Here’s the math facing the DFL in its quest to retake control of the Minnesota House: gain 11 seats currently controlled by the GOP while holding on to all the seats currently held by Democrats. Republicans, with a twenty-seat margin, are on defense, but could mitigate the loss of some seats by flipping other blue seats to red.

Technically, all 134 seats are on the ballot in November, but the partisan leans of many districts make the election result almost a foregone conclusion. So where do Democrats and their allies hope to make their gains? And where are Republicans firing back?

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Data released last week by the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board on spending by outside political groups — think big hitters like the Minnesota Jobs Coalition — and party-affiliated political spending committees gives a glimpse of where the parties are concentrating their efforts.

If these early reports are any indication, the contest for control of the Minnesota House in 2018 is looking like the battle of the ’burbs.

Spending rings the metro

The charts below visualize the money spent by outside groups and parties on House races so far. (Since each district is worth the same to parties in terms of controlling the House, each district is represented by a square of the same size. The squares are arranged to roughly correspond to the districts’ actual geographical locations.) For clarity, MinnPost has combined expenditures that benefit one party, either by supporting the party’s candidate or attacking her opponent, into a party total.

Those dark rings around the edges of the Metro side of the charts? That’s both parties targeting the suburbs, spending in races from Woodbury to Wayzata and Blaine to Apple Valley.

Here’s spending by outside expenditure groups to benefit Republicans:

Outside IEs for GOP Greater Minnesota Metro 2A House District 2A





No spending data reported



1A House District 1A





No spending data reported



1B House District 1B





No spending data reported



2B House District 2B





No spending data reported



6A House District 6A





No spending data reported



6B House District 6B

Virginia



No spending data reported



Candidates: Dave Lislegard (DFL)

Skeeter Tomczak (R) VirginiaNo spending data reported 3B House District 3B





No spending data reported



3A House District 3A

International Falls



Total spending: $3,906.25



Candidates: Rob Ecklund (DFL) (Incumbent)

Randy Goutermont (R) International FallsTotal spending: $3,906.25 4A House District 4A





No spending data reported



4B House District 4B

Dilworth



No spending data reported



Candidates: Paul Marquart (DFL) (Incumbent)

Jason Peterson (R) DilworthNo spending data reported 5A House District 5A

Pennington



Total spending: $19,364.59



Candidates: John Persell (DFL)

Matt Bliss (R) (Incumbent) PenningtonTotal spending: $19,364.59 5B House District 5B

Cohasset



Total spending: $29,747.77



Candidates: Pat Medure (DFL)

Sandy Layman (R) (Incumbent) CohassetTotal spending: $29,747.77 7B House District 7B





No spending data reported



7A House District 7A





No spending data reported



8A House District 8A





No spending data reported



8B House District 8B





No spending data reported



10A House District 10A





No spending data reported



10B House District 10B





No spending data reported



11A House District 11A

Esko



Total spending: $6,667.29



Candidates: Mike Sundin (DFL) (Incumbent)

Jeff A. Dotseth (R) EskoTotal spending: $6,667.29 30A House District 30A





No spending data reported



30B House District 30B





No spending data reported



35A House District 35A





No spending data reported



35B House District 35B





No spending data reported



31B House District 31B

East Bethel



Total spending: $589.11



Candidates: Sue Larson (DFL)

Calvin (Cal) K. Bahr (R) (Incumbent) East BethelTotal spending: $589.11 32B House District 32B





No spending data reported



12A House District 12A





No spending data reported



9A House District 9A





No spending data reported



9B House District 9B





No spending data reported



15B House District 15B





No spending data reported



11B House District 11B





No spending data reported



34A House District 34A

Rogers



Total spending: $17,392.42



Candidates: Dan Solon (DFL)

Kristin Robbins (R) RogersTotal spending: $17,392.42 36A House District 36A

Champlin



Total spending: $21,691.43



Candidates: Zack Stephenson (DFL)

Bill Maresh (R) ChamplinTotal spending: $21,691.43 36B House District 36B





No spending data reported



37A House District 37A

Spring Lake Park



Total spending: $95,341.06



Candidates: Erin Koegel (DFL) (Incumbent)

Anthony Wilder (R) Spring Lake ParkTotal spending: $95,341.06 37B House District 37B

Blaine



No spending data reported



Candidates: Amir Joseph Malik (DFL)

Nolan West (R) (Incumbent) BlaineNo spending data reported 38A House District 38A





No spending data reported



38B House District 38B

Dellwood



Total spending: $70,549.25



Candidates: Ami Wazlawik (DFL)

