Minnesota State Senate District 53

Tue, Nov 3 · Represented by Matt Klein Democratic (not a candidate in 2026) · Member list as of Oct 28

No published poll names both candidates.Last result · 2022 general (different candidates): Matt Klein (D) 58.2, Chris Rausch (R) 41.6

Todd PodgorskiRepublican

Last election: Matt Klein (Democratic) won by 16.6 points, 2022
On the 2026 ballot: 2 candidates

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Candidates on the ballot

Open seat

The current holder, Matt Klein, is not on the candidate list.

Paul CumingsDemocratic
Todd PodgorskiRepublican

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

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Official results for Minnesota

History (17 elections for this seat)

Votes for listed candidates: 36,916
Election day: November 8, 2022
District map: Older district map (2022)

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 2022, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticMatt KleinWon(incumbent)	Democratic	21,50158.2%	58.2%
RepublicanChris Rausch	Republican	15,37341.6%	41.6%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	420.1%	0.1%

Votes for listed candidates: 54,629
Election day: November 3, 2020
District map: Older district map (2012 to 2021)

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 2020, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticSusan KentWon(incumbent)	Democratic	29,54454.1%	54.1%
RepublicanMary Giuliani Stephens	Republican	25,03045.8%	45.8%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	550.1%	0.1%

Votes for listed candidates: 45,718
Election day: November 8, 2016
District map: Older district map (2012 to 2021)

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 2016, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticSusan KentWon(incumbent)	Democratic	23,03550.4%	50.4%
RepublicanSharna Wahlgren	Republican	22,63649.5%	49.5%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	470.1%	0.1%

Votes for listed candidates: 43,702
Election day: November 6, 2012
District map: Older district map (2012 to 2021)

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 2012, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticSusan KentWon	Democratic	22,78152.1%	52.1%
RepublicanTed Lillie(incumbent)	Republican	20,85747.7%	47.7%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	640.1%	0.1%

Votes for listed candidates: 34,910
Election day: November 2, 2010
District map: Older district map (2002 to 2011)

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 2010, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanRoger C. ChamberlainWon	Republican	18,39452.7%	52.7%
DemocraticSandy Rummel(incumbent)	Democratic	16,48347.2%	47.2%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	330.1%	0.1%

Votes for listed candidates: 36,093
Election day: November 7, 2006
District map: Older district map (2002 to 2011)

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 2006, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticSandy RummelWon	Democratic	19,17953.1%	53.1%
RepublicanMady Reiter(incumbent)	Republican	16,91446.9%	46.9%

Votes for listed candidates: 37,535
Election day: November 5, 2002
District map: Older district map (2002 to 2011)

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 2002, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanMady ReiterWon(incumbent)	Republican	19,48451.9%	51.9%
DemocraticPaul L. Auger	Democratic	18,05148.1%	48.1%

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 2000, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanMady ReiterWon	Republican	20,92755.6%	55.6%
DemocraticBill Krueger	Democratic	16,73744.4%	44.4%

Votes for listed candidates: 34,992
Election day: November 5, 1996
District map: Older district map (1992 to 2001)

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 1996, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanLinda RunbeckWon(incumbent)	Republican	20,84059.6%	59.6%
DemocraticRenee Jenson	Democratic	14,15240.4%	40.4%

Votes for listed candidates: 36,373
Election day: November 3, 1992
District map: Older district map (1992 to 2001)

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 1992, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanLinda RunbeckWon	Republican	18,98652.2%	52.2%
DemocraticKathy Keeley	Democratic	17,38747.8%	47.8%

Votes for listed candidates: 34,192
Election day: November 6, 1990
District map: Older district map (1982 to 1991)

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 1990, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanFritz KnaakWon(incumbent)	Republican	17,23650.4%	50.4%
DemocraticKevin Chandler	Democratic	16,95649.6%	49.6%

Votes for listed candidates: 20,785
Election day: November 4, 1986
District map: Older district map (1982 to 1991)

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 1986, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanFritz KnaakWon(incumbent)	Republican	11,25654.1%	54.1%
DemocraticCarl Jensen	Democratic	9,52945.9%	45.9%

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 1982, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanFritz KnaakWon	Republican	14,13551.7%	51.7%
DemocraticJane Preston	Democratic	13,19948.3%	48.3%

Votes for listed candidates: 44,505
Election day: November 4, 1980
District map: Older district map (1972 to 1981)

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 1980, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanHoward KnutsonWon(incumbent)	Republican	25,31656.9%	56.9%
DemocraticMargaret J. Tilley	Democratic	13,84431.1%	31.1%
IndependentGene A. Rechtzigel	Independent	5,34512.0%	12.0%

Votes for listed candidates: 37,572
Election day: November 2, 1976
District map: Older district map (1972 to 1981)

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 1976, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanHoward KnutsonWon(incumbent)	Republican	21,35456.8%	56.8%
DemocraticRobert A. Lebens	Democratic	16,21843.2%	43.2%

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 1972, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
NonpartisanHoward KnutsonWon	Other	18,48874.0%	74.0%
NonpartisanRoy D. Gwin	Other	6,47925.9%	25.9%

Votes for listed candidates: 21,852
Election day: November 3, 1970
District map: Older district map (1966 to 1971)

Minnesota Senate District 53, 1970 to 2022, 1970, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
NonpartisanWinston W. BordenWon	Other	12,50657.2%	57.2%
NonpartisanGordon Rosenmeier(incumbent)	Other	9,34642.8%	42.8%

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 53, election results 1970 to 2022. https://www.electionwrld.com/mn/senate/53. 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:53

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