Election results 2022: Incumbents reign in midterms

The Minnesota Secretary of State's Office says about 60.66% of eligible Minnesotans voted Tuesday. 

There were 2,511,617 estimated voters out of 4,140,218 eligible voters.

It's an unofficial estimate at this point. Official numbers will be released after the state canvasses and certifies election results on Nov. 29. 

MINNEAPOLIS -- DFL incumbent Keith Ellison has won the attorney general race in Minnesota over Republican challenger Jim Schultz, the Associated Press projects.

Schultz said that he would concede to Ellison later Wednesday afternoon.

For more than 50 years, Minnesota's attorney general has been a Democrat, and this year's race is a squeaker. With 100% of the votes tallied by the Secretary of State, Ellison had a 20,869-vote lead over Schultz. 

MORE: Keith Ellison projected winner in hotly-contested AG race, Schultz to concede

DFL leaders held a press conference in the late morning to celebrate Tuesday's victories, calling it a Minnesota Senate "miracle." Democrats now hold a trifecta of control over state government. 

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DFL incumbent Keith Ellison is claiming victory in the attorney general race in Minnesota over Republican challenger Jim Schultz, though as of Wednesday morning, the Associated Press has yet to project a winner.

For more than 50 years, Minnesota's attorney general has been a Democrat, and this year's race is a squeaker. With 100% of the votes tallied by the Secretary of State, Ellison had a 20,869-vote lead over Schultz. His lead would put the race outside of the scope for a state-funded recount.

On Wednesday morning, Ellison released the following statement:

"We've been through tough times in the last four years: a global pandemic, George Floyd killed on our Minnesota streets, the Dobbs decision that stripped women of their rights, and so much more. When times get hard, you can get bitter, or you can get better — and we got better.

"We got out there and reached out to each other — and while others were trying to have Minnesotans turn on each other, we turned to each other. Because everybody counts and everybody matters. In the words of the great Paul Wellstone, 'We all do better when we all do better.' Those phrases mean the same thing: empathy, compassion, and unity. Those are the values we brought to this race.

"But this election was tough. Millions of dollars were spent to sow division, hate, and fear. And we overcame it: we were positive, and Minnesotans responded.

"I am very grateful for this win. I'm thankful to my campaign staff, the staff of the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and the elected officials who endorsed me, all county attorneys who supported my candidacy, faith leaders who supported us and called out the tactics of fear and division, and all the volunteers who made this win possible.

"Above all, I thank the voters of Minnesota for the great honor of serving you as your Attorney General. I promise to continue helping you afford your lives and live with dignity, safety, and respect every day."

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Julie Blaha is claiming victory in the Minnesota state auditor race over GOP challenger Ryan Wilson, though the Associated Press has not yet projected a winner.

The auditor's race, often a down-ballot issue, was in a dead heat according to a MinnPost poll in late October. The position oversees $60 billion in local government spending, including cities, counties, and school districts. The auditor also sits on the Minnesota Board of Investment, which oversees the retirement funds for state employees and other assets.  

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CBS News projects Republican incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson will win over Democrat Mandela Barnes in Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race.

Wisconsin is one of two states holding a U.S. Senate election this year. Johnson's reelection will affect the partisan balance of the U.S. Senate, which was split 50-50 with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tie-breaking vote.

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Minnesota Democrats defied expectations in a midterm election that had been expected to go well for Republicans, winning the governor's race and completing a trifecta Wednesday by winning both houses of the Legislature to take full control of state government for the first time in eight years.

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Democrats have taken control of both chambers of the Minnesota Legislature, putting the party in full control of state government for the first time since 2014.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller conceded Wednesday morning that his party had lost its majority to Senate Democrats. That followed a concession earlier Wednesday from GOP House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt and the re-election of Democratic Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday night.

RELATED: Election results: Republicans concede majority in Minnesota Senate

While several legislative races were yet to be called as of Wednesday morning, Democrats appeared to be on pace to exceed the 68 seats they need to preserve their majority in the House, while Democrats appeared to have the 34 seats they need to control the Senate.

READ MORE HERE

Two statewide races in Minnesota are still too close to call as of early Wednesday morning.

As of 5:20 a.m., incumbent Attorney General Keith Ellison was leading challenger Jim Schultz by about 22,000 votes, with 94% of votes counted, per the Associated Press.