Patti Anderson (R) DellwoodTotal spending: $70,549.25 39A House District 39A





No spending data reported



12B House District 12B





No spending data reported



13A House District 13A

Rockville



Total spending: $12,817.50



Candidates: Jim Read (DFL)

Lisa Demuth (R) RockvilleTotal spending: $12,817.50 13B House District 13B





No spending data reported



15A House District 15A





No spending data reported



32A House District 32A





No spending data reported



34B House District 34B





Total spending: $2,500.00



40A House District 40A





No spending data reported



40B House District 40B





No spending data reported



41A House District 41A





No spending data reported



41B House District 41B





No spending data reported



42A House District 42A

Shoreview



Total spending: $26,091.50



Candidates: Kelly Moller (DFL)

Randy Jessup (R) (Incumbent) ShoreviewTotal spending: $26,091.50 42B House District 42B

Roseville



Total spending: $1,312.08



Candidates: Jamie Becker-Finn (DFL) (Incumbent)

Yele-Mis Yang (R) RosevilleTotal spending: $1,312.08 43A House District 43A





No spending data reported



17A House District 17A

Prinsburg



Total spending: $343.07



Candidates: Lyle Koenen (DFL)

Tim Miller (R) (Incumbent) PrinsburgTotal spending: $343.07 17B House District 17B





No spending data reported



14A House District 14A





No spending data reported



14B House District 14B

St. Cloud



Total spending: $9,438.77



Candidates: Dan Wolgamott (DFL)

Jim Knoblach (R) (Incumbent) St. CloudTotal spending: $9,438.77 31A House District 31A





No spending data reported



44A House District 44A

Plymouth



Total spending: $43,658.05



Candidates: Ginny Klevorn (DFL)

Sarah Anderson (R) (Incumbent) PlymouthTotal spending: $43,658.05 45A House District 45A





No spending data reported



45B House District 45B





No spending data reported



59A House District 59A





No spending data reported



60A House District 60A





No spending data reported



66A House District 66A





No spending data reported



66B House District 66B





No spending data reported



67A House District 67A





No spending data reported



43B House District 43B





No spending data reported



39B House District 39B

Stillwater



No spending data reported



Candidates: Shelly Christensen (DFL)

Kathy Lohmer (R) (Incumbent) StillwaterNo spending data reported 16A House District 16A





No spending data reported



18A House District 18A





No spending data reported



29A House District 29A





No spending data reported



29B House District 29B





No spending data reported



44B House District 44B





No spending data reported



46A House District 46A





No spending data reported



59B House District 59B





No spending data reported



60B House District 60B





No spending data reported



64A House District 64A





No spending data reported



65A House District 65A





No spending data reported



67B House District 67B





No spending data reported



53A House District 53A





No spending data reported



16B House District 16B





No spending data reported



18B House District 18B





No spending data reported



47A House District 47A





No spending data reported



33A House District 33A





No spending data reported



33B House District 33B

Chanhassen



Total spending: $2,388.07



Candidates: Kelly Morrison (DFL)

Cindy Pugh (R) (Incumbent) ChanhassenTotal spending: $2,388.07 46B House District 46B





No spending data reported



61A House District 61A





No spending data reported



62A House District 62A





No spending data reported



63A House District 63A





No spending data reported



65B House District 65B





No spending data reported



53B House District 53B

Woodbury



Total spending: $32,811.50



Candidates: Steve Sandell (DFL)

Kelly Fenton (R) (Incumbent) WoodburyTotal spending: $32,811.50 54B House District 54B

Cottage Grove



Total spending: $42,410.35



Candidates: Tina Folch (DFL)

Tony Jurgens (R) (Incumbent) Cottage GroveTotal spending: $42,410.35 19A House District 19A

North Mankato



Total spending: $18,337.66



Candidates: Jeff Brand (DFL)

Kim Spears (R) North MankatoTotal spending: $18,337.66 20A House District 20A





No spending data reported



20B House District 20B

Northfield



Total spending: $26,522.85



Candidates: Todd Lippert (DFL)

Josh Gare (R) NorthfieldTotal spending: $26,522.85 58B House District 58B





No spending data reported



21A House District 21A

Red Wing



Total spending: $2,500.00



Candidates: Lori Ann Clark (DFL)

Barb Haley (R) (Incumbent) Red WingTotal spending: $2,500.00 21B House District 21B





No spending data reported



48A House District 48A

Minnetonka



Total spending: $15,772.18



Candidates: Laurie Pryor (DFL) (Incumbent)

Ellen Cousins (R) MinnetonkaTotal spending: $15,772.18 49A House District 49A

Edina



Total spending: $2,500.00



Candidates: Heather Edelson (DFL)

Dario Anselmo (R) (Incumbent) EdinaTotal spending: $2,500.00 61B House District 61B





