Smith, Klobuchar Lead U.S. Senate Races: Poll

U.S. Sen. Tina Smith leads state Sen. Karin Housley, a Republican, by 44 to 37 percent in the special election for Minnesota’s U.S. Senate seat, according to the latest Star Tribune/MPR News Minnesota Poll.

Smith was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton after Al Franken resigned in January. The poll also shows that 15 percent of likely voters are undecided.

In Minnesota's other Senate race, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar has a much larger lead over her Republican challenger Jim Newberger, with a 60 percent to 30 percent advantage with 6 percent undecided.

Other candidates in Smith/Housley race are Sarah Wellington of Legal Marijuana Now and Jerry Trooien, wh0 is unaffiliated, each at 2 percent. Other candidates in the Klobuchar/Newberger race are Dennis Schuller of Legal Marijuana Now at 3 percent and Green Party candidate Paula Overby at 1 percent.

The poll shows that Housley is unfamiliar to many Minnesota voters. About 47 percent of those polled said they did not recognize Housley's name. Twenty-six percent of those polled said they didn't recognize Smith's name.

To see full poll results, click here.

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