Editing Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

{{Short description|Political party in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Redirect|DFL}}
{{Use American English|date = August 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = August 2019}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| logo             = MN DFL logo.svg
| colorcode        = {{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}
| abbreviation     = DFL
| chairperson      = Richard Carlbom
| leader1_title    = [[Governor of Minnesota|Governor]]
| leader1_name     = [[Tim Walz]]
| leader2_title    = [[List of lieutenant governors of Minnesota|Lieutenant Governor]]
| leader2_name     = [[Peggy Flanagan]]
| leader3_title    = [[List of presidents of the Minnesota Senate|Senate President]]
| leader3_name     = [[Bobby Joe Champion]]
| leader4_title    = [[List of majority leaders of the Minnesota Senate|Senate Leader]]
| leader4_name     = [[Erin Murphy (Minnesota politician)|Erin Murphy]]
| leader5_title    = [[List of minority leaders of the Minnesota House of Representatives|House Leader]]
| leader5_name     = [[Melissa Hortman]]
| founded          = {{Start date and age|1944|04|15}}
| merger           = [[Minnesota Democratic Party]] and [[Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party]]<ref name=Commitee>{{cite web |date=2023 |title=FARMER-LABOR EDUCATION COMMITTEE |url=https://farmerlaboreducation.com/documentary |website=farmerlaboreducation.com |location=Minnesota |publisher=FARMER-LABOR EDUCATION COMMITTEE |access-date=2025-02-26 |quote=The Farmer-Labor movement founded the most successful third party in U.S. political history. This progressive movement elected candidates and advanced political change in Minnesota from 1917 until it merged with the Democrats in 1944, to form the DFL, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.}}</ref><ref name=TBT>{{cite web |title=ABOUT FARMER-LABOR MOVEMENT: A MINNESOTA STORY |url=https://www.tpt.org/farmer-labor-movement-a-minnesota-story/ |website= |location=Minnesota |publisher=Twin Cities PBS |access-date=2025-02-26 |quote=Documentary about the history of the progressive Farmer-Labor movement in Minnesota from 1915 to 1944, when the party merged with the Democrats to form the DFL, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.}}</ref>
| headquarters     = 255 Plato Boulevard East<br>[[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]], [[Minnesota]]
| youth_wing       = [[Minnesota Young DFL]] (MYDFL)
| ideology         = [[Modern liberalism in the United States|Modern liberalism]]<br>[[Progressivism in the United States|Progressivism]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Paxton |first=Gabriel |date=2024-09-26 |title=Who is Tim Walz? Understanding the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party can help make sense of the VP candidate |url=https://theconversation.com/who-is-tim-walz-understanding-the-minnesota-democratic-farmer-labor-party-can-help-make-sense-of-the-vp-candidate-239027 |website=Theconversation.com |publisher=The Conversation |access-date=2025-02-26 |quote=[…] Walz follows a rich lineage of Midwestern progressive politics that starts with the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, a state affiliate of the Democratic Party that maintains the traditions and values of populist farmer politics in the American Midwest... Over the next several decades, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party pushed for pragmatic and progressive politics within the state’s Democratic Party… Among other Midwestern state political parties, like the Libertarian Party of Minnesota, Farmer-Labor is one of the most progressive and successful.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Walrath-Holdridge |first=Mary |date=2024-08-06 |title=What is the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party? What to know about Tim Walz's Minnesota party |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/08/06/minnesota-democratic-farmer-labor-party-vp-pick-tim-walz/74688152007/ |website=usatoday.com |publisher=USA Today |access-date=2025-02-26 |quote=The party champions progressive politics, including "stable employment with fair wages," "proper education," "accessible and affordable healthcare," "safe communities" and the rights of Minnesotans to "raise and provide for a family" and "retire with dignity and security," according to the DFL website… With such a long history and strong presence in Minnesota, DFL has been tied to several, generally progressive movements and legislation.}}</ref>
| position         = [[Center-left politics|Center-left]]<ref name=DFL>{{cite web |last=Elassar |first=Alaa |date=2020-02-21 |title=Minnesota’s constitution still allows slavery as a punishment for crimes. Now lawmakers are trying to change that |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/21/us/minnesota-remove-slavery-punishment-constitution-trnd/index.html |website=Cnn.com |publisher=CNN |access-date=2025-02-25 |quote=Lesch represents the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, a center-left political party in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is affiliated with the Democratic Party.}}</ref>
| national         = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]<ref name=DFL /><ref>{{cite web |last=Paxton |first=Gabriel |date=2024-09-26 |title=Who is Tim Walz? Understanding the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party can help make sense of the VP candidate |url=https://theconversation.com/who-is-tim-walz-understanding-the-minnesota-democratic-farmer-labor-party-can-help-make-sense-of-the-vp-candidate-239027 |website=Theconversation.com |publisher=The Conversation |access-date=2025-02-26 |quote=[…] Walz follows a rich lineage of Midwestern progressive politics that starts with the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, a state affiliate of the Democratic Party that maintains the traditions and values of populist farmer politics in the American Midwest... Over the next several decades, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party pushed for pragmatic and progressive politics within the state’s Democratic Party.}}</ref>
| colors           = {{Color box|{{party color|Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Red states and blue states|Blue]]
| seats1_title     = [[Minnesota Senate|State Senate]]
| seats1           = {{Composition bar|34|67|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| seats2_title     = [[Minnesota House of Representatives|State House]]
| seats2           = {{Composition bar|67|134|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| seats3_title     = [[Minnesota#Law and government|Statewide Executive Offices]]
| seats3           = {{Composition bar|5|5|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party}}}}
| seats4_title     = [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]]
| seats4           = {{Composition bar|2|2|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| seats5_title     = [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]
| seats5           = {{Composition bar|4|8|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| website          = {{URL|https://dfl.org/}}
| state            = Minnesota
| symbol           = [[File:Democratic Disc.svg|100px]]
}}

The '''Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party''' ('''DFL''') is a political party in the U.S. state of [[Minnesota]] affiliated with the national [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/lcwaN0000152/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=DFL Minnesota Home – MN Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party |url=https://www.dfl.org/ |access-date=2021-11-10 |website=DFL Minnesota |language=en-US}}</ref> The party was formed by a merger between the [[Minnesota Democratic Party]] and the [[Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party]] in 1944.<ref name=":0" /> The DFL is one of two state Democratic Party affiliates with a different name from that of the national party, the other being the neighboring [[North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party]].<ref name=":2" />

The DFL controls four of Minnesota's eight [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House]] seats, both of its [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] seats, the [[Minnesota Senate]], and all other statewide offices, including the [[Governor of Minnesota|governorship]], making it the dominant party in the state. Its main political rival is the [[Republican Party of Minnesota]].

==History==
During the 1930s, the [[Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party|Farmer–Labor Party]] had gained traction with radical platforms that challenged economic and social inequalities, backed by Governor [[Floyd B. Olson]]. However, by 1938, the party's influence waned due to internal conflicts and accusations of incompetence and corruption, leading to a loss in gubernatorial elections.

On April 15, 1944, the Farmer–Labor Party merged with the [[Minnesota Democratic Party]], forming the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL).<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=The Minneapolis Star (Minneapolis, Minnesota) |date=April 15, 1944 |page=Saturday Page 1 |title=Democrats, F-L, Complete Fusion}}</ref> Leading the merger effort were Elmer Kelm, the head of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the founding [[chairman]] of the DFL; [[Elmer Benson]], effectively the head of the Farmer–Labor Party by virtue of his leadership of its dominant left-wing faction; and rising star [[Hubert Humphrey|Hubert H. Humphrey]], who chaired the Fusion Committee that accomplished the union and then went on to chair its first state convention.<ref name=":1">"DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR PARTY." n.d. Minnesota Historical Society. Accessed May 26, 2023. http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00586.xml .</ref> This merger marked a pivotal shift influenced by academic liberals at the [[University of Minnesota]] who advocated for integrating the [[New Deal|New Deal's]] progressive reforms within a more centralized, managerial political framework, transitioning from the movement-oriented politics of the Farmer-Labor party to a structure that emphasized interest-group pluralism.

During the post-war years, the DFL confronted various social issues, including [[antisemitism]], which reflected broader national conversations about race and ethnicity. The DFL also navigated with its stance on [[Civil rights movement|civil rights]] and economic justice, influenced significantly by Minnesota's small but politically active [[African Americans|African American]] communities. In early 1946, as a [[Fair Employment Practice Committee|Fair Employment Practice]] (FEPC) bill was moving through Congress, there was a surge of civil rights activism in the Twin Cities.<ref name="o936">{{cite journal |last=Kortenhof |first=Kurt |date=2022-07-07 |title=Searching for Bright Sunshine: The Civil Rights and Black Power Movements – 1945-1975 |url=https://mlpp.pressbooks.pub/mnhist/chapter/searching-for-bright-sunshine-the-civil-rights-and-black-power-movements-1945-1975/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Minnesota Libraries Publishing Project}}</ref>

Factional battles were intensified by differing views on how to address the left-wing influence within the party, with significant conflicts between proponents of [[Henry A. Wallace]]'s progressive policies and the more moderate wing led by figures like [[Hubert Humphrey]]. By the party's second convention in 1946, tensions had re-emerged between members of the two former parties. While the majority of delegates supported left-wing policies, Humphrey managed to install a more conservative, anti-communist ally, [[Orville Freeman]], as party secretary.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mitau |first=G. Theodore |date=1955 |title=The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Schism of 1948 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20175887 |journal=Minnesota History |volume=34 |issue=5 |pages=187–194 |jstor=20175887 |issn=0026-5497}}</ref> Some disaffected Farmer–Labor leaders such as Benson moved to the [[Progressive Party (United States, 1948)|Progressive Party]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news|last1=Nathanson|first1=Iric|date=February 26, 2016|title=The caucus that changed history: 1948's battle for control of the DFL|publisher=Minnesota Post|url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2016/02/caucus-changed-history-1948s-battle-control-dfl/}}</ref> Freeman [[1954 Minnesota gubernatorial election|was elected]] the state's first DFL governor in 1954. Important members of the party have included Humphrey and [[Walter Mondale]], who each went on to be [[United States Senate|United States senators]], [[Vice President of the United States|vice presidents of the United States]], and unsuccessful [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominees for [[President of the United States|president]]; [[Eugene McCarthy]], a U.S. senator who ran for the Democratic [[1968 United States presidential election|presidential nomination in 1968]] as an [[Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War|anti-Vietnam War]] candidate; [[Paul Wellstone]], a U.S. senator from 1991 to 2002 who became an icon of [[Populism|populist]] [[progressivism]];<ref>{{cite web |author=Loughlin, Sean |date=October 25, 2002 |title=Wellstone Made Mark as a Liberal Champion |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/25/elec02.mn.s.wellstone.obit/ |access-date=June 23, 2014 |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> [[Amy Klobuchar]], a U.S. senator who ran for the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|Democratic nomination for president]] in 2020;<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Allan |title=Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar announces run for president |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/democratic-sen-amy-klobuchar-announces-run-president-n969796 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=30 September 2024 |date=10 February 2024}}</ref> [[Dean Phillips]], a [[US Representative|U.S. representative]] who ran for the [[2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries|Democratic nomination for president in 2024]];<ref>{{cite web |last1=John |first1=Arit |last2=McKend |first2=Eva |last3=Pellish |first3=Aaron |title=House Democrat Dean Phillips launches primary challenge against President Biden |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/26/politics/dean-phillips-presidential-campaign-launch/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=30 September 2024 |date=27 October 2023}}</ref> and Tim Walz, two-term governor chosen as [[Kamala Harris]]' running mate in the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Epstein |first=Reid J. |date=2024-08-06 |title=Tim Walz Is Kamala Harris's Choice for Vice President: Live Election Updates |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/08/06/us/kamala-harris-vp-trump-election |access-date=2024-08-06 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The DFL has had varied success beginning in the late 1970s and through the late 2010s, in part due to the growth of single-issue splinter groups after reforms brought by the national party.<ref name=":1" />

Following the [[2022 Minnesota elections]], the DFL became the dominant party in the state, retaining every executive office, winning majorities in the state [[2020 Minnesota House of Representatives election|House]] and [[2022 Minnesota Senate election|Senate]], and re-electing all incumbent congressional representatives. With their newly elected [[Government trifecta|trifecta]], the DFL pursued a progressive agenda in their [[93rd Minnesota Legislature|first legislative session]]. Governor Tim Walz described the session as "the most successful legislative session, certainly in many of our lifetimes and maybe in Minnesota history."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-23 |title='Transformational' and also 'bonkers:' Minnesota Legislature ends big session |url=https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2023/05/transformational-and-also-bonkers-minnesota-legislature-ends-its-session-of-historic-spending-policy-changes/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref> The newly elected government passed large expansions in welfare programs and spending. Notable policies passed include the expansion of [[Abortion in Minnesota|abortion rights]], new programs to provide reproductive healthcare, protection of [[gender affirming care]],<ref name="cbsnews.com">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-27 |title="It's a good day for freedoms": Walz signs bills on reproductive freedom and trans refuge, ban on conversion therapy |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/its-a-good-day-for-freedoms-walz-signs-bills-on-reproductive-freedom-and-trans-refuge-ban-on-conversion-therapy/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> the [[Cannabis legalization in the United States|legalization of recreational cannabis]], indexing education spending to inflation, investments in public transit, and paid sick leave for Minnesota workers.<ref name="cbsnews.com"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-26 |title=Weed, abortion, paid leave, rebates and taxes: A look at what MN lawmakers got done this year |url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/minnesota/weed-abortion-paid-leave-rebates-and-taxes-a-look-at-what-mn-lawmakers-got-done-this-year |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Duluth News Tribune |language=en}}</ref> Former president [[Barack Obama]] praised the state government's actions, saying that "Minnesota has made progress on a whole host of issues – from protecting abortion rights and new gun safety measures to expanding access to the ballot and reducing child poverty. These laws will make a real difference in the lives of Minnesotans."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turtinen |first=Melissa |date=2023-05-26 |title=Barack Obama tweeted about Minnesota as reason you should vote |url=https://www.fox9.com/news/barack-obama-tweeted-about-minnesota-citing-reason-why-you-should-vote |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=FOX 9 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Party organization ==
[[File:MinnesotaDFLconvention2006-06-08.JPG|thumb|right|DFL logo used on the [[lectern]] of the 2006 state convention]]
The DFL is governed by a state central committee, which is composed of representatives from each of the state's congressional districts. The state central committee is responsible for setting the party's platform, electing party officers, and conducting other party business. The DFL also has a [[constitution]] and [[By-law|bylaws]] that govern its operations.<ref name=":3" />

=== Community caucuses ===
The party operates several community caucuses that organize and represent different communities within Minnesota; they not defined geographically.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Community Caucuses and Outreach Organizations |url=https://dfl.org/communitycaucus/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=DFL Minnesota |language=en-US}}</ref> These include the:

* African American Caucus, which organizes [[African Americans]].
* Asian Pacific American Caucus, which organizes [[Asian Americans]] and [[Pacific Islander Americans]].
* Disability Caucus, which advocates for Minnesotans with [[Disability|disabilities]].
* Environmental Caucus, which advocates for [[environmental protection]] and [[sustainability]].
* Feminist Caucus, which advocates for [[Feminism|feminist]] and women's issues.
* Hmong American Caucus, which organizes [[Hmong Americans]], the largest Asian American group in Minnesota.
* Latino Caucus ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''Movimiento'') which organizes [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino Americans]].
* Minnesota Young DFL, which organizes young people.
* Muslim Caucus, which organizes [[Muslims]], who make up between 1–2% of the state.<ref name="Masadde 2016 s257">{{cite web |last=Masadde |first=Mohmud |date=2016-06-21 |title=Large Muslim Community in Minnesota Observes Ramadan |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/large-muslim-community-in-minnesota-observes-ramadan/3384969.html |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Voice of America}}</ref>
* Native People's Caucus, which organizes and supports [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] and [[Tribe (Native American)|tribal communities]].
* Progressive Caucus, which advocates for [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive policies]] and opposes "[[Campaign finance reform in the United States|corporate money in politics]]".
* Rural Caucus, which supports the state's [[Geography of Minnesota#Regions|rural communities]].
* Senior Caucus, which advocates for the interests of [[Old age|senior citizens]].
* Somali American Caucus, which organizes [[Somali Americans]], who make up over 1% of the state's population.<ref name="CBS Minnesota 2019 r5812">{{cite web |date=2019-07-23 |title=What Is The History Behind Minnesota's Somali-American Community? |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-somali-american-population-good-question/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=CBS Minnesota}}</ref><ref name="Masadde 2016 s257" />
* Stonewall DFL, which organizes [[LGBT rights in Minnesota|LGBTQ+ Minnesotans]].
* Veterans Caucus, which organizes [[veteran]]s and their families.

== Voter base ==
The DFL's base of support is diverse, and it includes urban and suburban voters, [[Working class in the United States|working class]] voters, [[Labor unions in the United States|labor unions]], [[environmentalist]]s, and other progressive groups.<ref name="Orrick 2018 n616">{{cite web |last=Orrick |first=Dave |date=2018-11-07 |title=This map shows the DFL dominated the suburbs. How'd they do it? |url=https://www.twincities.com/2018/11/07/this-map-shows-the-dfl-dominated-the-suburbs-big-time-howd-they-do-it/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Twin Cities}}</ref> The party has a strong presence in the [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul|Twin Cities metropolitan area]].<ref name="Orenstein 2023 m709">{{cite web |last=Orenstein |first=Walker |date=2023-06-16 |title=The DFL's legislative majority is concentrated in the Twin Cities metro. In a consequential session, what did that mean for Greater Minnesota? |url=https://www.minnpost.com/greater-minnesota/2023/06/the-dfls-legislative-majority-is-concentrated-in-the-twin-cities-metro-in-a-consequential-session-what-did-that-mean-for-greater-minnesota/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=MinnPost}}</ref> The DFL has lost support in traditional DFL strongholds such as the [[Iron Range]] since 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orenstein |first=Walker |date=2022-10-11 |title=Will the Iron Range finally go red? Control of Legislature could hinge on 7 seats in northeastern Minnesota |url=http://www.minnpost.com/elections/2022/10/will-the-iron-range-finally-go-red-control-of-legislature-could-hinge-on-7-seats-in-northeastern-minnesota/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Current elected officials==
===Federal===
====U.S. Senate====

* [[Seniority in the United States Senate|Senior senator]]: [[Amy Klobuchar]] (since 2007)
* Junior senator: [[Tina Smith]] (since 2018)

====U.S. House of Representatives====
Out of the [[Minnesota's congressional districts|eight seats]] Minnesota is apportioned in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]], four are held by members of the DFL.

* [[Minnesota's 2nd congressional district|2nd district]]: [[Angie Craig]] (since 2019)
* [[Minnesota's 3rd congressional district|3rd district]]: [[Kelly Morrison]] (since 2025)
* [[Minnesota's 4th congressional district|4th district]]: [[Betty McCollum]] (since 2001)
* [[Minnesota's 5th congressional district|5th district]]: [[Ilhan Omar]] (since 2019)

===State===

==== Statewide ====

* [[Governor of Minnesota|Governor]]: [[Tim Walz]] (since 2019)
* [[List of lieutenant governors of Minnesota|Lieutenant Governor]]: {{Sortname|last=Flanagan|first=Peggy}} (since 2019)
* [[Minnesota Secretary of State|Secretary of State]]: [[Steve Simon]] (since 2015)
* [[Minnesota State Auditor|State Auditor]]: {{Sortname|last=Blaha|first=Julie}} (since 2019)
* [[Attorney General of Minnesota|Attorney General]]: {{Sortname|last=Ellison|first=Keith}} (since 2019)

==== State legislative leaders ====
*[[List of presidents of the Minnesota Senate|President of the Senate]]: [[Bobby Joe Champion]] (since 2023)
*[[List of majority leaders of the Minnesota Senate|Senate majority leader]]: [[Erin Murphy (Minnesota politician)|Erin Murphy]] (since 2023)
*[[List of speakers of the Minnesota House of Representatives|House speaker]]: [[Melissa Hortman]] (since 2019)
*[[List of majority leaders of the Minnesota House of Representatives|House majority leader]]: [[Jamie Long]] (since 2023)

===Municipal===

==== Mayors ====
* [[Minneapolis]] ([[List of mayors of Minneapolis|list]]): [[Jacob Frey]] (since 2018) (1)
* [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]] ([[List of mayors of Saint Paul, Minnesota|list]]): [[Melvin Carter (politician)|Melvin Carter]] (since 2018) (2) 
* [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]] ([[List of mayors of Duluth, Minnesota|list]]): [[Roger Reinert]] (since 2024) (5)

==Leadership==
[[File:The Minnesota DFL Booth at the Minnesota State Fair (53956129681).jpg|thumb|DFL booth at the 2024 [[Minnesota State Fair]]]]

=== Current ===
* Chair: [[Richard Carlbom]] (since 2025)<ref name="newchair25">{{cite news |author1=MPR News Staff |title=Richard Carlbom ascends to top role at Minnesota DFL Party as its first new chair in 14 years |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/03/29/richard-carlbom-ascends-to-top-role-at-minnesota-dfl-party |access-date=March 29, 2025 |work=[[Minnesota Public Radio]] |date=March 29, 2025}}</ref>
* Vice chair: Marge Hoffa (since 2011)
* Second vice chair: Shivanthi Sathanandan (since 2021)
* Treasurer: Lindy Sowmick (since 2025)
* Secretary: Ceri Everett (since 2021)
* Outreach officer: Quentin Wathum-Ocama (since 2025)

===Historical party chairs===
Through 1975, the party's constitution called for the election of a separate chairman and chairwoman to head state party activities. Only the chairman received compensation. In the mid-1970s, the party voted to change the titles of the chief party offices to chair and associate chair, specifying that they must both be salaried and must be of the opposite sex.

{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
====State chairmen====
* Elmer Kelm (1944–1946)
* Harold Barker (1946–1948)
* Orville Freeman (1948–1950)
* Karl Rolvaag (1950–1954)
* Ray Hemenway (1954–1960)
* Adrian Winkel (1960–1961)
* George Farr (1961–1967)
* Warren Spannaus (1967–1969)
* Richard Moe (1969–1972)
* Hank Fischer (1972–1975)
{{col-break}}
====State chairwomen====
* Ione Hunt (1948–1950)
* Dorothy Jacobson (1950–1956)
* Anne Vetter (1956–1958)
* Geri Joseph (1958–1960)
* Evelyn Malone (1960–1962)
* Pat St. Angelo (1962–1963)
* Betty Kane (1963–1968)
* [[Koryne Kaneski Horbal|Koryne Horbal]] (1968–1972)
{{col-end}}

====State chairs====
* Koryne Horbal (1968–1977)
* Claire Rumpel (1978–1979)
* [[Mike Hatch]] (1980–1983)
* Mary Monahan (1983–1985)
* Ruth Stanoch (1985–1989)
* [[Todd Otis]] (1990–1993)
* Rick Stafford (1993–1995)
* [[Mark Andrew]] (1995–1997)
* [[Richard Senese]] (1997–1999)
* [[Mike Erlandson]] (1999–2005)
* Brian Melendez (2005–2011)
* [[Ken Martin]] (2011–2025)
* Richard Carlbom (2025-present)