No spending data reported



62B House District 62B





No spending data reported



63B House District 63B





No spending data reported



64B House District 64B





No spending data reported



52A House District 52A





No spending data reported



54A House District 54A

St. Paul Park



Total spending: $56,959.01



Candidates: Anne Claflin (DFL)

Keith Franke (R) (Incumbent) St. Paul ParkTotal spending: $56,959.01 22B House District 22B





No spending data reported



19B House District 19B





No spending data reported



23B House District 23B





No spending data reported



25B House District 25B





No spending data reported



24B House District 24B





No spending data reported



25A House District 25A





No spending data reported



28A House District 28A





No spending data reported



47B House District 47B

Chaska



Total spending: $28,041.42



Candidates: Donzel Leggett (DFL)

Greg Boe (R) ChaskaTotal spending: $28,041.42 48B House District 48B

Eden Prairie



Total spending: $47,640.00



Candidates: Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL)

Jenifer W. Loon (R) (Incumbent) Eden PrairieTotal spending: $47,640.00 49B House District 49B





No spending data reported



50A House District 50A





No spending data reported



50B House District 50B





No spending data reported



51A House District 51A





No spending data reported



51B House District 51B





No spending data reported



52B House District 52B

Inver Grove Heights



Total spending: $54,886.67



Candidates: Ruth Richardson (DFL)

Regina Barr (R) (Incumbent) Inver Grove HeightsTotal spending: $54,886.67 22A House District 22A





No spending data reported



23A House District 23A





No spending data reported



24A House District 24A





No spending data reported



26B House District 26B





No spending data reported



26A House District 26A





No spending data reported



27A House District 27A





No spending data reported



27B House District 27B





No spending data reported



28B House District 28B





No spending data reported



55A House District 55A

Shakopee



Total spending: $62,367.30



Candidates: Brad Tabke (DFL)

Erik Mortensen (R) ShakopeeTotal spending: $62,367.30 55B House District 55B





No spending data reported



56A House District 56A

Savage



Total spending: $45,440.00



Candidates: Hunter Cantrell (DFL)

Drew Christensen (R) (Incumbent) SavageTotal spending: $45,440.00 56B House District 56B

Lakeville



Total spending: $62,390.07



Candidates: Alice Mann (DFL)

Roz Peterson (R) (Incumbent) LakevilleTotal spending: $62,390.07 58A House District 58A





No spending data reported



57A House District 57A

Apple Valley



Total spending: $53,595.47



Candidates: Robert Bierman (DFL)

Matt Lundin (R) Apple ValleyTotal spending: $53,595.47 57B House District 57B

Rosemount



Total spending: $29,695.00



Candidates: John Huot (DFL)

Anna Wills (R) (Incumbent) RosemountTotal spending: $29,695.00 Legend Up to $95,341

Up to $95,341 Up to $76,272

Up to $76,272 Up to $57,204

Up to $57,204 Up to $38,136

Up to $38,136 Up to $19,068

Up to $19,068 No spending data reported

Here’s the same data for groups spending to boost DFLers:

Outside IEs for DFL Greater Minnesota Metro 2A House District 2A





No spending data reported



1A House District 1A





No spending data reported



1B House District 1B





No spending data reported



2B House District 2B





No spending data reported



6A House District 6A





No spending data reported



6B House District 6B

Virginia



Total spending: $2,969.75



Candidates: Dave Lislegard (DFL)

Skeeter Tomczak (R) VirginiaTotal spending: $2,969.75 3B House District 3B





No spending data reported



3A House District 3A

International Falls



No spending data reported



Candidates: Rob Ecklund (DFL) (Incumbent)

Randy Goutermont (R) International FallsNo spending data reported 4A House District 4A





No spending data reported



4B House District 4B

Dilworth



Total spending: $8,338.00



Candidates: Paul Marquart (DFL) (Incumbent)

Jason Peterson (R) DilworthTotal spending: $8,338.00 5A House District 5A

Pennington



No spending data reported



Candidates: John Persell (DFL)

Matt Bliss (R) (Incumbent) PenningtonNo spending data reported 5B House District 5B

Cohasset



No spending data reported



Candidates: Pat Medure (DFL)

Sandy Layman (R) (Incumbent) CohassetNo spending data reported 7B House District 7B





No spending data reported



7A House District 7A





No spending data reported



8A House District 8A





No spending data reported



8B House District 8B





No spending data reported



10A House District 10A





No spending data reported



10B House District 10B





No spending data reported



11A House District 11A

Esko



No spending data reported



Candidates: Mike Sundin (DFL) (Incumbent)

