Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.

Minnesota State Senate District 13 special election, 2018

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search


2019 →
← 2017
2018 badge.png
2018 state legislative
special elections
Special elections by state
Alabama • Arkansas • California • Connecticut • Florida • Georgia • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New York • Oklahoma • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • Tennessee • Texas • Virginia • Wisconsin
Special elections by date
Other election coverage
State filing deadlines
State legislative elections
State executive elections
State judicial elections
Ballot measures


State Rep. Jeff Howe (R) defeated former Sartell Mayor Joe Perske (D) in the special election for Minnesota State Senate District 13 on November 6, 2018[1]

State Senate President Michelle Fischbach (R), the incumbent, resigned from office on May 25, 2018, to serve as lieutenant governor of Minnesota. This left a vacancy in the chamber and split partisan control of the state Senate, with 33 Democrats and 33 Republicans.[2]

Howe's win gave Republicans control of the state Senate and prevented Democrats from winning a trifecta in the state.

The special election was called to coincide with the regularly scheduled primary on August 14, 2018, and the general election on November 6, 2018.[2][3]

Election results

General election

Special general election for Minnesota State Senate District 13

Jeff Howe defeated Joe Perske in the special general election for Minnesota State Senate District 13 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jeff Howe
Jeff Howe (R)
 
57.4
 
21,714
Image of Joe Perske
Joe Perske (D)
 
42.6
 
16,108
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
20

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 37,842
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Special Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 13

Joe Perske advanced from the special Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 13 on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
✔
Image of Joe Perske
Joe Perske

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Special Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 13

Jeff Howe advanced from the special Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 13 on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
✔
Image of Jeff Howe
Jeff Howe

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Candidates

Democratic Party Joe Perske

Joe Perske.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Perske served on the Sartell City Council from 2005 to 2010. He was elected mayor of Sartell in 2010 and Stearns County commissioner in 2016. He taught physical education for 37 years before retiring. He received his bachelor's degree from St. John’s University and his master's degree from St. Cloud State University.[4]

"I've been around quite awhile, kind of like an old shoe. People know me and people trust me," Perske said of his campaign. "I care about their lives."

On his campaign website, Perske identified accessible healthcare for rural communities, primary and secondary education, and improving infrastructure for families, farmers, and small businesses, as some of his policy priorities.[5]

Republican Party Jeff Howe

Jeff Howe.jpg

Campaign website Facebook

In addition to serving in the Minnesota Army National Guard Captain, Howe worked in the fire service for 27 years as a firefighter, fire marshal, fire and emergency management coordinator, and fire chief. He was first elected to the state House to represent District 13A in 2010.[6]

"My whole career has been about service and today I am taking the knowledge and experience gained in the Minnesota House to a broader level of service in the Senate," he said when announcing his candidacy.[7]

On his campaign website, Howe identified reducing regulations for small business owners and government spending, emphasizing local governance, and prioritizing transportation as some of his policy priorities.[8]

Noteworthy endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.


Click the links below to see endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites, if available:

Campaign themes

These were the policy positions listed on the top candidates' websites, if available.

Democratic Party Joe Perske

“

Joe Perske's Values

Joe Perske is a zealous moderate who believes our legislature needs to get back to Common Sense policymaking.

He will represent the values of Central Minnesota residents as your new State Senator. ​

Accessible Healthcare

​Everyone should have healthcare they can rely on. Rural Minnesotans experience greater barriers to accessing quality, affordable health care when compared to our urban counterparts. As our communities get older the need for quality healthcare just becomes greater. Joe will work to break down the barriers our community members face and will prioritize investing in health care services and the individuals who provide care for our most vulnerable Minnesotans.

​Joe's To-Do List for Healthcare:

  • Make prescription drugs more affordable
  • Restore the 7% funding for community-based disability services that was cut as a result of inaction during the 2018 legislative session
  • Be your pro-life advocate at the Capitol - protecting every life from the unborn to the elderly
  • Break down barriers to accessible rural health care so everyone can have healthcare they can afford
  • Attract world-class healthcare workers to rural Minnesota by funding our rural hospitals and retaining high-quality talent

Excellent Schools

All Minnesota children, no matter their ZIP code, deserve a high-quality educational experience that will carry them through high school and beyond. Minnesota prides itself on having a robust education system, and that needs to continue from preschool to post-secondary. As a teacher and a coach, Joe knows it’s imperative that students feel supported and are prepared to pursue their dreams after they graduate high school. ​

