1998 Minnesota Gubernatorial Election: Jesse Ventura's Historic Victory

Ventura Defeats GOP, Reform Party Candidate Triumphs

In a stunning upset, former professional wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura was elected governor of Minnesota in the 1998 election. Ventura, the candidate of the Reform Party, defeated Republican Party nominee Arne Carlson and garnered 37% of the vote.

Most Candidates in Minnesota Gubernatorial Ballot History

The 1998 election marked a historic moment in Minnesota electoral politics. It featured an unprecedented number of candidates on the gubernatorial ballot, tying the 1974 cycle with eight candidates. The first gubernatorial election in Minnesota was held in 1857, prior to the state's officialhood.