Jeff A. Dotseth (R) EskoNo spending data reported 30A House District 30A





No spending data reported



30B House District 30B





No spending data reported



35A House District 35A





No spending data reported



35B House District 35B





No spending data reported



31B House District 31B

East Bethel



No spending data reported



Candidates: Sue Larson (DFL)

Calvin (Cal) K. Bahr (R) (Incumbent) East BethelNo spending data reported 32B House District 32B





No spending data reported



12A House District 12A





No spending data reported



9A House District 9A





No spending data reported



9B House District 9B





No spending data reported



15B House District 15B





No spending data reported



11B House District 11B





No spending data reported



34A House District 34A

Rogers



No spending data reported



Candidates: Dan Solon (DFL)

Kristin Robbins (R) RogersNo spending data reported 36A House District 36A

Champlin



Total spending: $677.32



Candidates: Zack Stephenson (DFL)

Bill Maresh (R) ChamplinTotal spending: $677.32 36B House District 36B





No spending data reported



37A House District 37A

Spring Lake Park



No spending data reported



Candidates: Erin Koegel (DFL) (Incumbent)

Anthony Wilder (R) Spring Lake ParkNo spending data reported 37B House District 37B

Blaine



No spending data reported



Candidates: Amir Joseph Malik (DFL)

Nolan West (R) (Incumbent) BlaineNo spending data reported 38A House District 38A





No spending data reported



38B House District 38B

Dellwood



No spending data reported



Candidates: Ami Wazlawik (DFL)

Patti Anderson (R) DellwoodNo spending data reported 39A House District 39A





No spending data reported



12B House District 12B





No spending data reported



13A House District 13A

Rockville



No spending data reported



Candidates: Jim Read (DFL)

Lisa Demuth (R) RockvilleNo spending data reported 13B House District 13B





No spending data reported



15A House District 15A





No spending data reported



32A House District 32A





No spending data reported



34B House District 34B





No spending data reported



40A House District 40A





No spending data reported



40B House District 40B





No spending data reported



41A House District 41A





No spending data reported



41B House District 41B





No spending data reported



42A House District 42A

Shoreview



Total spending: $429.07



Candidates: Kelly Moller (DFL)

Randy Jessup (R) (Incumbent) ShoreviewTotal spending: $429.07 42B House District 42B

Roseville



No spending data reported



Candidates: Jamie Becker-Finn (DFL) (Incumbent)

Yele-Mis Yang (R) RosevilleNo spending data reported 43A House District 43A





No spending data reported



17A House District 17A

Prinsburg



No spending data reported



Candidates: Lyle Koenen (DFL)

Tim Miller (R) (Incumbent) PrinsburgNo spending data reported 17B House District 17B





No spending data reported



14A House District 14A





No spending data reported



14B House District 14B

St. Cloud



No spending data reported



Candidates: Dan Wolgamott (DFL)

Jim Knoblach (R) (Incumbent) St. CloudNo spending data reported 31A House District 31A





No spending data reported



44A House District 44A

Plymouth



No spending data reported



Candidates: Ginny Klevorn (DFL)

Sarah Anderson (R) (Incumbent) PlymouthNo spending data reported 45A House District 45A





No spending data reported



45B House District 45B





No spending data reported



59A House District 59A





No spending data reported



60A House District 60A





No spending data reported



66A House District 66A





No spending data reported



66B House District 66B





No spending data reported



67A House District 67A





No spending data reported



43B House District 43B





No spending data reported



39B House District 39B

Stillwater



Total spending: $1,000.01



Candidates: Shelly Christensen (DFL)

Kathy Lohmer (R) (Incumbent) StillwaterTotal spending: $1,000.01 16A House District 16A





No spending data reported



18A House District 18A





No spending data reported



29A House District 29A





No spending data reported



29B House District 29B





No spending data reported



44B House District 44B





No spending data reported



46A House District 46A





No spending data reported



59B House District 59B





No spending data reported



60B House District 60B





No spending data reported



64A House District 64A





No spending data reported



65A House District 65A





No spending data reported



67B House District 67B





No spending data reported



53A House District 53A





No spending data reported



16B House District 16B





No spending data reported



18B House District 18B





No spending data reported



47A House District 47A





No spending data reported



33A House District 33A





No spending data reported



33B House District 33B

Chanhassen



No spending data reported



Candidates: Kelly Morrison (DFL)

Cindy Pugh (R) (Incumbent) ChanhassenNo spending data reported 46B House District 46B





No spending data reported



61A House District 61A





No spending data reported



62A House District 62A





No spending data reported



63A House District 63A





No spending data reported



65B House District 65B





No spending data reported



53B House District 53B

Woodbury



No spending data reported



Candidates: Steve Sandell (DFL)

