Republicans win Minnesota Senate, expand Minnesota House majority
On Tuesday, November 8, Republicans won control of the Minnesota Legislature. In the House, Republicans retained a majority 76-57, increasing their caucus by 4 seats. One remaining seat will be determined in a special election in February. In the Senate, Republicans won 34-33, although three recounts have been called. Representative Daudt is expected to be re-elected as House Speaker. This afternoon, Senator Paul Gazelka was elected majority leader.
Below is a list of 45 new legislators and the incumbents they defeated:
House District 2A - Matthew Grossell, R (open seat)
House District 5A - Matt Bliss, R (defeated Persell)
House District 5B - Sandy Layman, R (defeated Anzelc)
House District 6A - Julie Sandstone, DFL (open seat)
House District 7B - Liz Olson, DFL (open seat)
House District 9A - John Poston, R (open seat)
House District 21A - Barb Haley, R (open seat)
House District 25B - Duane Sauke, DFL (open seat)
House District 31B - Calvin Bahr, R (open seat)
House District 37A - Erin Kegel, DFL (open seat)
House District 37B - Nolan West, R (open seat)
House District 41B - Mary Kunesh-Podein, DFL (open seat)
House District 42A - Randy Jessup, R (defeated Yarusso)
House District 42B - Jamie Becker-Finn, DFL (open seat)
House District 48A - Laurie Pryor, DFL (open seat)
House District 49A - Dario Anselmo, R (defeated Erhardt)
House District 50B - Andrew Carlson, DFL (defeated C. Anderson)
House District 52B - Regina Barr, R (open seat)
House District 54A - Keith Franke, R (open seat)
House District 54B - Tony Jurgens, R (open seat)
House District 57A - Erin Maye Quade, DFL (open seat)
House District 59A - Fue Lee, DFL (open seat)
House District 60B - Ilhan Omar, DFL (open seat)
Senate District 1 - Mark Johnson, R (open seat)
Senate District 2 - Paul Utke, R (defeated Skoe)
Senate District 5 - Justin Eichorn,R (defeated Saxhaug)
Senate District 7 - Erik Simonsson, DFL (open seat)*
Senate District 14 - Jerry Relph, R (open seat)**
Senate District 15 - Andrew Mathews, R (open seat)
Senate District 17 - Andrew Lang, R (defeated Koenen)
Senate District 19 - Nick Frentz, DFL (open seat)
Senate District 20 - Rich Draheim, R (defeated Dahle)
Senate District 21 - Mike Goggin, R (defeated Schmit)
Senate District 24 - John Jasinski, R (defeated Jensen)
Senate District 32 - Mark Koran, R (open seat)
Senate District 37 - Jerry Newton, DFL (open seat)*
Senate District 41 - Carolyn Laine, DFL (open seat)*
Senate District 42 - Jason Isaacson, DFL (open seat)*
Senate District 44 - Paul Anderson, R (open seat)**
Senate District 47 - Scott Jensen, R (open seat)
Senate District 48 - Steve Cwodzinski, DFL (defeated Hann)
Senate District 52 - Matt Klein, DFL (open seat)
Senate District 54 - Dan Schoen, DFL (open seat)*
Senate District 58 - Matt Little, DFL (open seat)**
*former state representative
** recount
The state relations team plans to meet with the new legislators in the upcoming months to discuss the University's mission, legislative priorities, and ongoing partnership with the state. The 2017 legislative session begins on Tuesday, January 3.