Earlier Wednesday, Ellison told his supporters "we're going to win," while Schultz said "we feel really good."  

In the state auditor's race, the AP reported Democrat Julie Blaha was leading Republican Ryan Wilson by about 9,700 votes with 94% of votes counted.

Keith Ellison, Minnesota's incumbent DFL attorney general, announced early Wednesday morning that he's certain he will claim victory over Republican challenger Jim Schultz.

"The numbers are almost all counted and we're going to win," Ellison said.

He told his supporters gathered at the DFL's Election Night headquarters in St. Paul that 94% of the precincts are reporting. The race has yet to be officially called.

Jim Schultz, the Republican candidate seeking to unseat incumbent Democratic Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, announced to supporters early Wednesday morning that it's still too early to call the race.  

"It's just too close. The outstanding areas are very Republican. We feel really good, we feel we're at a really good position here, but we don't think we'll have results here yet tonight," Schultz said.

As of 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Associated Press says Ellison is ahead of Schultz by more than 39,000 votes, with 91% of the votes counted.

After midnight, Dr. Scott Jensen conceded the gubernatorial race. His running mate, Birk, delivered remarks at the GOP headquarters.

"If we lost because of abortion, an issue that was not on the ballot, if we lost because I'm pro-life, because I believe every life has dignity, I'm OK with that," Birk said.  

WISCONSIN -- Democrat Tony Evers has won a second term as Wisconsin's governor, defeating Republican challenger Tim Michels in Tuesday's election, CBS News projects.

Evers won in 2018 by a little more than a percentage point, and history was not on his side for a second term. He was trying to become the first Wisconsin governor in 32 years who was the same party as the sitting president to win reelection in a midterm.  

MORE: Democrat Tony Evers wins reelection in Wisconsin governor race

MINNEAPOLIS – DFL incumbent Steve Simon is projected to win a third term as Minnesota's secretary of state, defeating Republican challenger Kim Crockett, AP reports.

Simon will continue to oversee the administration of elections in Minnesota, a state known for its consistently high voter turnout. 

MORE: GOP challenger Kim Crockett loses to incumbent Steve Simon in SOS race

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig is projected to win her rematch against Republican Tyler Kistner to represent Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District.

The race between Craig and Kistner is among the closest congressional contests in the country. Nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which analyzes races across the country, 

identified it as one of just 30 "toss-ups" in the country that could determine who controls the U.S. House of Representatives. 

READ MORE:  Rep. Angie Craig wins rematch with Tyler Kistner in 2nd District, AP projects

Rep. Brad Finstad has won his rematch with Jeff Ettinger in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District, AP projects.

Finstad won a special election in August to serve out the remaining term of late Rep. Jim Hagedorn, who died of cancer in February. Ettinger came within 4 percentage points of winning the swing district that was in Democratic hand for years but is now increasingly Republican.

Finstad will serve a full term.

Technical issues resulted in a significant delay in the reporting on one of the most closely-watched contests of the evening, the 2nd Congressional District rematch between incumbent Rep. Angie Craig and challenger Tyler Kistner.

Matt Smith, county manager, issued the following statement to WCCO:

"Some Dakota County cities and townships experienced modem transmission issues that have delayed posting of results. When transmission does not work, elections workers must physically transport the memory cards to city halls or the Dakota County Elections Department. Those memory cards are in transit."

With just shy of 80% of votes counted in that race, Craig leads Kistner by 4 points.  

MINNEAPOLIS -- Republican Rep. Michelle Fischbach has won her bid for reelection in Minnesota's 7th Congressional District, the AP projects.

In 2020, Fischbach decisively flipped the district, which had been represented by DFL Rep. Collin Peterson for three decades.

Fischbach defeated Jill Abahsain for reelection. Abahsain is a writer and editor who ran unsuccessfully for state senate in District 12 in 2020.  

MORE: Rep. Michelle Fischbach wins reelection in 7th District

GOP incumbent Tom Emmer is projected by the AP to win reelection in Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District, defeating DFL challenger Jeanne Hendricks.

Emmer, who was first elected to Congress in 2014, is leading the GOP's campaign efforts in turning the House red. He chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee and is reportedly eyeing the position of GOP whip if Republicans win back the House.

He faced off against Hendricks, a nurse anesthetist, who said she was running to "defend our Democracy." According to her campaign website, if elected, Hendricks would work to codify Roe v. Wade and create more living-wage jobs in central Minnesota.