Kelly Fenton (R) (Incumbent) WoodburyNo spending data reported 54B House District 54B

Cottage Grove



No spending data reported



Candidates: Tina Folch (DFL)

Tony Jurgens (R) (Incumbent) Cottage GroveNo spending data reported 19A House District 19A

North Mankato



No spending data reported



Candidates: Jeff Brand (DFL)

Kim Spears (R) North MankatoNo spending data reported 20A House District 20A





No spending data reported



20B House District 20B

Northfield



No spending data reported



Candidates: Todd Lippert (DFL)

Josh Gare (R) NorthfieldNo spending data reported 58B House District 58B





No spending data reported



21A House District 21A

Red Wing



No spending data reported



Candidates: Lori Ann Clark (DFL)

Barb Haley (R) (Incumbent) Red WingNo spending data reported 21B House District 21B





No spending data reported



48A House District 48A

Minnetonka



No spending data reported



Candidates: Laurie Pryor (DFL) (Incumbent)

Ellen Cousins (R) MinnetonkaNo spending data reported 49A House District 49A

Edina



Total spending: $710.90



Candidates: Heather Edelson (DFL)

Dario Anselmo (R) (Incumbent) EdinaTotal spending: $710.90 61B House District 61B





No spending data reported



62B House District 62B





No spending data reported



63B House District 63B





No spending data reported



64B House District 64B





No spending data reported



52A House District 52A





No spending data reported



54A House District 54A

St. Paul Park



Total spending: $1,000.01



Candidates: Anne Claflin (DFL)

Keith Franke (R) (Incumbent) St. Paul ParkTotal spending: $1,000.01 22B House District 22B





No spending data reported



19B House District 19B





No spending data reported



23B House District 23B





No spending data reported



25B House District 25B





No spending data reported



24B House District 24B





No spending data reported



25A House District 25A





No spending data reported



28A House District 28A





No spending data reported



47B House District 47B

Chaska



No spending data reported



Candidates: Donzel Leggett (DFL)

Greg Boe (R) ChaskaNo spending data reported 48B House District 48B

Eden Prairie



No spending data reported



Candidates: Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL)

Jenifer W. Loon (R) (Incumbent) Eden PrairieNo spending data reported 49B House District 49B





No spending data reported



50A House District 50A





No spending data reported



50B House District 50B





No spending data reported



51A House District 51A





No spending data reported



51B House District 51B





No spending data reported



52B House District 52B

Inver Grove Heights



Total spending: $409.39



Candidates: Ruth Richardson (DFL)

Regina Barr (R) (Incumbent) Inver Grove HeightsTotal spending: $409.39 22A House District 22A





No spending data reported



23A House District 23A





No spending data reported



24A House District 24A





No spending data reported



26B House District 26B





No spending data reported



26A House District 26A





No spending data reported



27A House District 27A





No spending data reported



27B House District 27B





No spending data reported



28B House District 28B





No spending data reported



55A House District 55A

Shakopee



No spending data reported



Candidates: Brad Tabke (DFL)

Erik Mortensen (R) ShakopeeNo spending data reported 55B House District 55B





No spending data reported



56A House District 56A

Savage



No spending data reported



Candidates: Hunter Cantrell (DFL)

Drew Christensen (R) (Incumbent) SavageNo spending data reported 56B House District 56B

Lakeville



No spending data reported



Candidates: Alice Mann (DFL)

Roz Peterson (R) (Incumbent) LakevilleNo spending data reported 58A House District 58A





No spending data reported



57A House District 57A

Apple Valley



No spending data reported



Candidates: Robert Bierman (DFL)

Matt Lundin (R) Apple ValleyNo spending data reported 57B House District 57B

Rosemount



No spending data reported



Candidates: John Huot (DFL)

Anna Wills (R) (Incumbent) RosemountNo spending data reported Legend Up to $8,338

Up to $8,338 Up to $6,670

Up to $6,670 Up to $5,002

Up to $5,002 Up to $3,335

Up to $3,335 Up to $1,667

Up to $1,667 No spending data reported

Something to note: while the GOP mostly relies on independent outside groups for spending in House races, the DFL tends to make use of party-affiliated committees. So to get the full picture, spending by official DFL party groups (the DFL House Caucus, the DFL State Central Committee) needs to be taken into account:

Party IEs for DFL Greater Minnesota Metro 2A House District 2A





No spending data reported



1A House District 1A





No spending data reported



1B House District 1B





No spending data reported



2B House District 2B





No spending data reported



6A House District 6A





No spending data reported



6B House District 6B

Virginia



No spending data reported



Candidates: Dave Lislegard (DFL)

