Minnesota State Senate District 35

Tue, Nov 3 · Represented by Jim Abeler Republican · Member list as of Oct 28

Jim AbelerRepublican · Incumbent10 years since first win

No published poll names both candidates.Last result · 2022 general: Jim Abeler (R) 50.2, Kari Rehrauer (D) 49.7

Angela NelsonDemocratic

Last election: Jim Abeler (Republican) won by 0.5 points, 2022
On the 2026 ballot: 2 candidates

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Side by side

Left column: AbelerRight column: Nelson

Donor-based spectrum: LiberalCentristConservativeAbelerNo published score for Nelson
Races: Won 12 of 13; None listed
Years since first win: 10; Not available

How these are counted

The spectrum is a published research score, not our rating. How this works. Wins and losses count the races in our results files, the same as each profile.

More about this race

Candidates on the ballot

Angela NelsonDemocratic
Jim AbelerIncumbentRepublican

Source: electionresultsfiles.sos.mn.gov, dated Oct 28

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Republican
Independent
Nonpartisan
More than one party
No member listed

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Official results for Minnesota

History (17 elections for this seat)

Votes for listed candidates: 34,448
Election day: November 8, 2022
District map: Older district map (2022)

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 2022, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanJim AbelerWon(incumbent)	Republican	17,30050.2%	50.2%
DemocraticKari Rehrauer	Democratic	17,11449.7%	49.7%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	340.1%	0.1%

Votes for listed candidates: 49,959
Election day: November 3, 2020
District map: Older district map (2012 to 2021)

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 2020, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanJim AbelerWon(incumbent)	Republican	31,29162.6%	62.6%
DemocraticDavid L. Nelson	Democratic	18,62237.3%	37.3%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	460.1%	0.1%

Votes for listed candidates: 43,951
Election day: November 8, 2016
District map: Older district map (2012 to 2021)

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 2016, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanJim AbelerWon	Republican	29,65567.5%	67.5%
DemocraticRoger Johnson	Democratic	14,21632.4%	32.4%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	800.2%	0.2%

Votes for listed candidates: 42,196
Election day: November 6, 2012
District map: Older district map (2012 to 2021)

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 2012, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanBranden PetersenWon	Republican	22,87454.2%	54.2%
DemocraticPeter Perovich	Democratic	19,25345.6%	45.6%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	690.2%	0.2%

Votes for listed candidates: 38,653
Election day: November 2, 2010
District map: Older district map (2002 to 2011)

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 2010, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanClaire RoblingWon(incumbent)	Republican	26,72369.1%	69.1%
DemocraticTravis Burton	Democratic	11,89230.8%	30.8%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	380.1%	0.1%

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 2006, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanClaire RoblingWon(incumbent)	Republican	29,326100.0%	100.0%

Votes for listed candidates: 35,133
Election day: November 5, 2002
District map: Older district map (2002 to 2011)

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 2002, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanClaire RoblingWon(incumbent)	Republican	23,74667.6%	67.6%
DemocraticJennifer L. Gallagher	Democratic	11,38732.4%	32.4%

Votes for listed candidates: 42,827
Election day: November 7, 2000
District map: Older district map (1992 to 2001)

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 2000, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanClaire RoblingWon(incumbent)	Republican	28,69867.0%	67.0%
DemocraticCary G. Coop	Democratic	10,88525.4%	25.4%
OtherDouglas J. Williams	Other	3,2447.6%	7.6%

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 1996, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanClaire RoblingWon	Republican	19,63157.7%	57.7%
DemocraticJim Berg	Democratic	14,40942.3%	42.3%

Votes for listed candidates: 33,698
Election day: November 3, 1992
District map: Older district map (1992 to 2001)

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 1992, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanTerry JohnstonWon(incumbent)	Republican	17,22151.1%	51.1%
DemocraticJim Daly	Democratic	16,47748.9%	48.9%

Votes for listed candidates: 25,861
Election day: November 6, 1990
District map: Older district map (1982 to 1991)

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 1990, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanEarl RennekeWon(incumbent)	Republican	15,38959.5%	59.5%
DemocraticSteven Read	Democratic	10,47240.5%	40.5%

Votes for listed candidates: 22,978
Election day: November 4, 1986
District map: Older district map (1982 to 1991)

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 1986, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanEarl RennekeWon(incumbent)	Republican	14,06161.2%	61.2%
DemocraticDana Melius	Democratic	8,91738.8%	38.8%

Votes for listed candidates: 26,970
Election day: November 2, 1982
District map: Older district map (1982 to 1991)

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 1982, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanEarl RennekeWon(incumbent)	Republican	14,02252.0%	52.0%
IndependentEarl F. Gnan	Independent	12,94848.0%	48.0%

Votes for listed candidates: 28,755
Election day: November 4, 1980
District map: Older district map (1972 to 1981)

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 1980, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanDuane BensonWon	Republican	19,76168.7%	68.7%
DemocraticJerome Gunderson(incumbent)	Democratic	8,99431.3%	31.3%

Votes for listed candidates: 27,902
Election day: November 2, 1976
District map: Older district map (1972 to 1981)

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 1976, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticJerome GundersonWon	Democratic	13,73649.2%	49.2%
RepublicanElton Redalen	Republican	13,60048.7%	48.7%
IndependentLeta Rongley	Independent	5662.0%	2.0%

Votes for listed candidates: 25,211
Election day: November 7, 1972
District map: Older district map (1972 to 1981)

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 1972, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
NonpartisanLew W. LarsonWon(incumbent)	Other	16,22464.3%	64.3%
NonpartisanEnoch Bennett	Other	8,98735.6%	35.6%

Votes for listed candidates: 16,558
Election day: November 3, 1970
District map: Older district map (1966 to 1971)

Minnesota Senate District 35, 1970 to 2022, 1970, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
NonpartisanWayne G. PophamWon(incumbent)	Other	10,05460.7%	60.7%
NonpartisanSam L. Richardson	Other	6,50439.3%	39.3%

1970 to 2022: State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse), retrieved Oct 28, 2026. Compiled by Carl Klarner (Harvard Dataverse) from official returns; not an official source

Last contest in this district on file: 2022.

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Election Wrld. (2026). Minnesota State Senate District 35, election results 1970 to 2022. https://www.electionwrld.com/mn/senate/35. Retrieved October 31, 2026.

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Sources

Sources: Census TIGERweb Legislative MapServer (120th CDs layer 0, 119th CDs layer 4, 2026 SLD upper layer 1 and lower layer 2) (US Census Bureau, public domain), retrieved Oct 28, 2026; Open Civic Data division identifiers (census_autogenerated us_sldl/us_sldu and openstates state files); also (sld-recent.json): Open Civic Data division identifiers (country-us) (CC0 (repository); also (sld-recent.json): CC0 1.0), retrieved Oct 28, 2026; Open States people (current) CSVs (CC0-1.0 (Open States people data)), retrieved Oct 28, 2026, compiled by Open States volunteers and staff (rosters from state legislature sites) from official returns, not an official source; State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse) (CC0 1.0), retrieved Oct 28, 2026, compiled by Carl Klarner (Harvard Dataverse) from official returns, not an official source.

District id: ocd-division/country:us/state:mn/sldu:35

DataState data (JSON)Sources: State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse), DIME (ODC-BY)Data as of Oct 28, 2026