Joe's To-Do List for Education:

  • Find long-term budget solutions that include equitable funding for central Minnesota schools in order to stop relying on property taxes to fund our schools
  • Re-introduce vocational and shop programs to Central Minnesota high schools
  • Reduce student loan interest rates and provide opportunities for loan forgiveness programs
  • Make tuition more affordable for 4-year universities and community and technical colleges

Invest in Jobs and Infrastructure

Everyone benefits from a safe transportation system, especially our families, farmers, and small businesses. If we want our economy to grow, people need to get to work and school, and they need to get there safely. As a Commissioner for Stearns County, Joe was a crucial member of the Minnesota Highway 23 Coalition, the group that successfully lobbied Saint Paul legislators to finally acquire funding to complete the gaps in the corridor around Paynesville.

Joe's To-Do list for Central Minnesota:

  • Tax cuts that favor small businesses, prioritizing tax-relief dollars for those who live and work in Senate District 13. As most of the recent tax cuts have gone to large corporations, we need to focus now more than ever on Minnesota's small businesses to make sure they are getting the relief they need
  • Ensure our farmers and small businesses are fully protected from the estate tax so that they are able to pass their family business on to their children
  • Explore using policies such as the school building bond agricultural credit to make it easier for rural communities to build quality schools without further burdening agricultural property owners

End Partisan Gridlock

The Constitution of the United States says "We The People.." not "We The Party". People are disheartened by the sourness of our current politics in Saint Paul. They look at the partisan gridlock and feel frustration because legislators are detached from their districts and are prioritizing partisan ideology over lifting up their local communities. Joe has been around long enough to see the effect this partisanship has on rural communities. He is committed to ensuring the legislature begins focusing on the issues affecting working-class Minnesotans rather than continuing the fight between political parties. ​

Joe's commitment to ending partisan gridlock:

  • Focus on creating the best policies possible to lift up the residents of Central Minnesota, regardless of whether the idea comes from a Democrat or Republican
  • Prioritize honesty and integrity within the political process and end the pointing of fingers at our Senate colleagues simply to advance a partisan agenda
  • Always remember that regardless of background or political ideology, all of us want jobs that pay well, quality education for our children and grandchildren, access to good healthcare we can afford, and safe and reliable infrastructure[9]
 ”
—Perske for Senate[10]

Republican Party Jeff Howe

“

Jobs:

As a small business owner myself, I understand the amount of hard work and determination it takes to make it through to the next year. I don't believe we should be burdening business owners with unfunded mandates and regulations interfering with everyday free market transactions. Job providers are the key to preserving Minnesota as one of the best states in the nation to live. If elected, I will work to make sure over regulation does not interrupt that.

Taxes:

We do not have a revenue problem in Minnesota. We have a spending problem. I want to make sure every hard earned tax dollar that the government receives is spent wisely. If a working Minnesota family has to make a budget so the bills get paid. There is no reason why the State Government can't to that either. I plan to focus on meaningful tax reform and to make sure St. Paul doesn't leave more debt for our children.

Restoring Local Control:

The citizens of District 13A can decide what they need from their elected representatives on their own. My years in local government have shown me how corrosive these laws can be on our small town communities. As your representative, I will make it a priority to ensure more power is given back to the local elected officials where it belongs.

Transportation:

Transportation is a constitutional mandate to our legislature. We need to make transportation a priority in our budget. We must integrate our roads, rail and transit into a system. Our current transportation system is not integrated and operates as separate entities. Having served as an Army Transportation Officer for over 20 years with assignments all over the world gives me a unique understanding of what is takes to operate and maintain a transportation system. I have served on the Transportation Finance committee and will be an advocate or transportation funding that serves our entire state to include our rural area.

Education:

Another legislative constitutional mandate is Education. The school funding formula is very complex and difficult to understand. This must change. I believe we should completely overhaul the current system and return to a system that is simple, balanced and fair. Minneapolis and St. Paul should not receive $3000 per student more in funding than rural schools. We need to have a fair and balanced approach that provides for all students throughout Minnesota. I have talked to Superintendents, Principles, School Teachers and parents in an effort to find a workable solution.