READ MORE: Rep. Tom Emmer projected to win 6th Congressional District race

ST. PAUL, Minn. --  Longtime U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum is projected to hold on to her seat in Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District, defeating Republican challenger May Lor Xiong. 

With 77% of the votes counted, the Associated Press said McCollum won reelection 67-32.

The district has favored Democrats; McCollum handily won reelection in 2020 by more than 30 points and has represented the district for over two decades. 

READ MORE: Longtime U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum defeats Republican challenger May Lor Xiong

MINNEAPOLIS -- Dawanna Witt is projected to be the next Hennepin County Sheriff, and is poised to become the first woman and Person of Color to hold the position.

With nearly all votes counted in the race, Witt holds a 65-35 advantage over the other contender, Joseph Banks.

The position oversees the leading law enforcement agency for the 1.2 million people in Hennepin County, and its 800 employees are in charge of court safety, the Hennepin County Jail, and investigating major crimes.

READ MORE: Dawanna Witt to become Hennepin County's 1st Black sheriff, and 1st female sheriff too

MINNEAPOLIS -- Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan staved off a challenge by Republican Party candidates Dr. Scott Jensen and former Vikings player Matt Birk, becoming yet another in Minnesota's long history of governors winning at least two terms, the AP has projected.

Going into the final days of campaigning, Real Clear Politics identified the match-up Walz and Jensen as a "toss-up" with its averages of polling data showing Walz leading by 4.3 percentage points. Other election analysts predicted the contest would be a relatively easy victory for Walz.

READ MORE: Gov. Walz wins against challenger Dr. Scott Jensen

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar has won a third term representing Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District, defeating Republican challenger Cicely Davis.

The Democratic congresswoman, one of the most visible figures on the political left, has led the Fifth District since 2019. The district - one of the most Democratic in the country, and the most Democratic in Minnesota - includes Minneapolis and 14 surrounding suburbs.

READ MORE: DFL Rep. Ilhan Omar wins 5th Congressional District reelection

Mary Moriarty will serve as the next Hennepin County attorney.

Moriarty, the former chief public defender for Hennepin County, ran against Martha Holton Dimick, a former Hennepin County District Court judge. Holton Dimick conceded late Tuesday evening.

READ MORE: Mary Moriarty becomes next Hennepin County attorney

MINNEAPOLIS -- Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips has been re-elected in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District, holding back a challenge from Republican Party candidate Tom Weiler.

With 96% of the votes counted, the Associated Press said Phillips won the race with 59.7% of the votes.

Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District includes western suburbs like Edina, Minnetonka, and Maple Grove. From 1961 to 2018 the congressional seat was held by Republicans.

That changed in 2018 when DFL challenger Dean Phillips beat incumbent Rep. Erik Paulsen. Phillips won by more than 10 points, and the election solidified the district as Democratic-leaning.

READ MORE: Rep. Dean Phillips reelected to 3rd Congressional District

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem defeated a Democratic state lawmaker on Tuesday to win reelection, leaning heavily on her handling of the coronavirus pandemic in a first term marked by positioning herself for a possible White House bid in 2024.

The Republican governor eased past state Rep. Jamie Smith after raising more than $15 million via a nationwide fundraising network. Noem has said she would serve a full four-year term if reelected, but she generated speculation about higher political ambitions by becoming a fixture in conservative media and making appearances in key 2024 states. Her fundraising haul was a historic amount of money for a South Dakota gubernatorial candidate.

Noem's campaign centered largely on her handling of the state's economy as well as her record of forgoing most government mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 50-year-old Republican vaulted to national prominence within the GOP during her first term after deriding those government mandates.

READ MORE: Noem wins reelection in South Dakota amid 2024 buzz

Republican challenger Jim Schultz speaks with WCCO about the attorney general race after polls closed in Minnesota.

In Wisconsin, where polls also closed at 9 p.m. ET., the Senate race between Sen. Ron Johnson, the Republican incumbent, and Mandela Barnes, his Democratic opponent, is also a toss-up.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds won a second full term Tuesday, campaigning on a record of tax cuts and conservative handling of the state's economy to defeat Democrat Deidre DeJear.

Reynolds was appointed governor in 2017 and narrowly won her first full term a year later, but her run for reelection never seemed in doubt as she has raised nearly $7.5 million and campaigned on her success in building a $2 billion surplus even as she pushed through tax cuts.

