Democrat Rebecca Otto has won a third term as state auditor, beating Republican challenger Randy Gilbert. The state auditor serves mainly as a watchdog over local government finances.
Minnesota voters have re-elected Lori Swanson to a third term as attorney general, extending the DFL Party's 43-year lock on the office. Swanson defeated GOP state Sen. Scott Newman of Hutchinson.
Republican Tom Emmer has won the congressional seat being vacated by Michele Bachmann. Emmer defeated Democrat and Sartell Mayor Joe Perske and law student John Denney of the Independence Party.
The Minnesota secretary of state's office says more than 189,000 absentee ballots were returned by Tuesday morning. The office says that's up nearly 50 percent from the absentees accepted in the 2010 election.
For Minnesota's Independence and Green parties, the goal this Election Day isn't so much winning. It's nailing down major-party status. The IP wants to keep it. The Green Party wants to get it back.