1982Flipped from DemocraticFinal results
1982 election for U.S. Senate in Minnesota
U.S. Senate · Minnesota
David Durenberger (R) won with 52.6% of the vote, defeating Mark Dayton (D) by 6.0 points, a seat Democrats won last time.
David DurenbergerRepublican · winner
52.6%949,207
Mark DaytonDemocrat
46.6%840,401
Bill OnaschSocialist Workers
0.3%5,897
Fred G. HewittLibertarian
0.3%5,870
Jeffrey M. MillerOther party
0.2%3,300
1,804,675 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1982
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Mark DaytonDavid Durenberger
$6.9M
Raised by the campaign
$3.4M
$6.9M
Spent by the campaign
$3.4M
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Other candidates' campaigns: Fred G. Hewitt $1.7K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1982.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1982
The candidates
David Durenberger (R)Mark Dayton (D)
Also on the ballot: Bill Onasch (Socialist Workers), 0.3%; Fred G. Hewitt (Libertarian), 0.3%; Jeffrey M. Miller (Other party), 0.2%