Minnesota State Senate District 65

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

No published poll names both candidates.Last result · 2022 general (different candidates): Sandy Pappas (D) 80.1, Paul Holmgren (R) 19.7

_ RoccoRepublican

Last election: Sandy Pappas (Democratic) won by 60.4 points, 2022
On the 2026 ballot: 2 candidates

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Candidates on the ballot

Open seat

The current holder, Sandy Pappas, is not on the candidate list.

Robyn GulleyDemocratic
_ RoccoRepublican

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: 25,246
Election day: November 8, 2022
District map: Older district map (2022)

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 2022, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticSandy PappasWon(incumbent)	Democratic	20,22880.1%	80.1%
RepublicanPaul Holmgren	Republican	4,96019.6%	19.6%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	580.2%	0.2%

Votes for listed candidates: 38,729
Election day: November 3, 2020
District map: Older district map (2012 to 2021)

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 2020, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticSandy PappasWon(incumbent)	Democratic	31,55281.5%	81.5%
RepublicanPaul Holmgren	Republican	7,06418.2%	18.2%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	1130.3%	0.3%

Votes for listed candidates: 34,380
Election day: November 8, 2016
District map: Older district map (2012 to 2021)

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 2016, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticSandy PappasWon(incumbent)	Democratic	27,74380.7%	80.7%
RepublicanJason Delmont	Republican	6,47918.9%	18.9%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	1580.5%	0.5%

Votes for listed candidates: 33,487
Election day: November 6, 2012
District map: Older district map (2012 to 2021)

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 2012, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticSandy PappasWon(incumbent)	Democratic	27,36581.7%	81.7%
RepublicanRick Karschnia	Republican	5,99817.9%	17.9%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	1240.4%	0.4%

Votes for listed candidates: 18,509
Election day: November 2, 2010
District map: Older district map (2002 to 2011)

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 2010, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticSandy PappasWon(incumbent)	Democratic	13,31271.9%	71.9%
RepublicanRick Karschnia	Republican	3,49018.9%	18.9%
IndependentAmy E. Smith	Independent	1,6809.1%	9.1%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	270.1%	0.1%

Votes for listed candidates: 19,535
Election day: November 7, 2006
District map: Older district map (2002 to 2011)

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 2006, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticSandra PappasWon(incumbent)	Democratic	14,86676.1%	76.1%
RepublicanLori Windels	Republican	3,30816.9%	16.9%
OtherBill Dahn	Other	1,3617.0%	7.0%

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 2002, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticSandy PappasWon(incumbent)	Democratic	16,351100.0%	100.0%

Votes for listed candidates: 22,431
Election day: November 7, 2000
District map: Older district map (1992 to 2001)

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 2000, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticSandy PappasWon(incumbent)	Democratic	17,10676.3%	76.3%
RepublicanFred Meyer	Republican	5,32523.7%	23.7%

Votes for listed candidates: 20,888
Election day: November 5, 1996
District map: Older district map (1992 to 2001)

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 1996, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticSandy PappasWon(incumbent)	Democratic	16,34678.3%	78.3%
RepublicanMichael J. Gubash	Republican	4,54221.7%	21.7%

Votes for listed candidates: 23,181
Election day: November 3, 1992
District map: Older district map (1992 to 2001)

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 1992, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticSandy PappasWon(incumbent)	Democratic	17,46975.4%	75.4%
RepublicanKen Udoibok	Republican	5,71224.6%	24.6%

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 1990, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticSandy PappasWon	Democratic	13,85274.5%	74.5%
RepublicanFred Meyer	Republican	4,75425.6%	25.6%

Votes for listed candidates: 11,100
Election day: November 4, 1986
District map: Older district map (1982 to 1991)

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 1986, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticDonald MoeWon(incumbent)	Democratic	7,90571.2%	71.2%
RepublicanMyrtle Johnson	Republican	3,19528.8%	28.8%

Votes for listed candidates: 18,309
Election day: November 2, 1982
District map: Older district map (1982 to 1991)

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 1982, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticDonald MoeWon(incumbent)	Democratic	14,15577.3%	77.3%
RepublicanVerna M. Kragnes	Republican	4,15422.7%	22.7%

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 1980, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticDonald MoeWon	Democratic	10,33969.9%	69.9%
RepublicanJohn Diehl	Republican	4,45530.1%	30.1%

Votes for listed candidates: 15,099
Election day: November 2, 1976
District map: Older district map (1972 to 1981)

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 1976, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticNicholas D. ColemanWon(incumbent)	Democratic	11,43675.7%	75.7%
RepublicanJoe Rheinberger	Republican	3,16521.0%	21.0%
OtherLibby Moser	Other	4983.3%	3.3%

Votes for listed candidates: 14,932
Election day: November 7, 1972
District map: Older district map (1972 to 1981)

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 1972, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
NonpartisanNicholas D. ColemanWon(incumbent)	Other	11,16374.8%	74.8%
NonpartisanJ. H. Nicklas	Other	3,76925.2%	25.2%

Votes for listed candidates: 18,770
Election day: November 3, 1970
District map: Older district map (1966 to 1971)

Minnesota Senate District 65, 1970 to 2022, 1970, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
NonpartisanGerald WilletWon	Other	10,23954.5%	54.5%
NonpartisanRobert V. Leiseth(incumbent)	Other	8,53145.5%	45.5%

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 65, election results 1970 to 2022. https://www.electionwrld.com/mn/senate/65. 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:65

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