CalledUnofficial results

Minnesota Secretary of State

Name: Minnesota Secretary of State
Start: 2026-11-03
Location: Minnesota

Secretary of State · Minnesota

Steve Simon won re-election by 12.9 points over Tad Jude.

Steve SimonDemocrat · winner · incumbent

54.7%1,529,189

Tad JudeRepublican

41.8%1,168,639

George "Chip" TangenLibertarian

2.0%54,684

Seth Kuhl-StennesGreen

1.5%41,369

Write-inOther party

0.0%1,256

2,795,137 votes

Source: Minnesota Secretary of State unofficial resultsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 1:21 PM ET

Where the race moved

Against the 2024 presidential vote

Every county, 2024 to 2026

Each dot is a county, sized by votes cast and colored by who carried it in 2026. Dots above the line moved toward Simon compared with the 2024 presidential vote; 87 of 87 did. The largest shift among the bigger counties: Clay, +12.2 points.

Source: civicAPI county results (unofficial); 2024 president: MEDSL precinct returnsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 1:34 PM ET

The seat's recent races

Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

By county

CountyShareMarginShift

HennepinD+47.9+5.4

RamseyD+53.4+10.3

DakotaD+21.4+8.6

AnokaD+5.0+9.5

WashingtonD+15.8+6.9

St. LouisD+24.3+10.7

ScottR+1.6+6.9

OlmstedD+20.1+9.4

Show 79 more

WrightR+23.8+5.4

StearnsR+16.5+10.2

CarverR+3.4+1.9

SherburneR+27.8+7.0

Crow WingR+25.8+5.4

RiceD+7.3+9.8

Otter TailR+29.2+4.9

Blue EarthD+9.4+10.6

ChisagoR+24.2+7.1

ClayD+12.7+12.3

GoodhueR+9.4+7.0

WinonaD+5.6+10.4

ItascaR+13.0+7.1

DouglasR+29.3+5.7

IsantiR+32.4+8.7

BeltramiD+0.9+6.5

KandiyohiR+22.3+8.6

BentonR+27.6+8.2

SteeleR+13.8+10.6

CarltonD+7.3+9.8

McleodR+30.5+7.4

BeckerR+27.6+5.5

CassR+30.6+2.8

NicolletD+6.3+6.8

MorrisonR+51.1+4.8

MowerD+1.4+11.8

Le SueurR+25.9+7.7

PineR+26.9+8.2

FreebornR+11.7+9.6

Mille LacsR+34.3+6.5

PolkR+25.1+8.6

HubbardR+25.1+6.3

BrownR+27.1+7.9

MeekerR+37.7+4.9

ToddR+45.6+7.7

WabashaR+19.9+8.2

LyonR+23.0+8.7

DodgeR+25.4+6.6

FillmoreR+18.0+7.4

HoustonR+10.1+6.3

AitkinR+26.4+4.4

MartinR+34.6+5.0

WasecaR+25.5+7.0

KanabecR+33.7+8.6

SibleyR+36.5+6.4

RedwoodR+36.8+6.4

RoseauR+44.6+4.6

NoblesR+19.6+15.9

WadenaR+45.3+6.0

RenvilleR+32.3+9.0

FaribaultR+27.8+9.5

PopeR+26.0+5.6

LakeD+12.6+8.8

PenningtonR+22.0+9.4

KoochichingR+19.5+6.2

ChippewaR+24.8+9.2

JacksonR+37.5+4.5

CottonwoodR+32.3+8.7

Yellow MedicineR+33.2+7.3

SwiftR+27.2+6.8

RockR+33.5+5.7

StevensR+23.6+3.3

MarshallR+45.4+6.2

WatonwanR+17.2+10.5

PipestoneR+43.8+4.2

MurrayR+39.3+3.0

ClearwaterR+41.7+8.3

Lac Qui ParleR+24.7+7.5

CookD+40.0+5.2

GrantR+24.4+6.1

NormanR+10.8+11.3

WilkinR+34.3+4.6

LincolnR+32.9+4.8

Big StoneR+23.7+5.7

KittsonR+15.0+10.0

MahnomenR+2.7+6.0

Red LakeR+27.8+9.2

Lake Of The WoodsR+43.6+3.5

TraverseR+26.0+5.5

Bar: share of the state's vote. Shift: change in margin from the 2024 presidential vote, + toward Democrats.

Source: civicAPI county results (unofficial); 2024 president: MEDSL precinct returnsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 1:34 PM ET

Polls against the result

The final average had Simon ahead by 11.7. Simon won by 12.9: a 1.2-point miss toward Republicans.

Poll with Simon ahead
Poll with Jude ahead
Final polling average
Result

Pollster	Dates	Sample	Simon	Jude	Margin	Adjusted	Miss vs result	Grade	Release
SurveyUSA for KSTP	Oct 24–Oct 28	714 LV	47	36	D+11	D+13.1	−1.9	A	kstp.com ↗
SurveyUSA for KSTP	Oct 8–Oct 12	718 LV	43	37	D+6	D+7.4	−6.9	A	kstp.com ↗
SurveyUSA for KSTP	Sep 9–Sep 14	654 LV	40	36	D+4	D+5.4	−8.9	A	kstp.com ↗
SurveyUSA for KSTP	Aug 13–Aug 17	661 LV	41	34	D+7	D+10.2	−5.9	A	kstp.com ↗

Adjusted: after correcting for the pollster's house effect and likely-voter screens. Miss: the poll's margin minus the result; + means the poll leaned Democratic. Grade: the pollster's accuracy in past elections, A+ to D (pollster ratings).

Source: Each poll's release, via The New York Times and Wikipedia poll listsUpdated Oct 28, 2026

Pre-election forecast (final, Nov 3)

Our model's last run before Election Day, Nov 3, 2026. It no longer updates.

Steve Simon: 99%
Tad Jude: 1%
Projected margin: D+14.6

How the forecast works →

The candidates

Steve Simon (D)
Incumbent secretary of state (2015–present)Tad Jude (R)
Former judge from the 10th judicial district (2011–2021), former Democratic state senator from the 48th district (1983–1989), and nominee for MN-3 in 2024

Also on the ballot: George "Chip" Tangen (Libertarian), 2.0%; Seth Kuhl-Stennes (Green), 1.5%; Write-in (Other party), 0.0%

Also on this ballot here

U.S. Senate	D+10.1
Governor	D+12.8
Attorney General	D+8.7
Auditor	D+8.8

Results within this state. Source: Results and race calls: Minnesota Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 7, 2026, 1:21 PM ET