Elections for state and federal offices were held via first-past-the-post voting.

If only a single candidate sought the nomination for each party, a primary election for that office was not held.

Judicial and several local elections will be held via a nonpartisan blanket primary.

[2] Minnesota's class 2 United States Senate seat was up for election.

The DFL had held Minnesota's class 2 U.S. Senate seat since 2009 when Al Franken defeated Republican incumbent Norm Coleman after a protracted recount following the 2008 election.

Candidates who lost the primary election for the Republican nomination included John Berman, Bob Carney, Cynthia Gail, and James Reibestein.

Candidates who lost the primary election for the DFL nomination included Steve Carlson, Ahmad Hassan, Paula Overby, and Christopher Seymore.

[3] Minnesota's eight seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election.

Justice Paul Thissen was up for his first election following his appointment in 2018 by Governor Mark Dayton.

[5] Kanabec County had a ballot question on the day of the general election.

[8] 22 cities and 12 townships had one or more ballot questions on the day of the general election.

[9] Ely, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, and McGregor each had one or more ballot questions on the day of the primary election.