# Minnesota Secretary of State *Elected office of the State of Minnesota that publishes the State's election results and its register of commission appointments* The **Minnesota Secretary of State** is an elected office of [[Minnesota]]. The office's own website carries a biography of [[Steve Simon]] as officeholder.[^1] In 2022 the [[Star Tribune]] reported that Simon, a Democrat, had won a third term.[^2] The office publishes the State's historical and current election results, down to precinct and county canvass figures.[^3][^10] It also keeps a public register of appointments to state commissions.[^4] The office's account of its own work can be set beside its documented record. On August 12, 2026, it issued a release titled *Historic Voter Turnout in 2026 Primary*, which states that Minnesota would "once again lead the nation in voter turnout".[^5] On December 23, 2025, Minnesota Public Radio News reported that Simon had moved to have a federal lawsuit over state voter data dismissed.[^6] The record cited here does not contain the complaint, its docket number, what it alleges, or its current status. ## Officeholders [[Joan Growe]] held the office from 1975 to 1999, according to her entry in the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library's legislative database.[^7] Her party is not stated in the record cited here. Simon's election to the office was reported by the University of Minnesota Law School on November 24, 2014.[^8] The *Star Tribune* reported his third-term win in the 2022 election.[^2] The National Association of Secretaries of State announced that Simon had been named its president.[^9] The date of that announcement is not in the record cited here. The office's website carries his official biography.[^1] ## Published records ### Election results The office maintains a historical election results page.[^3] It also runs a results portal that publishes precinct and county statistics.[^10] For Wright County in the 2024 general election, the portal shows the following figures:[^10] - 51 of 51 precincts reporting - 100,263 registered voters - 3,922 same-day registrations - 40,661 mail and absentee ballots The county's registered-voter count, as published there, rose from 75,968 in 2016 to 87,361 in 2020 and 100,263 in 2024.[^10] The office's 2020 presidential table by county shows a Republican margin in Wright County of 23,543 votes, or 28.56 points.[^11] In 2024 the portal shows Donald Trump with 57,211 votes (63.54%) and Kamala Harris with 30,883 (34.30%), out of 90,041 cast in the county.[^10] The office's canvass pages also record Washington County [[county attorney]] contests across four cycles: - **2010 primary (August 10).** Peter Orput received 9,498 votes (47.54%) of 19,980 cast, with 90 of 90 precincts reporting.[^12] - **2010 general (November 2).** Orput won with 46,685 votes (60.61%). The county had 146,702 voters registered at 7 a.m.[^13] - **2014 general (November 4).** Orput received 64,470 votes (99.17%) of 65,008 cast.[^14] - **2018 general (November 6).** Orput received 89,314 votes (99.02%), with 87 of 87 precincts reporting.[^15] The same page records the [[sheriff]] race, which Starry won with 65,677 votes to Hoppe's 46,978.[^15] - **2022 general (November 8).** Magnuson received 87,218 votes (99.26%), with 83 of 83 precincts reporting.[^16] ### Commissions and appointments The office's commissions and appointments register lists Position 183, the county attorney seat on the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines [[Commission]].[^4] It records Peter Orput in that seat for two terms: - October 12, 2016 to April 22, 2019 - April 23, 2019 to August 1, 2020, ending in resignation[^4] His membership also appears in the commission's 2019 report to the [[Legislature]].[^17] Minnesota Lawyer reported his departure from the commission.[^18] ## Statements and litigation The office's August 12, 2026 release, *Historic Voter Turnout in 2026 Primary*, presents Minnesota's turnout as leading the nation. It uses the phrase "once again lead the nation in voter turnout".[^5] According to MPR News, Simon moved in December 2025 to end a federal lawsuit over state voter data.[^6] The court filings are not in the record cited here. As a result, this article does not state the following: - the plaintiff - the docket - the documentary predicate - the court's disposition ## 2026 election The 2026 contest for the office is covered by a Ballotpedia entry and a Wikipedia article.[^19][^20] Inforum and Hometown Source each reported that Tad Jude announced a candidacy for the office.[^21][^22] His party is not stated in the record cited here. ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Steve Simon, Democrat, Secretary of State; elected 2014, re-elected to a third term in 2022.[^1][^8][^2] - Joan Growe, Secretary of State, 1975–1999.[^7] - Tad Jude, announced candidate for the office in 2026.[^21] ### What - The office publishes historical results and precinct- and county-level canvass data.[^3][^10] - It keeps the state commissions and appointments register, including Sentencing Guidelines Commission Position 183.[^4] - It issued the August 12, 2026 turnout release.[^5] ### When - 1975–1999: Growe's tenure.[^7] - November 24, 2014: Simon's election reported.[^8] - 2022: Simon's third-term win reported.[^2] - December 23, 2025: MPR report on Simon's motion in the voter-data lawsuit.[^6] - August 12, 2026: the office's turnout release.[^5] ### Where - Wright County, 2024: 100,263 registered voters, 3,922 same-day registrations and 40,661 mail and absentee ballots.