Polling for months had shown that Reynolds was strongly favored over DeJear, a Des Moines small business owner whom even after months of campaigning had low name recognition. That likely was due in part to DeJear's inability to air TV ads until recently because of the relatively small $1.3 million she has raised for her campaign.

DeJear was seeking to be the nation's first Black woman elected as governor.

In the sole debate between the candidates, DeJear argued that Republicans led by Reynolds had built up the massive surplus by underfunding key services, such as schools, prisons and mental health care programs.

"While we can boast about a surplus we have to think about at what cost. We see the degradation of our education system happening right before our eyes. We're asking our systems to do more with a lot less," she said. "That surplus is evidence the Iowa taxpayer dollar is not going to work. It's just being hoarded."

Reynolds, who has signed multiple tax cuts into law in recent years, said Democrats were wrong to predict doom if large tax cuts were approved and that Republicans believed Iowans deserved to hold onto as much of their money as possible.

"The bottom line is they think that they know what to do with your money better than you do," Reynolds said. "They want to take your money and develop government programs instead of giving it back to Iowans and letting them choose what do to with their money."

Reynolds typically doesn't acknowledge the role of a surge in federal spending in Iowa's ability to pile up money in reserve or to spend on programs such as broadband expansion or childcare programs.

At their debate, the issue of abortion sparked the most contentious exchange between Reynolds and DeJear.

Reynolds supports elimination of most abortion rights while DeJear favors legislative action to guarantee the right to an abortion in Iowa. Reynolds has asked the Iowa courts to impose a ban on abortions at about 6 weeks, often before women know they are pregnant, and has declined to say whether she would propose a complete ban on the procedure if reelected.

Reynolds also signed legislation prohibiting transgender girls and women from participating in girls' high school sports and women's college athletics while DeJear, an advocate for LGBTQ rights, has said one of her main goals as governor would be to make Iowa a welcome place for everyone.

Republicans believe they have a good chance to capture all statewide offices this year but must convince voters to reject two long-time Democratic incumbents.

Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller, the nation's longest-serving state attorney general, is seeking another term. He's challenged by Republican lawyer Brenna Bird.

Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald, a Democrat, is the longest-serving state treasurer, having been elected in 1982. He is challenged by Republican Iowa Sen. Roby Smith.

State Auditor Rob Sand is seeking a second term, challenged by Republican Todd Halbur.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Republican U.S. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota won reelection to a fourth term Tuesday and will return to a Senate where he is seen as a potential future majority leader.

The 61-year-old Republican held a large fundraising advantage over Democrat Brian Bengs, an Air Force veteran and university professor. Thune is the second-ranking Senate Republican and is seen as a potential pick to succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell once he steps down from leadership.

The most dramatic moment of the campaign for Thune came before it began, when he contemplated retiring rather than running for reelection. He had shown signs of weariness after navigating a Republican Party dominated by former President Donald Trump, who at one point called for a primary challenger to unseat him.

Once he chose to run, Thune easily fended off a pair of primary challengers in June and has ridden out the campaign season in the heavily Republican state by avoiding most engagements with Bengs.

The quiet election year allowed Thune to amass over $17 million in campaign funds — money that could help line up allies if he moves to become Senate leader.

Only one South Dakota politician has won a fourth Senate term — Republican Sen. Karl Mundt, who held a seat from the 1950s to the 1970s. After voting early Tuesday, Thune said he was "hopeful" he would match Mundt's historic run.

He added that he was "confident" the GOP would gain a Senate majority after Tuesday's midterm elections.

"I think the momentum has shifted in the right direction," he told The Associated Press. "We feel really good about where the races are."

BISMARCK, N.D. -- North Dakota Republican John Hoeven has won reelection to a third term in the U.S. Senate.

Hoeven coasted past Rick Becker, a fellow Republican who ran as an independent after losing the GOP endorsement to Hoeven, and Democrat Katrina Christiansen, a University of Jamestown engineering professor and political newcomer.

Hoeven, a former banker who served three terms as governor and won his first two Senate terms easily, vastly outraised his opponents. Federal campaign filings as of Nov. 3 show that Hoeven's campaign raised more than $4 million, compared with Becker's roughly $550,000 and Christiansen's roughly $92,600.