Skeeter Tomczak (R) VirginiaNo spending data reported 3B House District 3B





No spending data reported



3A House District 3A

International Falls



No spending data reported



Candidates: Rob Ecklund (DFL) (Incumbent)

Randy Goutermont (R) International FallsNo spending data reported 4A House District 4A





No spending data reported



4B House District 4B

Dilworth



No spending data reported



Candidates: Paul Marquart (DFL) (Incumbent)

Jason Peterson (R) DilworthNo spending data reported 5A House District 5A

Pennington



No spending data reported



Candidates: John Persell (DFL)

Matt Bliss (R) (Incumbent) PenningtonNo spending data reported 5B House District 5B

Cohasset



Total spending: $22,005.64



Candidates: Pat Medure (DFL)

Sandy Layman (R) (Incumbent) CohassetTotal spending: $22,005.64 7B House District 7B





No spending data reported



7A House District 7A





No spending data reported



8A House District 8A





No spending data reported



8B House District 8B





No spending data reported



10A House District 10A





No spending data reported



10B House District 10B





No spending data reported



11A House District 11A

Esko



No spending data reported



Candidates: Mike Sundin (DFL) (Incumbent)

Jeff A. Dotseth (R) EskoNo spending data reported 30A House District 30A





No spending data reported



30B House District 30B





No spending data reported



35A House District 35A





No spending data reported



35B House District 35B





No spending data reported



31B House District 31B

East Bethel



No spending data reported



Candidates: Sue Larson (DFL)

Calvin (Cal) K. Bahr (R) (Incumbent) East BethelNo spending data reported 32B House District 32B





No spending data reported



12A House District 12A





No spending data reported



9A House District 9A





No spending data reported



9B House District 9B





No spending data reported



15B House District 15B





No spending data reported



11B House District 11B





No spending data reported



34A House District 34A

Rogers



No spending data reported



Candidates: Dan Solon (DFL)

Kristin Robbins (R) RogersNo spending data reported 36A House District 36A

Champlin



No spending data reported



Candidates: Zack Stephenson (DFL)

Bill Maresh (R) ChamplinNo spending data reported 36B House District 36B





No spending data reported



37A House District 37A

Spring Lake Park



No spending data reported



Candidates: Erin Koegel (DFL) (Incumbent)

Anthony Wilder (R) Spring Lake ParkNo spending data reported 37B House District 37B

Blaine



Total spending: $11,241.22



Candidates: Amir Joseph Malik (DFL)

Nolan West (R) (Incumbent) BlaineTotal spending: $11,241.22 38A House District 38A





No spending data reported



38B House District 38B

Dellwood



No spending data reported



Candidates: Ami Wazlawik (DFL)

Patti Anderson (R) DellwoodNo spending data reported 39A House District 39A





No spending data reported



12B House District 12B





No spending data reported



13A House District 13A

Rockville



No spending data reported



Candidates: Jim Read (DFL)

Lisa Demuth (R) RockvilleNo spending data reported 13B House District 13B





No spending data reported



15A House District 15A





No spending data reported



32A House District 32A





No spending data reported



34B House District 34B





Total spending: $16,855.90



40A House District 40A





No spending data reported



40B House District 40B





No spending data reported



41A House District 41A





No spending data reported



41B House District 41B





No spending data reported



42A House District 42A

Shoreview



Total spending: $15,435.91



Candidates: Kelly Moller (DFL)

Randy Jessup (R) (Incumbent) ShoreviewTotal spending: $15,435.91 42B House District 42B

Roseville



No spending data reported



Candidates: Jamie Becker-Finn (DFL) (Incumbent)

Yele-Mis Yang (R) RosevilleNo spending data reported 43A House District 43A





No spending data reported



17A House District 17A

Prinsburg



No spending data reported



Candidates: Lyle Koenen (DFL)

Tim Miller (R) (Incumbent) PrinsburgNo spending data reported 17B House District 17B





No spending data reported



14A House District 14A





No spending data reported



14B House District 14B

St. Cloud



Total spending: $37,726.25



Candidates: Dan Wolgamott (DFL)

Jim Knoblach (R) (Incumbent) St. CloudTotal spending: $37,726.25 31A House District 31A





No spending data reported



44A House District 44A

Plymouth



Total spending: $16,884.46



Candidates: Ginny Klevorn (DFL)

Sarah Anderson (R) (Incumbent) PlymouthTotal spending: $16,884.46 45A House District 45A





No spending data reported



45B House District 45B





No spending data reported



59A House District 59A





No spending data reported



60A House District 60A





No spending data reported



66A House District 66A





No spending data reported



66B House District 66B





No spending data reported



67A House District 67A





No spending data reported



43B House District 43B





No spending data reported



39B House District 39B

Stillwater



Total spending: $11,767.65



Candidates: Shelly Christensen (DFL)