Veterans:

Minnesota should be considered veteran friendly state but it is not. When Service Members retire out of the Service they receive a list of veteran friendly states. Our great state of Minnesota is not among them. We must change that and bring those highly trained, motivated veterans to Minnesota.[9]

”
—Jeff Howe for State Senate[11]

Social media

Twitter accounts

Facebook accounts

Click the icons below to visit the candidates' Facebook pages.

Democratic Party Joe Perske Facebook

Republican Party Jeff Howe Facebook

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Nineteen of 87 Minnesota counties—21.8 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Beltrami County, Minnesota 9.72% 9.89% 10.15%
Blue Earth County, Minnesota 3.69% 9.48% 12.95%
Chippewa County, Minnesota 28.70% 1.87% 5.87%
Clay County, Minnesota 1.95% 7.92% 16.02%
Fillmore County, Minnesota 21.70% 7.34% 8.26%
Freeborn County, Minnesota 17.24% 14.11% 17.13%
Houston County, Minnesota 13.87% 3.16% 10.69%
Itasca County, Minnesota 16.35% 9.83% 12.92%
Kittson County, Minnesota 22.05% 6.03% 18.54%
Koochiching County, Minnesota 19.85% 9.45% 10.10%
Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota 25.60% 0.90% 5.92%
Mahnomen County, Minnesota 2.92% 18.56% 25.31%
Mower County, Minnesota 7.82% 22.61% 23.61%
Nicollet County, Minnesota 3.04% 7.83% 10.52%
Norman County, Minnesota 13.34% 10.79% 26.94%
Rice County, Minnesota 3.06% 8.27% 11.50%
Swift County, Minnesota 25.57% 9.83% 13.79%
Traverse County, Minnesota 23.30% 4.44% 5.41%
Winona County, Minnesota 2.90% 12.85% 19.09%

In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won Minnesota with 46.4 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 44.9 percent. In presidential elections between 1860 and 2016, Minnesota voted Republican 50 percent of the time and Democratic 47.5 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Minnesota voted Democratic all five times.[12]

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Minnesota. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[13][14]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 68 out of 134 state House districts in Minnesota with an average margin of victory of 27.6 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 62 out of 134 state House districts in Minnesota with an average margin of victory of 30.4 points. Clinton won 12 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 66 out of 134 state House districts in Minnesota with an average margin of victory of 12.3 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 72 out of 134 state House districts in Minnesota with an average margin of victory of 23.8 points. Trump won seven districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.


About the chamber

Members of the Minnesota State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Minnesota legislators assume office on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January after the election. When the first Monday in January falls on January 1, legislators assume office on the first Wednesday after the first Monday.[15][16]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

To be eligible to run for the Minnesota State Senate, a candidate must:[17]

  • Be eligible to vote in Minnesota
  • Be 21 years of age or more upon assuming office
  • Be a resident of Minnesota for at least one year before the general election
  • Be a resident of the legislative district for at least six months before the general election
  • Have not filed for another office at the upcoming primary or general election
  • Participated in the party's most recent precinct caucuses, or intend to vote for a majority of the party's candidates at the next general election (if major party candidate)


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[18]
SalaryPer diem
$51,750/yearFor senators: $86/day. For representatives: $66/day.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

Vacancies in the Minnesota State Legislature are filled through election. If there are more than 150 days before the next state general election, and the legislature will not be in session before the results are canvassed, then any vacancy is filled at the next state general election.[19][20]

If the vacancy happens during the legislative session, the governor has five days to issue a writ calling for a special election. The election must take place no more than 35 days after the issuance of the writ. If the legislature is out of session and there are fewer than 150 days before the next state general election, the governor must call for a special election so the winner of the election can take office when the legislature reconvenes.[20][21]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Minnesota Cons. Art. 4, § 4 and Minnesota Stat. § 204D.19


District overview

Recent elections

2016

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Minnesota State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 31, 2016.

