Jim Abeler
Minnesota State Senator, District 35 since 2016. Lost re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027. Ran in 11 elections between 1998 and 2022, winning 11.
Minnesota State Senator, District 35Born 1954
- In office
- 9 yrs
- Since 2016
- Bills became law
- 0
- 86 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 0.0%
- With party
- 37%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- −7.6
- Lost 2026
- Elections
- 12
- 1998–2026
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Education Policy
- Health and Human Services
- Housing and Homelessness Prevention
- Human Services
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
No bills in this list for the 2025–2026 session.
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Abeler sits in the Minnesota State Senate
Abeler is closer to the center than 97% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Carla Nelson, Julia Coleman, Karin Housley
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:53 PM ET
With Abeler’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans37%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills75%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Minnesota State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Abeler’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Abeler | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2026 | HF 2484: Bonding bill; spending authorized to acquire and better land and buildings and for other… | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 50–17 |
| May 17, 2026 | SF 2077: Omnibus Outdoor Heritage Fund, Legacy and Lands bill | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 41–26 |
| May 17, 2026 | SF 4612: Omnibus Health and Human Services supplemental appropriations | No | No | Yes | Passed 35–32 |
| May 17, 2026 | SF 4401: Omnibus Cannabis bill | No | No | Yes | Passed 35–32 |
| May 16, 2026 | HF 3900: Permanent school fund investment, management, and distribution policy modified; and… | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 38–29 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Abeler was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Minnesota State Senate, District 35 | Lost | D+7.6 | D+3.1 | −4.5 |
| 2022 | Minnesota State Senate, District 35 | Won | R+0.5 | D+4.3 | +4.8 |
| 2020 | Minnesota State Senate, District 35 | Won | R+25.4 | R+17.3 | +8.1 |
| 2016 | Minnesota State Senate, District 35 | Won | R+35.1 | R+17.3 | +17.8 |
| 2012 | Minnesota House of Representatives, HD-35A | Won | R+25.4 | — | — |
| 2010 | Minnesota House of Representatives, HD-48B | Won | R+36.2 | — | — |
| 2008 | Minnesota House of Representatives, HD-48B | Won | R+30.6 | — | — |
| 2006 | Minnesota House of Representatives, HD-48B | Won | R+21.2 | — | — |
| 2004 | Minnesota House of Representatives, HD-48B | Won | R+26.0 | — | — |
| 2002 | Minnesota House of Representatives, HD-48B | Won | R+14.5 | — | — |
| 2000 | Minnesota House of Representatives, HD-49A | Won | R+9.3 | — | — |
| 1998 | Minnesota House of Representatives, HD-49A | Won | R+2.4 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Minnesota Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $127.1K
- Spent
- $166.4K
- Cash
- $22.6K
Source: Minnesota Campaign Finance Board filings through Oct 19, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 3:53 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Abeler, Jim Senate Committee State | Active |
Source: Minnesota Campaign Finance Board filings through Oct 19, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 3:53 AM ET
Seats Abeler has held
- Minnesota State Senate, District 35 · since 2016
- Minnesota House of Representatives, District 35A · 2012–2014
- Minnesota House of Representatives, District 48B · 2002–2012
- Minnesota House of Representatives, District 49A · 1998–2002
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Abeler has run against
- Angela Nelson (D) · 2026 election, lost
- Kari Rehrauer (D) · 2022 election, won
- David L. Nelson (D) · 2020 election, won
- Roger Johnson (D) · 2016 election, won
- Andy Hillebregt (D) · 2012 election, won
- Daniel Kane (D) · 2010 election, won
- Andrew A. Boho (D) · 2008 election, won
- Jess Langerud (D) · 2006 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Minnesota Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know Abeler
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/fc189dd9-b597-4744-86d3-ac315b93a3f3
- Wikidata Q6193294
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET