Minnesota

On May 24, 2023, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact into law -- making Minnesota the 17th jurisdiction to do so (status of HF1830).

On May 19, 2023, the Minnesota House and Senate both passed the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact and sent the bill to Governor Tim Walz. The Compact was part of the Omnibus State Government and Elections Appropriations bill (status of HF1830) that was previously approved by a conference committee.  The final vote in the Senate on the omnibus bill was 34-31, and the final vote in the House was 69-62.

n April 26, 2023, the Minnesota Senate took a separate vote on whether to delete National Popular Vote from the omnibus elections policy bill, and the motion to delete failed 33-34.  Later in the day, the Senate passed the omnibus elections policy bill (of which the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact was a part) by a 34-33 vote (status of SF1362).  The Minnesota Senate thus became the 42nd state legislative chamber to pass the bill.  The Compact was a separate Senate bill in Minnesota at the time of its original public hearing and committee vote (status of SF538). 

On April 18, 2023, the Minnesota House took a separate vote on whether to delete National Popular Vote from the omnibus election bill, and the motion to delete failed.  Later in the day, the Minnesota House passed the omnibus elections bill (of which the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact was a part) by a 70-59 vote (status of HF1830).  The Compact was a separate Senate bill at the time of its original public hearing and committee vote (status of HF642).  

On February 1, 2023, the Minnesota House Elections Finance and Policy Committee held a public hearing on the National Popular Vote bill, and approved the bill (status of HF642).  

On January 31, 2023, the Minnesota Senate Elections Committee held a public hearing on the National Popular Vote bill, and approved the bill (status of SF538). 

  • Momentum building to add Minnesota to National Popular Vote compact (Star Tribune article, February 4)
  • The National Popular Vote Bill Addresses the Shortcomings of the Current System of Electing the President (PDF)

In January 2023, Minnesota Senators John Hoffman, Ann Rest, Bobby Champion, Kari Dziedzic, and Robert J. Kupec sponsored the National Popular Vote bill in the Senate (status of SF538).  In the House, the bill is sponsored by Representatives Mike Freiberg, Kristin Bahner, Jamie Long, Larry Kraft, Emma Greenman, Brion Curran, Jeff Brand, Cedrick Frazier, Athena Hollins, Pat Garofalo, Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, Andrew Smith, Liz Reyer, Peter Fischer, Samantha Sencer-Mura, and Frank Hornstein (status of HF642). 

Minnesota Senate Elections Committee hearing on January 31, 2023

In 2021, Senator Ann Rest introduced the National Popular Vote bill in the Minnesota Senate (status of SF85), and Senators Dziedzic and Marty co-sponsored that bill.  Representative Peter Fischer introduced the bill in the  House (status of HF47), and Representatives Freiberg, Stephenson, Jordan, and Bernardy co-sponsored that bill. Senators Wiger, Wiklund, McEwen, Putnam, and Kunesh introduced the bill in the Senate (status of SF30). Senators Ann Rest, Foung Hawj, Lindsey Port, Kari Dziedzic, and Jerry Newton introduced the National Popular Vote interstate compact in the form of a constitutional amendment (status of SF18). Representatives Freiberg, Stephenson, Bernardy, amd Lippert introduced the National Popular Vote interstate compact in the form of a constitutional amendment (status of HF192).

On April 30, 2019, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed an omnibus bill (HF1935DE1) containing the National Popular Vote interstate compact by a 73-58 vote.  The Minnesota House is the 39th state legislative chamber to have passed the National Popular Vote interstate compact.  The legislative history of the House passage is somewhat complicated and involved several different bill numbers.  There was a first omnibus bill (HF1603) mentioned below. The House actually passed a different House omnibus bill (HF1935DE1).  The Senate did not agree to the House-passed omnibus bill, and instead passed a bill of its own (SF2227) that to which the House did not agree.  The 2019 legislative session ended with no bill being enacted into law. 

On April 3, 2019, a hearing was held on an omnibus election bill (status of HF1603) containing the National Popular Vote bill.

In March 2019, Representative John Lesch introduced the National Popular Vote bill into the Minnesota House (status of HF1941). 