Becker tried to turn that history and money against him at the party convention, portraying Hoeven as a big-spending, big-government politician who had lost touch with his conservative base.

Hoeven countered by touting his involvement in North Dakota's economic development and highlighting his opposition to most of President Joe Biden's policies. Hoeven got a video message of support from former President Donald Trump, who remains popular in the state.

Before he was first elected to the Senate in 2010, Hoeven served as North Dakota's governor for a decade and as head of the state-owned Bank of North Dakota for seven years prior to that. The former Democrat switched parties four years before he became governor.

On Election Night, DFL candidates up and down the ballot will gather at the InterContinental Hotel in St. Paul to await the results. Those candidates include Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, who polls indicate face competitive match-ups.

Democrats have held all statewide offices since 2006, and they hope that is the same story for 2022. Through the weekend, volunteers and supporters worked hard to get out the vote in all corners of the state.  

"Cautiously optimistic," said Hugh Gitlin, the DFL's CD2 vice chair. "All we can do is work as hard as we can to get our message out."

CD2 Congresswoman Angie Craig will not be at DFL headquarters Tuesday night. She's rallying with her supporters in Savage, which is in her district. She is fighting for her seat against Republican Tyler Kistner in a race that's one of the most watched and most competitive in the nation – and it could determine which party controls the U.S. House.

We're at the DFL party that's gathering in St. Paul Tuesday evening, speaking with DFL Chair Ken Martin with under two hours before polls close. 

With less than two hours to go until polls close, we're getting a pulse of the GOP headquarters in St. Louis Park with GOP Chair David Hann. 

There are long lines reported at polling places in Chisago County. Officials there sent WCCO the following statement:

"There has been great voter turnout throughout the County. ISD 2144 has a referendum question that I believe has generated some additional interest. Chisago City is one of those precincts. Because of the number of candidates and questions on the ballot we have a two page ballot which takes longer to complete and process. We have deployed an additional ballot tabulator to that location to help move the lines along faster."

People were still in line to vote around 8:20 p.m. as officials said that the voter turnout was higher than the 2020 presidential election.

Chisago City residents are also casting their ballots for a school board vote, which would increase taxes.

The Secretary of State's office issued the following statement:

"Our office is aware of high voter turnout and reports of long lines in Chisago City. Once we were informed of delays, we immediately contacted local election officials to ensure steps are being taken to address this issue as quickly as possible, which includes bringing in additional election equipment.

"This is one of the largest precincts in the state and has a special two-page ballot due to local referendum questions, the combination of these factors and high turnout are causing delays. Voters should remember that as long as they are in line at 8 p.m. they can cast their ballot tonight."

Voter turnout has slowed down at St. Cloud City Hall early Tuesday evening. Some of the biggest issues bringing Greater Minnesota voters to the polls today was inflation, control of the state legislature and abortion rights.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Both Democrats and Republicans say what ends up happening in the suburbs will be key to tonight's outcome.

In Eden Prairie, rain wasn't keeping voters away at Prairie Hill Church, though some were dismayed to find that they'd come to the wrong voting place due to recent re-districting.

As for the reasons people are voting Tuesday, it varies. One voter told WCCO's Kirsten Mitchell it was because she wanted to elect candidates who support women's reproductive rights.

School board races are also big in Eden Prairie, with five seats open.

Some voters said they were voting strictly down party lines. Others said issues were dictating their votes.

"Economy, crime, inflation, I think those are the big ones for me," voter Tony Albrecht said.

"I'm excited to hopefully continue to ride the momentum of progressive change, especially in Minnesota, which has always been a leading state for justice, especially given the past events in this state," voter Ryan, who didn't provide his last name, said.

Despite the difference in views, all the voters agree with the sentiment that voting is their civic duty.

MINNEAPOLIS -- When it comes to winning races down the ticket, it could all come down to the suburbs, analysts say.

Abou Amara, a Democratic strategist, said that it's likely that people will vote down the ticket, which will be good not only for the governor's race, but for the Second Congressional District as well, where Incumbent Rep. Angie Craig is fighting a rematch against Republican Tyler Kistner in what's been shaping up to be one of the most competitive races in the country.

Republican strategist Amy Koch, on the other hand, said there could also be some ticket-splitting in the suburbs, where for example, people vote Democratic in the governor's race, but Republican for the attorney general's race.

