Which Minnesota state agency maintains campaign finance and administrative inquiry records, and how to file a formal data request?

1. Which agency holds statewide campaign finance and administrative inquiry records

Statewide campaign finance regulation, recordkeeping, and public disclosure are centralized under the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, which was created by statute to administer the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Act and to make campaign, lobbying, and economic interest information accessible to the public ^{[1] [3] [7]}. The Board hosts the official campaign finance site and requires most state-level filers to submit reports electronically through its systems, making it the authoritative repository for candidate, party, political committee, and political fund filings at the state level ^{[2] [1]}.

2. Where local and municipal filings live and when the Secretary of State is involved

Local campaign finance reports are governed by state statute but are often filed with and published by local filing officers—county or city election offices—which in many cases post those reports online for public access; the Secretary of State’s office also provides guidance and templates used by local jurisdictions and may accept certain filings or direct filers to local filing officers depending on the office sought ^{[4] [5] [8]}. For municipal and county-level candidates, the practical search strategy therefore includes both the Board’s central database and the relevant county or city election webpages that publish local filings ^{[6] [9] [10]}.

3. How to retrieve records immediately using the Board’s tools

The Board operates online search and reporting tools and publishes lists and searchable data for campaign finance and other disclosure records; users can access “reports and data” pages and search local campaign finance reports or sign in to the MyCFB reporting applications to retrieve filings and schedules that filers submit electronically ^{[6] [2]}. Because the Board requires electronic filing for most state-level filers unless a waiver is granted, the online portal is the fastest route to certified filings, aggregate summaries, and downloadable data ^[2].

4. How to file a formal data request or get records not online

When records are not readily available online, the Board’s website provides contact points and guidance for filing officers and public inquiries, and specific pages list contacts (for example, to update local links contact Andrew Olson), indicating that formal or follow-up requests should be routed through the Board’s staff or the appropriate local filing officer listed on the Board’s site ^[6]. The Secretary of State’s campaign financial templates and guidance also list contact information and direct questions about filing requirements to the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, offering an additional phone contact for guidance on obtaining documents ^{[5] [4]}.

5. Transparency, oversight and political context to consider

The Board’s mission and operations exist within a legally prescribed framework intended to promote public confidence, but its members are gubernatorial appointees confirmed by the legislature and structured to include partisan representation—an architecture that can be invoked by critics who view enforcement and disclosure priorities through a political lens ^[11]. Independent audits and legislative oversight have reviewed the Board’s accounting, payroll, and enforcement procedures, underscoring that while records are centralized and electronically accessible, the agency itself is subject to administrative review and governance dynamics that shape how inquiries and enforcement unfold ^{[7] [3]}.

6. Practical next steps for a records seeker

Start with the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board’s website and its “reports and data” search to retrieve statewide electronic filings and certified lists ^{[1] [6]}, then check the Secretary of State’s campaign finance guidance and any municipal or county election pages for local filings not posted centrally ^{[4] [8] [9]}. If a document is missing or requires an official copy, use the contact information on the Board’s pages (or the named contact for local links) to submit a formal request—Board staff routes and clarifies these requests and can direct seekers to the proper local filing officer when necessary ^{[6] [5]}.