Kathy Lohmer (R) (Incumbent) StillwaterTotal spending: $11,767.65 16A House District 16A





No spending data reported



18A House District 18A





No spending data reported



29A House District 29A





No spending data reported



29B House District 29B





No spending data reported



44B House District 44B





No spending data reported



46A House District 46A





No spending data reported



59B House District 59B





No spending data reported



60B House District 60B





No spending data reported



64A House District 64A





No spending data reported



65A House District 65A





No spending data reported



67B House District 67B





No spending data reported



53A House District 53A





No spending data reported



16B House District 16B





No spending data reported



18B House District 18B





No spending data reported



47A House District 47A





No spending data reported



33A House District 33A





No spending data reported



33B House District 33B

Chanhassen



No spending data reported



Candidates: Kelly Morrison (DFL)

Cindy Pugh (R) (Incumbent) ChanhassenNo spending data reported 46B House District 46B





No spending data reported



61A House District 61A





No spending data reported



62A House District 62A





No spending data reported



63A House District 63A





No spending data reported



65B House District 65B





No spending data reported



53B House District 53B

Woodbury



Total spending: $16,272.85



Candidates: Steve Sandell (DFL)

Kelly Fenton (R) (Incumbent) WoodburyTotal spending: $16,272.85 54B House District 54B

Cottage Grove



Total spending: $16,271.07



Candidates: Tina Folch (DFL)

Tony Jurgens (R) (Incumbent) Cottage GroveTotal spending: $16,271.07 19A House District 19A

North Mankato



No spending data reported



Candidates: Jeff Brand (DFL)

Kim Spears (R) North MankatoNo spending data reported 20A House District 20A





No spending data reported



20B House District 20B

Northfield



No spending data reported



Candidates: Todd Lippert (DFL)

Josh Gare (R) NorthfieldNo spending data reported 58B House District 58B





No spending data reported



21A House District 21A

Red Wing



No spending data reported



Candidates: Lori Ann Clark (DFL)

Barb Haley (R) (Incumbent) Red WingNo spending data reported 21B House District 21B





No spending data reported



48A House District 48A

Minnetonka



No spending data reported



Candidates: Laurie Pryor (DFL) (Incumbent)

Ellen Cousins (R) MinnetonkaNo spending data reported 49A House District 49A

Edina



Total spending: $16,592.83



Candidates: Heather Edelson (DFL)

Dario Anselmo (R) (Incumbent) EdinaTotal spending: $16,592.83 61B House District 61B





No spending data reported



62B House District 62B





No spending data reported



63B House District 63B





No spending data reported



64B House District 64B





No spending data reported



52A House District 52A





No spending data reported



54A House District 54A

St. Paul Park



Total spending: $16,279.42



Candidates: Anne Claflin (DFL)

Keith Franke (R) (Incumbent) St. Paul ParkTotal spending: $16,279.42 22B House District 22B





No spending data reported



19B House District 19B





No spending data reported



23B House District 23B





No spending data reported



25B House District 25B





No spending data reported



24B House District 24B





No spending data reported



25A House District 25A





No spending data reported



28A House District 28A





No spending data reported



47B House District 47B

Chaska



No spending data reported



Candidates: Donzel Leggett (DFL)

Greg Boe (R) ChaskaNo spending data reported 48B House District 48B

Eden Prairie



Total spending: $12,802.76



Candidates: Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL)

Jenifer W. Loon (R) (Incumbent) Eden PrairieTotal spending: $12,802.76 49B House District 49B





No spending data reported



50A House District 50A





No spending data reported



50B House District 50B





No spending data reported



51A House District 51A





No spending data reported



51B House District 51B





No spending data reported



52B House District 52B

Inver Grove Heights



Total spending: $16,224.20



Candidates: Ruth Richardson (DFL)

Regina Barr (R) (Incumbent) Inver Grove HeightsTotal spending: $16,224.20 22A House District 22A





No spending data reported



23A House District 23A





No spending data reported



24A House District 24A





No spending data reported



26B House District 26B





No spending data reported



26A House District 26A





No spending data reported



27A House District 27A





No spending data reported



27B House District 27B





No spending data reported



28B House District 28B





No spending data reported



55A House District 55A

Shakopee



No spending data reported



Candidates: Brad Tabke (DFL)

Erik Mortensen (R) ShakopeeNo spending data reported 55B House District 55B





No spending data reported



56A House District 56A

Savage



No spending data reported



Candidates: Hunter Cantrell (DFL)

Drew Christensen (R) (Incumbent) SavageNo spending data reported 56B House District 56B