"It's been interesting, we've been traditionally, ticket-splitters, we have not been in the last few cycles," Koch said. "We're going to return to that. Because the suburbs, I think particularly in the AG's race, based on the issue of public safety, the suburbs are going to get out there, and they're going to split."

MINNEAPOLIS -- There's been a steady clip of people coming to the Phyllis Wheatly Community Center in north Minneapolis to cast their ballots.

Voters say they have all different reasons to vote in this election; some say it was the economy and rising inflation that sent them to the polls. 

Everything from high gas and food prices, to barely being able to afford rent or their mortgage payments. Others say it's social issues like abortion that's getting them out to vote. Public safety is also another issue at top of mind.

"We have some issues here in the state. Number one, all this killing. Young kids' violence, killing each other, shooting guns," said John Moore, who was at the Phyllis Wheatly center earlier on Tuesday. "And I know that the police are getting tired, but I think the judges need to step it up a little bit and stop slapping these kids on the wrist and letting them go back home to their mom. If they do the crime, they should do the time. I know we don't want to fill our jails up with the youth but somebody's gotta do something because it's not going to stop around here."

The Phyllis Wheatly Community Center poll workers say they're bracing for an influx of voters later in the evening, because many people in the area will cast their votes after work. The polling place expects to stay busy until they close at 8 p.m. As long as voters are in line by 8 p.m., they'll still be able to cast their ballots, no matter how long the line is.

HUDSON, Wis. -- There are many tight races here in Minnesota, but the same can be said for Wisconsin.

WCCO's David Schuman says Hudson has three polling places and, at one of them at least, lines all day long.

About a thousand voters had come through by late afternoon, and Wisconsin is such an evenly divided political state, most of the people here WCCO talked to really understand the meaning their votes will have.

The governor's race is expected to be razor thin. The senate race is a key one nationally and also very close.

"It's just part of being a citizen of the country. We flew in from Phoenix and came right from the airport just so we could vote today and be here to vote for this," Paul Lindstrom said.

"No absentee ballot, we wanted to do it in person," his wife Holly Lindstrom added.

That couple was pre-registered but Wisconsin voters can register for the first time at their polling place Tuesday with ID and proof of residence.

For some insight into what trends are going into the 2022 midterm elections, we're sharing a snapshot of how things shook out in 2020. President Joe Biden won the state by 230,000 votes, but former president Donald Trump captured the vast majority of the counties in the state. Democrats in general control the Twin Cities (where more than half the state's residents live), along with the Arrowhead region, but Republicans are firmly in control of the remainder of the state.

WCCO contributor Pat Kessler says he'll be watching that northeastern section of the state, which could go Republican for the first time in decades Tuesday night.

Minnesota goes into the midterms with a divided legislature.

There are under four hours left until the polls close, but WCCO's campaign 2022 coverage is just starting, with commentary by correspondent Pat Kessler.

Kessler says there are quite a few close races this year in Minnesota.

That includes the race at the top of the ticket -- the governor's office. A national averaging of polls shows this race is closer than expected, but Gov. Tim Walz has maintained a steady lead throughout the campaign. He's the incumbent but he's facing a lot of strong political headwinds, including President Joe Biden's low approval ratings, a struggling economy, and lingering resentment over COVID-19 pandemic policies. His opponent, Dr. Scott Jensen, has positioned himself as the face of the anti-masking, anti-vaccine, anti-emergency powers movement.

In the attorney general race, incumbent Keith Ellison is facing a serious chance of being ousted by Republican challenger Jim Schultz. Ellison is being accused of mishandling the Feeding Our Future fraud case, and is still taking heat for his voiced support of defunding the Minneapolis Police Department. Schultz is a corporate lawyer who has never held public office or had experience in the courtroom, but was active in the anti-abortion movement. Schultz has been shown pulling ahead of Ellison in recent polls. He would be the first non-Democrat in the position in half a century.

Meanwhile, the secretary of state race has been part of the national conversation about election integrity. Incumbent Steve Simon was first elected in 2014 and is now seeking his third term. His Republican challenger, Kim Crockett, is an avowed election denier, who said the 2020 presidential election was "rigged," and won't say if she'll accept the 2022 election results.

