votes
%
Won
1944
Byron G. Allen
430,132
37.8
No
1946
Harold H. Barker
349,565
39.7
No
1948
Charles Halsted
545,766
45.1
No
1950
Harry H. Peterson
400,637
38.3
No
1952
Orville Freeman
624,480
44.0
No
1954
607,099
52.7
Yes
1956
731,180
51.4
Yes
1958
658,326
56.8
Yes
1960
760,934
49.1
No
1962
Karl Rolvaag
619,842
49.7
Yes
1966
607,943
46.9
No
1970
Wendell Anderson
737,921
54.0
Yes
1974
786,787
62.8
Yes
1978
Rudy Perpich
718,244
45.3
No
1982
718,244
58.8
Yes
1986
790,138
56.1
Yes
1990
836,218
46.8
No
1994
John Marty
589,344
34.1
No
1998
Skip Humphrey
587,528
28.1
No
2002
Roger Moe
821,268
36.5
No
2006
Mike Hatch
1,007,460
45.7
No
2010
Mark Dayton
919,232
43.6
Yes
2014
989,113
50.1
Yes
2018
Tim Walz
1,393,096
53.8
Yes
2022
1,312,349
52.3
Yes
· Electoral history › Minnesota Senate
1976
1976
Election
1976
Votes
1,024,624
%
51.9
Seats
49 / 67
±
N/A
%
73.1
Majority
Yes
1980
1980
Election
1980
Votes
1,024,624
%
49.3
Seats
46 / 67
±
3
%
68.7
Majority
Yes
1982
1982
Election
1982
Votes
951,287
%
51.8
Seats
42 / 67
±
4
%
62.7
Majority
Yes
1986
1986
Election
1986
Votes
765,584
%
52.6
Seats
47 / 67
±
5
%
70.2
Majority
Yes
1990
1990
Election
1990
Votes
990,513
%
53.7
Seats
46 / 67
±
1
%
68.7
Majority
Yes
1992
1992
Election
1992
Votes
1,247,594
%
53.0
Seats
45 / 67
±
1
%
67.2
Majority
Yes
1996
1996
Election
1996
Votes
1,129,095
%
51.1
Seats
42 / 67
±
3
%
62.7
Majority
Yes
2000
2000
Election
2000
Votes
1,219,497
%
49.6
Seats
39 / 67
±
3
%
58.2
Majority
Yes
2002
2002
Election
2002
Votes
1,080,975
%
49.7
Seats
35 / 67
±
4
%
52.2
Majority
Yes
2006
2006
Election
2006
Votes
1,183,319
%
55.3
Seats
44 / 67
±
6
%
65.7
Majority
Yes
2010
2010
Election
2010
Votes
1,005,132
%
48.9
Seats
30 / 67
±
16
%
44.7
Majority
No
2012
2012
Election
2012
Votes
1,532,065
%
55.8
Seats
39 / 67
±
9
%
58.2
Majority
Yes
2016
2016
Election
2016
Votes
1,409,775
%
50.1
Seats
33 / 67
±
6
%
49.3
Majority
No
2020
2020
Election
2020
Votes
1,577,523
%
49.8
Seats
33 / 67
±
0
%
49.3
Majority
No
2022
2022
Election
2022
Votes
1,239,682
%
50.7
Seats
34 / 67
±
1
%
50.7
Majority
Yes
Election
Votes
%
Seats
±
%
Majority
1976
1,024,624
51.9
49 / 67
N/A
73.1
Yes