Lakeville



Total spending: $16,272.85



Candidates: Alice Mann (DFL)

Roz Peterson (R) (Incumbent) LakevilleTotal spending: $16,272.85 58A House District 58A





No spending data reported



57A House District 57A

Apple Valley



Total spending: $4,957.68



Candidates: Robert Bierman (DFL)

Matt Lundin (R) Apple ValleyTotal spending: $4,957.68 57B House District 57B

Rosemount



Total spending: $16,277.86



Candidates: John Huot (DFL)

Anna Wills (R) (Incumbent) RosemountTotal spending: $16,277.86 Legend Up to $37,726

Up to $37,726 Up to $30,181

Up to $30,181 Up to $22,635

Up to $22,635 Up to $15,090

Up to $15,090 Up to $7,545

Up to $7,545 No spending data reported

A couple more caveats: Independent expenditure groups aren’t allowed to coordinate with candidate campaigns to make these campaign expenditures, but they’re generally powered by political insiders who know a thing or two about the candidates they’d like to see win. Handwritten reports (yes, it’s 2018 and some groups still file by hand) may not have all been entered in the data yet, per the CFB. Spending on candidates who lost primaries is not included.

Campaigning in a targeted district

There’s a reason so much spending is happening in the suburbs, said Maureen Shaver, a consultant and former advisor to Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Twelve suburban House seats held by Republicans — from Woodbury out to western suburbs like Excelsior — went for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, creating a map where Democrats, seeking to gain control, are trying to play offense, while Republicans play defense, Shaver said. Other seats that went DFL in 2016, such as the Apple Valley seat currently held by Erin Maye Quade, who is not running for it this November, could be pickups for Republicans.

“If you look at where there is opportunity, suburban women are voters who haven’t necessarily made up their minds. They’re not as partisan, and they vote,” she said.

The House district seeing the most outside spending so far is 37A, according to CFB filings. There, Erin Koegel, DFL-Spring Lake Park, is defending the northern suburban seat she won by less than 3 percentage points in 2016 in a rematch against Republican Anthony Wilder.

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The Coalition of Minnesota Businesses has spent more than $75,000 against Koegel and for Wilder, mostly on a cable ad buy. The Housing First Fund, the Minnesota Jobs Coalition and Pro Jobs Majority have spent $15,000, $4,000 and $1,000, respectively, on communications in favor of Wilder.

It’s not just the northern suburbs that are seeing big outside expenditures.

That longtime Republican Rep. Matt Dean isn’t running again this year for White Bear Lake-area District 38B leaves an open seat. This year, Republican Patti Anderson and DFLer Ami Wazlawik, who lost to Dean by 14 percentage points in a 2016 bid for the seat, are running.

More than $86,000 has been spent on mailers and cable buys attacking Wazlawik by the Minnesota Jobs Coalition and the Coalition of Minnesota Businesses, per CFB records. The Coalition of Minnesota Businesses and the Pro Jobs Majority have spent $2,700 in favor of Anderson.

Wazlawik says she knows of four or five outside money-funded mailers attacking her that have arrived at district homes.

For her part, the candidate thinks all the outside money is bringing negativity to the race.

“I think people don’t like it and they want to be able to make their decisions based on conversations they have with people and what people want to do,” Wazlawik said.

While suburban districts — combined — have drawn the lion’s share of campaign cash, the single race seeing the most independent expenditures flowing from DFL state party arms is 14B, a St. Cloud district that’s in the minority of non-suburban races being targeted.

This St. Cloud-area district has seen nearly $38,000 spent so far to help Democrat Dan Wolgamott, but that could end abruptly. Wolgamott’s opponent, Republican incumbent Jim Knoblach, dropped out of the race last month following allegations that he sexually abused his daughter, reported by Minnesota Public Radio. Non-party groups had spent about $9,400 to help Knoblach.

The Senate special

The Minnesota Senate isn’t up for re-election until 2020, but there is one Senate race on the ballot. There’s a special election in SD13 to fill the vacancy created when Sen. Michelle Fischbach resigned to become lieutenant governor.

Republican Jeff Howe and DFLer Joe Perske are vying for that seat, which Fischbach held by a very comfortable margin of 37 percentage points in 2016.

The GOP’s Senate Victory Fund has spent $61,800 to influence this race. Also spending in that race: the Advance Minnesota Independent Expenditure Committee ($1,500 pro-Howe), Pro Jobs Majority ($49,000 to help Howe) and the DFL State Central Committee ($126,000 pro-Perske).

Groups making independent expenditures toward November are just getting started, Shaver said, speculating voters in competitive districts could see as many as 40 or 50 mailers before Election Day.