5 takeaways from Minnesota's midterm election

Minnesota Democrats fared well in the midterm election, despite long-standing predictions that national headwinds would favor GOP candidates.

From Congress to the Minnesota Legislature to statewide offices, here are five key things to know about Tuesday's election outcomes — some of which are not yet finalized.

Minnesota Democrats take full legislative control: Democrats held the state House and flipped the Senate, taking control of both chambers of the Legislature for the first time since 2014. The DFL victory defied GOP hopes and many predictions.

"I know you are all wondering what changed everything," DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman told celebrating Democrats early Wednesday morning. "It's the more than 700,000 voters that this team reached out to, and it is exceptional candidates."

In the Senate, Republicans took numerous northern Minnesota seats previously held by the DFL. But Democrats did well in many suburban districts and other seats in greater Minnesota.

However, the DFL's narrow control of both chambers means passing their priorities could still be complicated when legislators gather in January.

Walz broke out to an early win: Gov. Tim Walz handily defeated Republican opponent Scott Jensen, with the race called early in the DFL governor's favor.

Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan secured support around the Twin Cities, along the North Shore and in some counties in the southern First District that the governor had previously represented when he served in Congress.

Jensen, a family physician and former state legislator, and his running mate Matt Birk fared well in much of greater Minnesota. He performed better overall than Jeff Johnson, the Republican candidate who ran against Walz four years ago.

Walz's second term will mark the longest run of Democratic control of the state's top job.

DFL attorney general, auditor won narrow victories: The statewide battles for attorney general and state auditor were tight, but both DFL incumbents Keith Ellison and Julie Blaha beat their Republican challengers.

Ellison defeated Jim Schultz by roughly 20,000 votes. In the auditor's race, Blaha netted about 8,500 more votes than Republican Ryan Wilson.

Both margins are above the threshold for an automatic taxpayer-funded recount, although Blaha's win is not too far above the mark. Both of the Republican candidates conceded.

Minnesota delegation remains the same: The state's congressional lineup is unchanged, with all eight incumbents — four Democrats and four Republicans — returning to the U.S. House.

In the closest and most expensive race, Second Congressional District Democrat Angie Craig kept her seat in a sharply contested rematch against Republican challenger Tyler Kistner. Tens of millions had been funneled into the battle for the district that includes southern suburbs and rural communities.

Control of Congress uncertain: The much-discussed "red wave" fizzled, with concerns over abortion rights helping buoy Democrats across the nation. But Republicans are nonetheless poised to take control of the U.S. House.

The balance of power in the U.S. Senate remained to be seen, with some states' results still uncertain several days after the election and the Georgia contest between Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker headed to a runoff on Dec. 6.

In Wisconsin, GOP U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson defeated Democrat Mandela Barnes by just over a point, a more narrow victory than his two previous wins in 2010 and 2016.