1980
1,024,624
49.3
46 / 67
3
68.7
Yes
1982
951,287
51.8
42 / 67
4
62.7
Yes
1986
765,584
52.6
47 / 67
5
70.2
Yes
1990
990,513
53.7
46 / 67
1
68.7
Yes
1992
1,247,594
53.0
45 / 67
1
67.2
Yes
1996
1,129,095
51.1
42 / 67
3
62.7
Yes
2000
1,219,497
49.6
39 / 67
3
58.2
Yes
2002
1,080,975
49.7
35 / 67
4
52.2
Yes
2006
1,183,319
55.3
44 / 67
6
65.7
Yes
2010
1,005,132
48.9
30 / 67
16
44.7
No
2012
1,532,065
55.8
39 / 67
9
58.2
Yes
2016
1,409,775
50.1
33 / 67
6
49.3
No
2020
1,577,523
49.8
33 / 67
0
49.3
No
2022
1,239,682
50.7
34 / 67
1
50.7
Yes
· Electoral history › Minnesota House
2002
2002
Election
2002
Votes
1,034,046
%
47.8
Seats
52 / 134
±
11
%
38.8
Majority
No
2004
2004
Election
2004
Votes
1,381,412
%
51.2
Seats
66 / 134
±
13
%
49.3
Majority
No
2006
2006
Election
2006
Votes
1,169,298
%
54.9
Seats
85 / 134
±
19
%
63.4
Majority
Yes
2008
2008
Election
2008
Votes
1,516,633
%
54.9
Seats
87 / 134
±
2
%
64.9
Majority
Yes
2010
2010
Election
2010
Votes
995,853
%
48.5
Seats
62 / 134
±
25
%
46.3
Majority
No
2012
2012
Election
2012
Votes
1,468,364
%
53.7
Seats
73 / 134
±
11
%
54.5
Majority
Yes
2014
2014
Election
2014
Votes
944,961
%
49.3
Seats
62 / 134
±
11
%
46.3
Majority
No
2016
2016
Election
2016
Votes
1,366,375
%
49.1
Seats
57 / 134
±
4
%
42.5
Majority
No
2018
2018
Election
2018
Votes
1,388,938
%
54.4
Seats
75 / 134
±
18
%
55.9
Majority
Yes
2020
2020
Election
2020
Votes
1,601,357
%
51.1
Seats
70 / 134
±
5
%
52.2
Majority
Yes
2022
2022
Election
2022
Votes
1,237,520
%
50.9
Seats
70 / 134
±
0
%
52.2
Majority
Yes
2024
2024
Election
2024
Votes
1,545,213
%
49.9
Seats
67 / 134
±
3
%
50.0
Majority
No
Election
Votes
%
Seats
±
%
Majority
2002
1,034,046
47.8
52 / 134
11
38.8
No
2004
1,381,412
51.2
66 / 134
13
49.3
No
2006
1,169,298
54.9
85 / 134
19
63.4
Yes
2008
1,516,633
54.9
87 / 134
2
64.9
Yes
2010
995,853
48.5
62 / 134
25
46.3
No
2012
1,468,364
53.7
73 / 134
11
54.5
Yes
2014
944,961
49.3
62 / 134
11
46.3
No
2016
1,366,375
49.1
57 / 134
4
42.5
No
2018
1,388,938
54.4
75 / 134
18
55.9
Yes
2020
1,601,357
51.1
70 / 134
5
52.2
Yes
2022
1,237,520
50.9
70 / 134
0
52.2
Yes
2024
1,545,213
49.9
67 / 134
3
50.0
No

References

