The Minnesota Primary 2018 Update
look within the Democratic primary for Governor suggests a very close race on Tuesday as voters are split among the top candidates. State Attorney\nGeneral Lori Swanson is at 29% and\n\nRep. Tim Walz is at 28%. Former state House Majority leader/Emily list endorsed Erin Murphy is statistical tied with the two at 19%, and 24% are undecided/other.\n\nOn the Republican side, former Gov Tim\n\nPawlenty has a slight advantage over Jeff Johnson for\n\nthe nomination 43% to 34% with 23% undecided. (n=156, +/8%). Driving the Pawlenty vote are\n\nindependent voters in the Republican primary breaking for Pawlenty 66% to 13%, while Republican affiliated vo\n\nters are breaking slightly for Johnson, 39% to 38%.\n\nIt appears at this time that whomever the Democrats and Republicans nominate, Democrats will\n\nstart with a slight lead. In hypothetical ballot tests Swanson leads Pawlenty 44% to 36% (21%\n\nundecided) while Walz leads Pawlenty 44% to 33% (23% undecided). The race tightens if Johnson wins the GOP nomination; against Swanson he trails 37% to 32% (31% Swanson he trails 37% to 32% (31% undecided)\n\nand against Walz, Johnson trails 40% to 33%, with 27% undecided.\n\nPresident DJ Trump\u2019s approval rating is lower in Minnesota than his national numbers with a 35% approval compared with his RCP average of 43%. Trump\u2019s disapproval is about the same as his national numbers at 51%. Driving down Trump's popularity appears to be his recent tariffs, which 49% of Minnesotans think are bad for the state; 18% think the tariffs are good. Emerson University Poll