In January 2019, Senator Charles W. Wiger introduced the National Popular Vote bill into the Minnesota Senate (status of SF 34).  Also, Senators Rest and Wiger introduced a similar bill (status of SF 189). 

In January 2019, Representatives Freiberg, Fischer, Lee, L. Carlson, and Huot introduced the National Popular Vote bill (status of HF2117).

On January 5, 2017, the National Popular Vote bill (SF 16) was introduced into the Minnesota Senate by Senators Ann Rest, David Dibble, Charles Wiger, and John Marty.

In January 2017, Representatives John Lesch, Pat Garofalo, Paul Rosenthal, Connie Bernardy, Alice Hausman, Sheldon Johnson, Frank Hornstein, Mike Freiberg, Linda Slocum, Leon Lillie, Peter Fischer introduced the National Populalr Vote bill (Status of HF42). Rep. Leon Lillie also introduced the bill into the House (Status of HF44).

In January 2017, Senators Ann Rest,  David Dibble,and Charles Wiger introduced the National Popular Vote bill (Status of SF16). Senator Charles Wiger also introduced the bill into the Senate (Status of SF10). 

On February 28, 2013, the Elections Committee of the Minnesota House of Representatives approved the National Popular Vote bill (HF799). 

In February 2013, the National Popular Vote bill (HF799) was introduced in the Minnesota House by Representatives Steve Simon, Pat Garofalo, John Persell, Carlos Mariani, Kurt Zellers, David Bly, Paul Rosenthal, Carolyn Laine, Tim Sanders, Frank Hornstein, Joe Atkins, and Zachary Dorholt.

In addition, in February 2013, the National Popular Vote bill (SF585) was introduced in the Minnesota Senate by Senators Ann H. Rest, Leroy A. Stumpf, Karin Housley, Branden Petersen, and Jeff Hayden.

On April 27, 2011, the Minnesota house Committee on Government Operations and Elections approved the National Popular Vote bill by a voice vote.

In February 2011, the National Popular Vote bill (HF 495 was introduced by Representatives Pat Garofalo, Michael L. Beard, Mary Liz Holberg, Erin Murphy, Tim Sanders, Dean Urdahl, Steve Simon, Denny McNamara, Kurt Zellers (Speaker), Frank Hornstein, John Benson, Phyllis Kahn, Jeff Hayden, Patti Fritz, Bev Scalze, John Lesch, Leon Lillie, and Diane Loeffler. The 18 sponsors include 7 Republicans and 11 Democrats. Senators Ray Vandeveer and Anne (R) and Ann H. Rest (D) introduced the bill (SF 1241) in the Senate in 2011.

On February 4, 2009, the National Popular Vote bill (HF 512   Status of HF 512) was introduced in Minnesota by Representatives Steve Simon, Bob Gunther, Denny McNamara, Kurt Zellers, Frank Hornstein, John Benson, Roger Reinert, Phyllis Kahn, Sandra Masin, Larry Hosch, Jeff Hayden, Jerry Newton, Laura Brod, Greg Davids, Patti Fritz, Cy Thao, Bev Scalze, Terry Morrow, John Lesch, Carol McFarlane, and Leon Lillie. The bill (SF 446   Status of SF 446) was introduced in the Minnesota Senate by Senators Ann H. Rest, Dick Day, Sandra L. Pappas, John Marty, and Pat Pariseau.

A survey of 800 Minnesota voters conducted on January 15-16, 2009 showed 75% overall support for a national popular vote for President. Support was 84% among Democrats, 69% among Republicans, and 68% among others. By age, support was 74% among 18-29 year olds, 73% among 30-45 year olds, 77% among 46-65 year olds, and 75% for those older than 65. By gender, support was 83% among women and 67% among men. By race, support was 76% among whites (representing 91% of respondents), 60% among African Americans (representing 3% of respondents), and 63% among others (representing 6% of respondents). The survey was conducted on January 15-16, 2009, had a margin or error of plus or minus 3 1/2%. Minnesota poll results

On April 18, 2007, Minnesota State Representative Steve Simon introduced the National Popular Vote bill into Minnesota Legislature.