  1. Replaced Paul Wellstone following his death.
  2. farmerlaboreducation.com
    https://farmerlaboreducation.com/documentary
  3. "ABOUT FARMER-LABOR MOVEMENT: A MINNESOTA STORY"
    https://www.tpt.org/farmer-labor-movement-a-minnesota-story/
  4. Imposing values: an essay on liberalism and regulation
    https://books.google.com/books?id=xGNRRwkZFysC
  5. Theconversation.com
    https://theconversation.com/who-is-tim-walz-understanding-the-minnesota-democratic-farmer-labor-party-can-help-make-sense-of-the-vp-candidate-239027
  6. usatoday.com
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/08/06/minnesota-democratic-farmer-labor-party-vp-pick-tim-walz/74688152007/
  7. Theconversation.com
    https://theconversation.com/who-is-tim-walz-understanding-the-minnesota-democratic-farmer-labor-party-can-help-make-sense-of-the-vp-candidate-239027
  8. pbs.org
    https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/they-forget-about-us-in-minnesota-moderate-democrats-feel-left-behind-by-their-party
  9. radioiowa.com
    https://www.radioiowa.com/2025/03/15/walz-in-iowa-stop-says-democrats-need-to-be-less-timid/
  10. Cnn.com
    https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/21/us/minnesota-remove-slavery-punishment-constitution-trnd/index.html
  11. Theconversation.com
    https://theconversation.com/who-is-tim-walz-understanding-the-minnesota-democratic-farmer-labor-party-can-help-make-sense-of-the-vp-candidate-239027
  12. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
    https://www.loc.gov/item/lcwaN0000152/
  13. DFL Minnesota
    https://www.dfl.org/
  14. "The caucus that changed history: 1948's battle for control of the DFL"
    https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2016/02/caucus-changed-history-1948s-battle-control-dfl/
  15. Political Repression in Modern America
  16. Minnesota Historical Society
    https://storage.googleapis.com/mnhs-org-support/mn_history_articles/48/v48i07p283-294.pdf
  17. The Minneapolis Star (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
  18. "DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR PARTY." n.d. Minnesota Historical Society. Accessed May 26, 2023. http://www2.mnhs.org/library/
    http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00586.xml
  19. Minnesota Libraries Publishing Project
    https://mlpp.pressbooks.pub/mnhist/chapter/searching-for-bright-sunshine-the-civil-rights-and-black-power-movements-1945-1975/
  20. Minnesota History
    https://www.jstor.org/stable/20175887
  21. "Wellstone Made Mark as a Liberal Champion"
    http://edition.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/25/elec02.mn.s.wellstone.obit/
  22. "Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar announces run for president"
    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/democratic-sen-amy-klobuchar-announces-run-president-n969796
  23. "House Democrat Dean Phillips launches primary challenge against President Biden"
    https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/26/politics/dean-phillips-presidential-campaign-launch/index.html
  24. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/08/06/us/kamala-harris-vp-trump-election
  25. MinnPost
    https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2023/05/transformational-and-also-bonkers-minnesota-legislature-ends-its-session-of-historic-spending-policy-changes/
  26. www.cbsnews.com
    https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/its-a-good-day-for-freedoms-walz-signs-bills-on-reproductive-freedom-and-trans-refuge-ban-on-conversion-therapy/
  27. Duluth News Tribune
    https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/minnesota/weed-abortion-paid-leave-rebates-and-taxes-a-look-at-what-mn-lawmakers-got-done-this-year
  28. FOX 9
    https://www.fox9.com/news/barack-obama-tweeted-about-minnesota-citing-reason-why-you-should-vote
  29. DFL Minnesota
    https://dfl.org/communitycaucus/
  30. Voice of America
    https://www.voanews.com/a/large-muslim-community-in-minnesota-observes-ramadan/3384969.html
  31. CBS Minnesota
    https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-somali-american-population-good-question/
  32. Twin Cities
    https://www.twincities.com/2018/11/07/this-map-shows-the-dfl-dominated-the-suburbs-big-time-howd-they-do-it/
  33. MinnPost
    https://www.minnpost.com/greater-minnesota/2023/06/the-dfls-legislative-majority-is-concentrated-in-the-twin-cities-metro-in-a-consequential-session-what-did-that-mean-for-greater-minnesota/
  34. MinnPost
    http://www.minnpost.com/elections/2022/10/will-the-iron-range-finally-go-red-control-of-legislature-could-hinge-on-7-seats-in-northeastern-minnesota/
  35. Minnesota Public Radio
    https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/03/29/richard-carlbom-ascends-to-top-role-at-minnesota-dfl-party
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