== Electoral history ==

=== Federal ===

==== U.S. Senate ====
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%;text-align:right;"
|+ [[Classes of United States senators|Class 1]]
! Year
! Candidate
! Votes
! %
! Won
|-
![[1946 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1946]]
| Theodore Jorgenson
| 349,520
| 39.8
|{{no}}
|-
![[1952 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1952]]
| [[William E. Carlson]]
| 590,011
| 42.5
|{{no}}
|-
![[1958 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1958]]
| rowspan="2"|[[Eugene McCarthy]]
| 608,847
| 53.0
|{{yes}}
|-
![[1964 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1964]]
| 931,363
| 60.3
|{{yes}}
|-
![[1970 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1970]]
|rowspan="2"| [[Hubert Humphrey]]
| 788,256
| 57.8
|{{yes}}
|-
![[1976 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1976]]
| 1,290,736
| 67.5
|{{yes}}
|-
![[1978 United States Senate special election in Minnesota|1978 (sp)]]
| [[Bob Short]]
| 538,675
| 34.6
|{{no}}
|-
![[1982 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1982]]
| [[Mark Dayton]]
| 840,401
| 46.6
|{{no}}
|-
![[1988 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1988]]
|[[Skip Humphrey]]
|856,694
|40.9
|{{No}}
|-
![[1994 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1994]]
|[[Ann Wynia]]
|781,860
|44.1
|{{No}}
|-
![[2000 United States Senate election in Minnesota|2000]]
|Mark Dayton
|1,181,553
|48.8
|{{Yes}}
|-
![[2006 United States Senate election in Minnesota|2006]]
|rowspan="4"|[[Amy Klobuchar]]
|1,278,849
|58.1
|{{Yes}}
|-
! [[2012 United States Senate election in Minnesota|2012]]
| 1,854,595
| 65.2
| {{yes}}
|-
! [[2018 United States Senate election in Minnesota|2018]]
| 1,566,174
| 60.3
| {{yes}}
|-
![[2024 United States Senate election in Minnesota|2024]]
| 1,792,441
| 56.2
| {{yes}}
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%;text-align:right;"
|+ [[Classes of United States senators|Class 2]]
! Year
! Candidate
! Votes
! %
! Won
|-
![[1948 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1948]]
|rowspan="3"| [[Hubert Humphrey]]
| 729,494
| 59.8
|{{yes}}
|-
![[1954 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1954]]
| 642,193
| 56.4
|{{yes}}
|-
![[1960 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1960]]
| 884,168
| 57.5
|{{yes}}
|-
![[1966 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1966]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Walter Mondale]]
| 685,840
| 53.9
|{{yes}}
|-
![[1972 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1972]]
| 981,320
| 56.7
|{{yes}}
|-
![[1978 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1978]]
| [[Wendell R. Anderson]]
| 638,375
| 40.4
|{{No}}
|-
![[1984 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1984]]
|[[Joan Growe]]
|852,844
|41.3
|{{No}}
|-
![[1990 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1990]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Paul Wellstone]]
|911,999
|50.5
|{{Yes}}
|-
![[1996 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1996]]
|1,098,430
|50.3
|{{Yes}}
|-
![[2002 United States Senate election in Minnesota|2002]]
|Walter Mondale{{efn|Replaced [[Paul Wellstone]] following his death.}}
|1,067,246
|47.3
|{{No}}
|-
![[2008 United States Senate election in Minnesota|2008]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Al Franken]]
|1,212,629
|42.0
|{{Yes}}
|-
! [[2014 United States Senate election in Minnesota|2014]]
| 1,053,205
| 53.2
| {{yes}}
|-
! [[2018 United States Senate special election in Minnesota|2018 (sp)]]
| rowspan="2"|[[Tina Smith]]
| 1,370,540
| 53.0
| {{yes}}
|-
! [[2020 United States Senate election in Minnesota|2020]]
| 1,566,522
| 48.7
| {{yes}}
|}
{{col-end}}
{{notelist}}

==== U.S. House ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%;text-align:right;"
!Election
!Votes
! %
!Seats ([[Minnesota's congressional districts|MN]])
!±
|-
![[2000 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota|2000]]
|1,234,204
|52.2
|{{Composition bar|5|8|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1
|-
![[2002 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota|2002]]
|1,097,911
|49.9
|{{Composition bar|4|8|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1
|-
![[2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota|2004]]
|1,399,624
|51.4
|{{Composition bar|4|8|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
![[2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota|2006]]
|1,152,621
|52.9
|{{Composition bar|5|8|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
|-
![[2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota|2008]]
|1,612,480
|57.5
|{{Composition bar|5|8|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
![[2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota|2010]]
|1,002,026
|47.9
|{{Composition bar|4|8|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
|-
![[2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota|2012]]
|985,760
|55.5
|{{Composition bar|5|8|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
|-
![[2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota|2014]]
|985,760
|50.2
|{{Composition bar|5|8|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
![[2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota|2016]]
|1,434,590
|50.2
|{{Composition bar|5|8|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
![[2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota|2018]]
|1,420,748
|55.1
|{{Composition bar|5|8|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
![[2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota|2020]]
|1,554,373
|48.7
|{{Composition bar|4|8|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
|-
![[2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota|2022]]
|1,250,479
|50.1
|{{Composition bar|4|8|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
![[2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota|2024]]
| 1,579,742
| 50.2
|{{Composition bar|4|8|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|}

