2014 Minnesota Secretary of State election
The 2014 Minnesota Secretary of State election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the Minnesota Secretary of State. Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor Secretary of State Mark Ritchie did not run for re-election to a third term in office. Primary elections were held on August 12, 2014. The Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) nominated State Representative Steve Simon, the Republican Party nominated State Representative Dan Severson and the Independence Party nominated business process analyst Bob Helland. Simon narrowly defeated Severson in the general election. Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary. The Democratic–Farmer–Labor  endorsement was made on May 31, 2014. State Representative Steve Simon was endorsed by acclamation over fellow State Representative Debra Hilstrom, who conceded before the results of the first ballot were announced and withdrew from the race. Republican primary. The Republican endorsement was made on May 30, 2014. Former state representative Dan Severson, the Republican nominee for secretary of state in 2010, was endorsed after one ballot when former state senator John Howe withdrew his name from consideration. Independence primary. The Independence Party endorsement was made on May 17, 2014. Bob Helland won the endorsement. 2014 Minnesota Secretary of State