Incumbent Michelle Fischbach defeated Michael Willemsen in the Minnesota State Senate District 13 general election.[22][23]

Minnesota State Senate, District 13 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Michelle Fischbach Incumbent 68.67% 29,235
     Democratic Michael Willemsen 31.33% 13,338
Total Votes 42,573
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State


Michael Willemsen ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 13 Democratic primary.[24][25]

Minnesota State Senate, District 13 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Michael Willemsen  (unopposed)


Incumbent Michelle Fischbach ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 13 Republican primary.[24][25]

Minnesota State Senate, District 13 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Michelle Fischbach Incumbent (unopposed)

2012

Minnesota State Senate, District 13, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMichelle Fischbach Incumbent 63.6% 26,015
     Democratic Peggy Boeck 36.4% 14,871
Total Votes 40,886
Minnesota State Senate, District 13 Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngMichelle Fischbach Incumbent 90.3% 1,484
Fadumo Yusuf 9.7% 160
Total Votes 1,644

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Minnesota State Senate District 13 raised a total of $511,959. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $30,115 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Minnesota State Senate District 13
Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $47,974 2 $23,987
2012 $40,509 3 $13,503
2010 $86,084 2 $43,042
2008 $12,102 1 $12,102
2006 $135,569 3 $45,190
2004 $21,080 1 $21,080
2002 $86,850 2 $43,425
2000 $81,791 3 $27,264
Total $511,959 17 $30,115

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed July 5, 2018
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Minnesota Public Radio, "Fischbach quits Senate, takes MN lieutenant governor post," May 25, 2018
  3. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Senate District 13 Special Election," accessed June 3, 2018
  4. ↑ Perske for Senate, "About Joe," accessed July 5, 2018
  5. ↑ Perske for Senate, "Joe's Values," accessed July 5, 2018
  6. ↑ Jeff Howe, "About Jeff," accessed July 5, 2018
  7. ↑ St. Cloud Times, "Rockville rep runs for Michelle Fischbach's Senate seat," May 29, 2018
  8. ↑ Jeff Howe, "Issues," accessed July 5, 2018
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  10. ↑ Perske for Senate, "Joe Perske's Values," accessed October 15, 2018
  11. ↑ Jeff Howe for State Senate, "Issues," accessed October 15, 2018
  12. ↑ 270towin.com, "Minnesota," accessed June 29, 2017
  13. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  14. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  15. ↑ Minnesota.gov, "Minnesota Statute 3.05," accessed February 12, 2021
  16. ↑ Minnesota.gov, "Minnesota Statute 3.011," accessed November 1, 2021
  17. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Qualifications," accessed May 22, 2025
  18. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  19. ↑ Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, "Constitution of the State of Minnesota," accessed February 12, 2021 (Article 4, Section 4)
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, "2020 Minnesota Statutes," accessed February 12, 2021 (Statute 204D.19 (1)-(3))
  21. ↑ Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, "2020 Minnesota Statutes," accessed February 12, 2021 (Statute 204B.13)
  22. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
  23. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Primary: Tuesday, August 9, 2016," accessed August 9, 2016
v • e
State legislatures
Legislatures
Alabama (H, S) · Alaska (H, S) · Arizona (H, S) · Arkansas (H, S) · California (A, S) · Colorado (H, S) · Connecticut (H, S) · Delaware (H, S) · Florida (H, S) · Georgia (H, S) · Hawaii (H, S) · Idaho (H, S) · Illinois (H, S) · Indiana (H, S) · Iowa (H, S) · Kansas (H, S) · Kentucky (H, S) · Louisiana (H, S) · Maine (H, S) · Maryland (H, S) · Massachusetts (H, S) · Michigan (H, S) · Minnesota (H, S) · Mississippi (H, S) · Missouri (H, S) · Montana (H, S) · Nebraska · Nevada (A, S) · New Hampshire (H, S) · New Jersey (GA, S) · New Mexico (H, S) · New York (A, S) · North Carolina (H, S) · North Dakota (H, S) · Ohio (H, S) · Oklahoma (H, S) · Oregon (H, S) · Pennsylvania (H, S) · Rhode Island (H, S) · South Carolina (H, S) · South Dakota (H, S) · Tennessee (H, S) · Texas (H, S) · Utah (H, S) · Vermont (H, S) · Virginia (H, S) · Washington (H, S) · West Virginia (H, S) · Wisconsin (A, S) · Wyoming (H, S)
SLP badge.png
2025
2024
2023
Historical elections
2022 •  2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000
Features of
state legislatures
State senates
State houses
Leadership positions
Flag of Minnesota
v • e
State of Minnesota
St. Paul (capital)
Elections

What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures

Government

Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy

Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Minnesota_State_Senate_District_13_special_election,_2018&oldid=7633247"