Super Tuesday results: Minnesota 2020 primary election turnout surpasses 2016 numbers

Nora G. Hertel
St. Cloud Times

ST. CLOUD — It may have looked like a trickle of people at the Central Minnesota polls, but the statewide turnout on Super Tuesday eclipsed the straw polls at 2016 caucuses. 

More than 3.5 times the number of DFLers cast ballots yesterday compared to 2016, and Republican votes were up 23% as well, according to a St. Cloud Times analysis of preliminary numbers from the Secretary of State

"The primary's a lot less effort than caucuses," said Professor Jason Lindsey, chairman of the St. Cloud State University Political Science Department, about the time it takes to vote. 

The most active party members are the ones who turn out and vote in primaries, Linsey said, even if there isn't much competition. Hence the turnout for President Donald Trump, who was the only name on the Republican primary ballot in Minnesota. 

Minnesota Democrats surprised the nation Tuesday by chosing former Vice President Joe Biden over U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who did well in the 2016 Minnesota caucuses. Biden won the state with 39% of the vote as of 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, when nearly all precincts had reported results. 

A voter casts a ballot just after noon Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at the St. Cloud Public Library during the Minnesota primary election.

The three counties around St. Cloud aligned with the statewide results. Biden won 39% of votes in Stearns County, 46% in Sherburne County and 40% in Benton County. 

Minnesota's U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar dropped out of the race just before Super Tuesday, as did Pete Buttigieg, and both threw their weight behind Biden. Biden gave Klobuchar credit for his success in Minnesota. 

Biden's surprise victory shows that the country's polling problems that were evident four years ago have not improved much, Lindsey said. "No one predicted Biden would have such a good night." 

Another lesson from Super Tuesday: Spending a lot of money doesn't necessarily garner candidates a top spot, Lindsey said. 

After a lukewarm showing Tuesday, businessman and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg dropped out Wednesday morning and endorsed Biden. He infused a lot of cash into Super Tuesday states.

Bloomberg earned 8% of the Democratic primary votes in Minnesota, behind U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren's 15%. Warren, Sanders and Biden all won delegates from Minnesota. 

RELATED: Central Minnesota DFLers vote with state to pick Biden then Sanders

St. Cloud Rep. Dan Wolgamott, a DFLer, celebrated Biden's victory in the Twin Cities Tuesday. He campaigned for Klobuchar and switched camps when she dropped out. Biden was already Wolgamott's second choice, he said Tuesday. 

"We need someone who can empathize with people. Joe's been through a lot in his life," Wolgamott said.

Biden's victory in Minnesota reflects Klobuchar's influence and a shift from 2016, when Sanders won 61% of the DFL caucuses.

Election workers check voter's information during Minnesota presidential primary voting Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at St. Cloud State University.

Democrats may have prefered Sanders' program but felt that candidate Hillary Clinton was the inevitable winner then, Lindsey said. Now DFLers may be more focused on winning the general election. 

"I think we're seeing more caution," Lindsey said. 

Here's how the Democratic presidential candidates did in Central Minnesota counties. 

Stearns County

The primary brought out 10,891 voters who took DFL ballots. 

  • Biden - 39%
  • Sanders - 30%
  • Warren - 12%
  • Bloomberg - 9%
  • Klobuchar - 7%
  • Buttigieg - 1%

And 4,220 Republicans turned out, with 98% supporting President Donald Trump. He was the only name on the GOP ballot. 

Benton County

Stearns' smaller neighbor put up 2,436 DFL voters. 

  • Biden - 40%
  • Sanders - 34%
  • Warren - 10%
  • Bloomberg - 9%
  • Klobuchar - 5%

Trump earned 99% out of 1,204 GOP votes in Benton County.

RELATED: Voters trickle into Central Minnesota polling sites on Super Tuesday

Sherburne County 

Voters submitted 6,045 DFL ballots. 

  • Biden - 46%
  • Sanders - 27%
  • Bloomberg - 10%
  • Warren - 10%
  • Klobuchar - 5%

On the GOP side Trump won 99% out of 2,842 votes.

Election Day is Nov. 3 and will include local and statewide races as well as the presidential election. 

Nora Hertel is the government watchdog reporter for the St. Cloud Times. Reach her at 320-255-8746 or nhertel@stcloudtimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @nghertel.

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