=== State ===

==== Governor ====
{{See also|Governor of Minnesota}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%;text-align:right;"
|+
! Year
! Candidate
! Votes
! %
! Won
|-
! [[1944 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1944]]
| [[Byron G. Allen]]
| 430,132
| 37.8
| {{no}}
|-
! [[1946 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1946]]
| [[Harold H. Barker]]
| 349,565
| 39.7
| {{no}}
|-
! [[1948 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1948]]
| [[Charles Halsted]]
| 545,766
| 45.1
| {{no}}
|-
! [[1950 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1950]]
| [[Harry H. Peterson]]
| 400,637
| 38.3
| {{no}}
|-
! [[1952 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1952]]
| rowspan="5"|[[Orville Freeman]]
| 624,480
| 44.0
| {{no}}
|-
! [[1954 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1954]]
| 607,099
| 52.7
| {{yes}}
|-
! [[1956 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1956]]
| 731,180
| 51.4
| {{yes}}
|-
! [[1958 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1958]]
| 658,326
| 56.8
| {{yes}}
|-
! [[1960 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1960]]
| 760,934
| 49.1
| {{no}}
|-
! [[1962 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1962]]
| rowspan="2"|[[Karl Rolvaag]]
| 619,842
| 49.7
| {{yes}}
|-
! [[1966 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1966]]
| 607,943
| 46.9
| {{no}}
|-
! [[1970 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1970]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Wendell Anderson]]
| 737,921
| 54.0
| {{yes}}
|-
! [[1974 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1974]]
| 786,787
| 62.8
| {{yes}}
|-
! [[1978 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1978]]
| rowspan="4"| [[Rudy Perpich]]
| 718,244
| 45.3
| {{no}}
|-
! [[1982 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1982]]
| 718,244
| 58.8
| {{yes}}
|-
! [[1986 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1986]]
| 790,138
| 56.1
| {{yes}}
|-
! [[1990 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1990]]
| 836,218
| 46.8
| {{no}}
|-
! [[1994 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1994]]
| [[John Marty]]
| 589,344
| 34.1
| {{no}}
|-
! [[1998 Minnesota gubernatorial election|1998]]
| [[Skip Humphrey]]
| 587,528
| 28.1
| {{no}}
|-
! [[2002 Minnesota gubernatorial election|2002]]
| [[Roger Moe]]
| 821,268
| 36.5
| {{no}}
|-
! [[2006 Minnesota gubernatorial election|2006]]
| [[Mike Hatch]]
| 1,007,460
| 45.7
| {{no}}
|-
! [[2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election|2010]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Mark Dayton]]
| 919,232
| 43.6
| {{yes}}
|-
! [[2014 Minnesota gubernatorial election|2014]]
| 989,113
| 50.1
| {{yes}}
|-
! [[2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election|2018]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Tim Walz]]
| 1,393,096
| 53.8
| {{yes}}
|-
! [[2022 Minnesota gubernatorial election|2022]]
| 1,312,349
| 52.3
| {{yes}}
|}

==== Minnesota Senate ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%;text-align:right;"
!Election
!Votes
! %
!Seats
!±
!Majority
|-
![[1976 Minnesota Senate election|1976]]
|1,024,624
|51.9
|{{Composition bar|49|67|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| 
| {{yes}}
|-
![[1980 Minnesota Senate election|1980]]
|1,024,624
|49.3
|{{Composition bar|46|67|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 3
| {{yes}}
|-
![[1982 Minnesota Senate election|1982]]
|951,287
|51.8
|{{Composition bar|42|67|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 4
| {{yes}}
|-
![[1986 Minnesota Senate election|1986]]
|765,584
|52.6
|{{Composition bar|47|67|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 5
| {{yes}}
|-
![[1990 Minnesota Senate election|1990]]
|990,513
|53.7
|{{Composition bar|46|67|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| {{yes}}
|-
![[1992 Minnesota Senate election|1992]]
|1,247,594
|53.0
|{{Composition bar|45|67|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{Decrease}} 1
| {{yes}}
|-
![[1996 Minnesota Senate election|1996]]
|1,129,095
|51.1
|{{Composition bar|42|67|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{Decrease}} 3
| {{yes}}
|-
![[2000 Minnesota Senate election|2000]] 
|1,219,497
|49.6
|{{Composition bar|39|67|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{Decrease}} 3 
| {{yes}}
|-
![[2002 Minnesota Senate election|2002]]
|1,080,975
|49.7
|{{Composition bar|35|67|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{Decrease}} 4
| {{yes}}
|-
![[2006 Minnesota Senate election|2006]]
|1,183,319
|55.3
|{{Composition bar|44|67|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{increase}} 6
| {{yes}}
|-
![[2010 Minnesota Senate election|2010]]
|1,005,132
|48.9
|{{Composition bar|30|67|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{decrease}} 16
| {{no}}
|-
![[2012 Minnesota Senate election|2012]]
|1,532,065
|55.8
|{{Composition bar|39|67|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{increase}} 9
| {{yes}}
|-
![[2016 Minnesota Senate election|2016]]
|1,409,775
|50.1
|{{Composition bar|33|67|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{decrease}} 6
| {{no}}
|-
![[2020 Minnesota Senate election|2020]]
|1,577,523
|49.8
|{{Composition bar|33|67|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{steady}} 0
| {{no}}
|-
![[2022 Minnesota Senate election|2022]]
|1,239,682
|50.7
|{{Composition bar|34|67|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
| {{yes}}
|}

