Turnover in Minnesota Legislative Seats, 1970-present
Compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
The Legislative Reference Library has collected standardized
turnover statistics for the Minnesota Legislature since 1970.
Turnover is calculated in different ways by different organizations, so
our statistics may not be easily compared with, for example, statistics
from the Council of State Governments.
Turnover is calculated by dividing the number of new legislators by the
total number of legislators, then multiplying by 100 to obtain the percentage.
The figure for new legislators should be equal to the number of incumbents
defeated plus the number of incumbents who did not run for re-election.
The percentage of incumbent legislators returned to office during
each general election is calculated by taking the total number of
incumbents who ran minus the total number of incumbents
defeated. Divide the number of incumbents who won by the
number of incumbents who ran, then multiply by 100. The result is
the percentage of Minnesota legislators who ran for re-election and
won. Click on details for each year to see the actual numbers
used in the calculation.
| Election Year |
Number of New Members Elected |
Number of Seats up for Election |
Turnover Rate |
Percent of Senate Incumbents who Ran and Were Reelected |
Percent of House Incumbents who Ran and Were Reelected |
Details |
| 2010 |
60 |
201
(House and Senate) |
29.9% |
76.8% |
82.4% |
2010 Details |
| 2008 |
23 |
134
(House Only) |
17.2% |
-- |
94.9% |
2008 Details |
| 2006 |
53 |
201
(House and Senate) |
26.4% |
84.5% |
89.2% |
2006 Details |
| 2004 |
26 |
134
(House Only) |
19.4% |
-- |
87.8% |
2004 Details |
| 2002 |
64 |
201
(House and Senate) |
31.8% |
86.8% |
90% |
2002 Details |
| 2000 |
31 |
201
(House and Senate) |
15.4% |
95% |
96% |
2000 Details |
| 1998 |
21 |
134
(House Only) |
15.7% |
-- |
94.9% |
1998 Details |
| 1996 |
33 |
201
(House and Senate) |
16.4% |
96.7% |
94.8% |
1996 Details |
| 1994 |
27 |
134
(House Only) |
20.1% |
-- |
90.7% |
1994 Details |
| 1992 |
49 |
201
(House and Senate) |
24.4% |
92.7% |
89.4% |
1992 Details |
| 1990 |
39 |
201
(House and Senate) |
19.4% |
91% |
91.7% |
1990 Details |
| 1988 |
15 |
134
(House Only) |
11.2% |
-- |
93.7% |
1988 Details |
| 1986 |
42 |
201
(House and Senate) |
20.9% |
95 |
85.7% |
1986 Details |
| 1984 |
29 |
134
(House Only) |
21.6% |
-- |
88.2% |
1984 Details |
| 1982 |
63 |
201
(House and Senate) |
31.3% |
88.5% |
92.9% |
1982 Details |
| 1980 |
46 |
201
(House and Senate) |
22.9% |
83.3% |
94.8% |
1980 Details |
| 1978 |
40 |
134
(House Only) |
29.9% |
-- |
73.4% |
1978 Details |
| 1976 |
44 |
201
(House and Senate) |
21.9% |
85.5 |
95.7% |
1976 Details |
| 1974 |
52 |
134
(House Only) |
38.8% |
-- |
74.6% |
1974 Details |
| 1972 |
80 |
202
(House and Senate) |
39.6% |
83.7% |
81.8% |
1972 Details |
| 1970 |
67 |
202
(House and Senate) |
33.2% |
78.6 |
84.3% |
1970 Details |