The race for state auditor is usually a pretty sleepy affair, but in this cycle the incumbent could see a major upset. Julie Blaha stands a reasonable chance of losing the seat to her Republican rival Ryan Wilson, a lawyer and businessman. Much like Ellison, she's facing some backlash in the wake of the Feeding Our Future scandal.

It will be only a matter of hours before all of these races are settled.

A tumultuous election season that tugged again at America's searing political divides and raised questions about its commitment to a democratic future comes to a close on Tuesday with top races around the country that will provide a key test of Joe Biden's presidency.

Democrats feared their grip on the U.S. House may be slipping and that their control of the U.S. Senate — once seen as more secure — may loosen. The party's governors in places like Wisconsin, Michigan and Nevada are also staring down serious Republican challengers.

Even Biden, who planned to watch the evening's election returns at the White House, said late Monday night that he thought his party would keep the Senate but "the House is tougher." Asked how that would make governing, his assessment was stark: "More difficult."

"It will be a referendum on the incompetence of this administration," Minnesota Republican Rep. Tom Emmer, who's running the GOP effort to retake the House, said of the election.  

All House seats were up for gabs as were 34 Senate seats — with cliffhangers especially likely in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona. Thirty-six states are electing governors, with many of those races also poised to come down to the slimmest of margins.

The election could have a profound impact on Biden's next two years. Republican control of even one chamber of Congress would leave the president vulnerable to numerous investigations into his family and administration while defending his policy accomplishments, including sweeping infrastructure legislation along with a major health care and social spending package.

An emboldened GOP could also make it harder to raise the debt ceiling and add restrictions to additional support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.

Republicans are betting that messaging focused on the economy, gas prices and crime will resonate with voters at a time of soaring inflation and rising violence. Ultimately, they're confident that outrage stemming from the Supreme Court's decision to eliminate a woman's constitutional right to an abortion has faded and that the midterms have become a more traditional assessment of the president's performance.

Minnesota's gubernatorial candidates, Gov. Tim Walz and Dr. Scott Jensen, have cast their votes in Tuesday's elections.

CHASKA/MINNEAPOLIS -- Polling locations across the state are busy this Election Day as voters lined up in Minneapolis and Chaska before the doors opened Tuesday morning.

Election officials at the Chaska Event Center said voters started showing up at 6:30 a.m. to wait in line, and there's been a steady stream of people ever since eager to make their voices heard.

Within the first three hours of the polls opening, more than 530 ballots were already cast at the event center.

Voters also lined up outside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park waiting for the doors to open, and within the first 30 minutes more than 170 ballots were cast at the two locations inside.

Voters said they had mixed feeling about Election Day.

"I'm generally a hopeful person," said Dan Zimmerman of Minneapolis. "I am waited with bated breath to see how things go this election."

Other voters like Ana Schuneman of Minneapolis said this election season has been a stressful one.

"I'm very stressed out," she said. "I'm not sure how the vote's going. It doesn't really seem like people are paying attention to the issues. They're kind of on one route and they just take it."

Voters like Travis Anderson of Minneapolis find themselves somewhere in the middle.

"I'm kind of in between, I mean I'm not super pessimistic," he said. "I am concerned about some things."

Among the big issues on the minds of voters are abortion, the economy, climate change, Medicaid and social security, as well as crime and safety.

The polls are open until 8 p.m. Anyone in line at that time can still vote.

Minneapolis officials say the city accepted nearly 45,000 early ballots.

City officials say the 44,545 early ballots accepted is about 15% lower than in 2018.

Of those ballots, 17,758 were in-person votes, 22,239 were mailed in and the other 4,548 were other forms of absentee voting.

About 18% of the city's total voting population voted early, officials said.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. in Minnesota, and voters are already filing in.

Polling places will remain open until 8 p.m.

To find your polling place, click here.

• What: CBS News election night coverage 

• Date: Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022

• Time: 4 p.m. CST: Special edition of "Red & Blue" on CBS News streaming 
             7 p.m. CST: "America Decides: Campaign '22" on TV and CBS News streaming
             8 p.m. CST: WCCO Election Night coverage on CBS News Minnesota streaming

• TV: CBS News stations (find your local station here)

• Online stream: Live on CBS News or on your mobile or streaming device

It's that time of year when Americans exercise an important right - collectively on the same day.

We wanted to know: Why is Election Day in November? And why is it on a Tuesday? Good Question. Click here to see WCCO's Jeff Wagner explain how necessity became tradition.