==== Minnesota House ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%;text-align:right;"
!Election
!Votes
! %
!Seats
!±
!Majority
|-
![[2002 Minnesota House of Representatives election|2002]]
|1,034,046
|47.8
|{{Composition bar|52|134|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{decrease}} 11
| {{no}}
|-
![[2004 Minnesota House of Representatives election|2004]]
|1,381,412
|51.2
|{{Composition bar|66|134|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{increase}} 13
| {{no}}
|-
![[2006 Minnesota House of Representatives election|2006]]
|1,169,298
|54.9
|{{Composition bar|85|134|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{increase}} 19
| {{yes}}
|-
![[2008 Minnesota House of Representatives election|2008]]
|1,516,633
|54.9
|{{Composition bar|87|134|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
| {{yes}}
|-
![[2010 Minnesota House of Representatives election|2010]]
|995,853
|48.5
|{{Composition bar|62|134|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{decrease}} 25
| {{no}}
|-
![[2012 Minnesota House of Representatives election|2012]]
|1,468,364
|53.7
|{{Composition bar|73|134|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{increase}} 11
| {{yes}}
|-
![[2014 Minnesota House of Representatives election|2014]]
|944,961
|49.3
|{{Composition bar|62|134|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{decrease}} 11
| {{no}}
|-
![[2016 Minnesota House of Representatives election|2016]]
|1,366,375
|49.1
|{{Composition bar|57|134|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{decrease}} 4
| {{no}}
|-
![[2018 Minnesota House of Representatives election|2018]]
|1,388,938
|54.4
|{{Composition bar|75|134|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{increase}} 18
| {{yes}}
|-
![[2020 Minnesota House of Representatives election|2020]]
|1,601,357
|51.1
|{{Composition bar|70|134|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{decrease}} 5
| {{yes}}
|-
![[2022 Minnesota House of Representatives election|2022]]
|1,237,520
|50.9
|{{Composition bar|70|134|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{steady}} 0
| {{yes}}
|-
![[2024 Minnesota House of Representatives election|2024]]
|1,545,213
|49.9
|{{Composition bar|67|134|hex={{party color|Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}}}
|{{decrease}} 3
| {{no}}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|United States|Politics}}
* [[List of political parties in Minnesota]]
* [[Political party strength in Minnesota]]
* [[Politics of Minnesota]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Delton, Jennifer A. ''Making Minnesota Liberal: Civil Rights and the Transformation of the Democratic Party''. Minneapolis: [[University of Minnesota Press]], 2002.
* [[Haynes, John Earl]]. "Farm Coops and the Election of Hubert Humphrey to the Senate". ''[[Agricultural History (journal)|Agricultural History]]'' 57, no. 2 (Fall 1983).
* Haynes, John Earl. ''Dubious Alliance: The Making of Minnesota's DFL Party''. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1984.
* Henrickson, Gary P. ''Minnesota in the "McCarthy" Period: 1946–1954''. Ph.D. diss. [[University of Minnesota]], 1981.
* Lebedoff, David. ''The 21st Ballot: A Political Party Struggle in Minnesota''. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1969.
* Lebedoff, David. ''Ward Number Six''. New York: Scribner, 1972. Discusses the entry of radicals into the DFL party in 1968.
* {{cite journal|last1=Mitau|first1= G. Theodore|title=The Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Schism of 1948|journal=[[Minnesota History]]|volume= 34|issue=5|date=Spring 1955|jstor=20175887|url=http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/34/v34i05p187-194.pdf|pages=187–194}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party}}
* {{Official website|https://dfl.org/}}

{{MinnesotaPoliticalParties}}
{{U.S. Democratic Party state parties}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party}}
[[Category:Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party| ]]
[[Category:Democratic Party (United States) by state]]
[[Category:Political parties in Minnesota|Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1944]]
[[Category:1944 establishments in Minnesota]]