[^10] - Washington County: county attorney canvasses for 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.[^12][^13][^14][^15][^16] ## See also - [[Minnesota]] - [[Steve Simon]] - [[Joan Growe]] ## Notes [^1]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *About Steve Simon* (office website) — official biography of Simon as officeholder. https://www.sos.mn.gov/about-the-office/about-the-office/about-steve-simon/ [^2]: *Star Tribune*, *Democrat Steve Simon wins third term as Minnesota secretary of state* (2022) — reports Simon's party and third-term win. https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-secretary-of-state-election-results-steve-simon-kim-crockett-2022/600222728 [^3]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *Historical Election Results* — the office's historical results page. https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/ [^4]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *Commissions and Appointments, Position 183* — Sentencing Guidelines Commission county attorney seat; Peter Orput, Oct. 12, 2016 – Apr. 22, 2019 and Apr. 23, 2019 – Aug. 1, 2020, ended in resignation. https://commissionsandappointments.sos.mn.gov/Position/Details/183 [^5]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *Historic Voter Turnout in 2026 Primary* (Aug. 12, 2026) — the office's release containing "once again lead the nation in voter turnout". https://www.sos.mn.gov/about-the-office/news-room/historic-voter-turnout-in-2026-primary/ [^6]: Minnesota Public Radio News, *Minnesota Secretary of State Simon moves to spike federal lawsuit over state voter data* (Dec. 23, 2025) — reports Simon's motion in the voter-data suit. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/12/23/minnesota-secretary-of-state-simon-moves-to-spike-federal-lawsuit-over-state-voter-data [^7]: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, *Joan Growe, Minnesota Secretary of State, 1975–1999* (legislative database) — service dates. https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?id=10191 [^8]: University of Minnesota Law School, *Steve Simon ('96) Elected Minnesota Secretary of State* (Nov. 24, 2014) — reports Simon's 2014 election. https://law.umn.edu/news/2014-11-24-steve-simon-96-elected-minnesota-secretary-state [^9]: National Association of Secretaries of State, *NASS Names Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon as President* — association presidency. https://www.nass.org/node/2598 [^10]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *Election Results* (portal) — Wright County 2024: 51 of 51 precincts, 100,263 registered, 3,922 same-day registrations, 40,661 mail and absentee ballots; registered voters 75,968 (2016), 87,361 (2020); 2024 president: Trump 57,211 (63.54%), Harris 30,883 (34.30%), n=90,041. https://electionresults.sos.mn.gov/ [^11]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *2020 U.S. President margin by county* — Wright County +23,543 Republican (28.56 points). https://www.sos.mn.gov/media/hzbbrzge [^12]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *Election Results, State Primary, Aug. 10, 2010, Washington County, County Attorney* — Orput 9,498 (47.54%); 90 of 90 precincts; 19,980 votes. https://electionresults.sos.mn.gov/results/Index?ErsElectionId=70&scenario=LocalCounty&CountyId=82&show=Go [^13]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *State General Election, Nov. 2, 2010, Washington County* — Orput 46,685 (60.61%); 146,702 registered at 7 a.m. https://electionresults.sos.mn.gov/results/Index?ErsElectionId=69&scenario=LocalCounty&CountyId=82&show=Go [^14]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *State General Election, Nov. 4, 2014, Washington County* — Orput 64,470 (99.17%); 65,008 cast. https://electionresults.sos.mn.gov/results/Index?ErsElectionId=20&scenario=LocalCounty&CountyId=82&show=Go [^15]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *State General Election, Nov. 6, 2018, Washington County* — Orput 89,314 (99.02%); 87 of 87; Sheriff: Starry 65,677, Hoppe 46,978. https://electionresults.sos.mn.gov/results/Index?ErsElectionId=115&scenario=LocalCounty&CountyId=82&show=Go [^16]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *State General Election, Nov. 8, 2022, Washington County* — Magnuson 87,218 (99.26%); 83 of 83. https://electionresults.sos.mn.gov/results/Index?ErsElectionId=149&scenario=LocalCounty&CountyId=82&show=Go [^17]: Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, *2019 Report to the Legislature* (2019) — corroborates Orput's commission membership. https://mn.gov/msgc-stat/documents/reports/2017/2019MinnSentencingGuidelinesCommReportLegislature.pdf [^18]: Minnesota Lawyer, *report on Orput leaving the Sentencing Guidelines Commission* (2020) — reports his departure. https://minnlawyer.com/2020/07/31/orput-leaves-sentencing-guidelines-commission/ [^19]: Ballotpedia, *Minnesota Secretary of State election, 2026* — the 2026 contest. https://ballotpedia.org/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State_election,_2026 [^20]: Wikipedia, *2026 Minnesota Secretary of State election* — the 2026 contest. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Minnesota_Secretary_of_State_election [^21]: Inforum, *Tad Jude announces bid for Minnesota secretary of state* — Jude's announcement. https://www.inforum.com/news/minnesota/tad-jude-announces-bid-for-minnesota-secretary-of-state [^22]: Hometown Source, *Tad Jude announces candidacy for Minnesota Secretary of State* — Jude's announcement. https://www.hometownsource.com/press_and_news/free/tad-jude-announces-candidacy-for-minnesota-secretary-of-state/article_fe79c408-abb5-4c24-8a49-1d238c06886c.html