1994 United States Senate election in Minnesota

1994 United States Senate election in Minnesota
← 1988 November 8, 1994 2000 →
	Grams: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%; Wynia: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%; Other: 40–50%; Tie: 30–40% 40–50% 50% No votes
U.S. senator before election; David Durenberger; Ind.-Republican	Elected U.S. Senator ; Rod Grams; Ind.-Republican

The 1994 United States Senate election in Minnesota was held November 8, 1994. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator David Durenberger decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican Rod Grams won the open seat. As of 2024^[update], this was the last time the Republicans won the Class 1 Senate seat from Minnesota.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 13, 1994.^[1]^[2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Ann Wynia, former Minnesota House Majority Leader (1987-1989)
Tom Foley, Ramsey County Attorney and president of the Foley Law Group^[3]
Buford Johnson, candidate for Minnesota's 6th congressional district in 1968
Dick Franson, former Minneapolis City Council member (1963-1965) and perennial candidate^[4]
Leonard J. Richards, perennial candidate^[5]
Gary L. LeGare

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ann Wynia	236,476	61.64
	Democratic	Tom Foley	126,756	33.04
	Democratic	Buford Johnson	6,866	1.79
	Democratic	Dick Franson	6,063	1.58
	Democratic	Leonard J. Richards	4,146	1.08
	Democratic	Gary L. LeGare	3,323	0.87
Total votes			383,630

Republican primary

Candidates

Rod Grams, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 6th congressional district (1993-1995)
Joanell M. Dyrstad, Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota (1991-1995)
Harold Stassen, former Governor of Minnesota (1939-1943) and perennial candidate
John J. Zeleniak

Results

Republican primary results^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rod Grams	269,931	58.17
	Republican	Joanell M. Dyrstad	163,205	35.17
	Republican	Harold Stassen	22,430	4.83
	Republican	John J. Zeleniak	8,467	1.83
Total votes			464,033

General election

Candidates

Dean Barkley, attorney (Independence)
Rod Grams, U.S. Representative from Anoka (Republican)
Ann Wynia, former State Representative from St. Paul (Democratic-Farmer-Labor)

Results

1994 United States Senate election in Minnesota^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Ind.-Republican	Rod Grams	869,653	49.05
	Democratic (DFL)	Ann Wynia	781,860	44.10
	Independence	Dean Barkley	95,400	5.38
	Independent	Candice E. Sjostrom	15,920	0.90
	Natural Law	Stephen Johnson	5,054	0.29
	Socialist Workers	Marea Himelgrin	2,428	0.14
	No party	Write-ins	2,614	0.15
Majority			87,793	4.95
Total votes			1,772,929	100.00
	Ind.-Republican hold

References

1 2 "Our Campaigns - MN US Senate - D Primary Race". Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
1 2 "Our Campaigns - MN US Senate - R Primary Race". Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
↑ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Tom Foley". Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
↑ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Tom Foley". Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
↑ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Leonard J. Richards". Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
↑ Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. "STATISTICS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 8, 1994" (PDF). United States House of Representatives. p. 19,20. Retrieved November 16, 2020.

[DPrimary-1] 1 2 "Our Campaigns - MN US Senate - D Primary Race". Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2026.

[RPrimary-2] 1 2 "Our Campaigns - MN US Senate - R Primary Race". Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2026.

[3] "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Tom Foley". Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2026.

[4] "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Tom Foley". Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2026.

[5] "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Leonard J. Richards". Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2026.

[Clerk-6] Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. "STATISTICS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 8, 1994" (PDF). United States House of Representatives. p. 19,20. Retrieved November 16, 2020.

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Primary elections

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Candidates

Results

See also

References