Rep. Lyle Koenen (DFL-Clara City) won a special election yesterday to fill the seat of deceased Senator Gary Kubly in Senate District 20. Koenen won with 54% of the vote defeating Republican Gregg Kulberg (40%) and Independence Party Candidate Leon Greenslit (5%). Senate District 20 includes Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Renville, Swift, and Yellow Medicine Counties. A special election has not been called to fill Koenen’s House Seat, District 20B.
Nine other current State Representatives have announced their candidacy for Senate seats in the fall elections. They are: Connie Doepke (R-Orono), Keith Downey (R-Edina), Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake), Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-Minneapolis), Branden Peterson (R-Andover), Bev Scalze (DFL-Little Canada), Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake), Paul Anderson (R-Starbuck), and Kent Eken (DFL-Twin Valley). Other House retirements include Mark Buesgens (R-Savage), Denise Dittrich (DFL-Champlin), John Kriesel (R-Cottage Grove), Kurt Bills (R-Rosemount), Nora Slawik (DFL-Maplewood), Ron Shimanski (R-Silver Lake), Marion Greene (DFL-Minneapolis), Larry Hosch (DFL-St. Joseph), Kate Knuth (DFL-New Brighton), Bill Hilty (DFL-Finlayson), Mark Murdock (R-Perham), Pat Mazarol (R-Bloomington), and Mindy Greiling (DFL-Roseville).
Twelve state Senators have announced retirements this year: Keith Langseth (DFL-Glyndon), Amy Koch (R-Buffalo), Al DeKruif (R-Madison Lake), Chris Gerlach (R-Apple Valley), Gen Olson (R-Minnetrista), Linda Higgins (DFL-Minneapolis), Doug Magnus (R-Slayton), Geoff Michel (R-Edina), Mike Parry (R-Waseca), Ken Kelash (DFL-Minneapolis), Mary Jo McGuire (DFL-Falcon Heights), and Mike Jungbauer (R-East Bethel).
A number of former lawmakers have announced their intent to seek office again. Running for House seats are: former DFL Sen. Rick Olseen, former DFL Rep. Connie Bernardy, former DFL Rep. Will Morgan, former DFL Rep. Willie Dominguez, former DFL Rep. David Bly, former DFL Rep. Paul Rosenthal, former DFL Rep. Sandy Masin, and former Republican Rep. Ron Erhardt who is running as a member of the DFL party. Running for the Senate are: former DFL Sen. Kevin Dahle, former GOP Sen. Carrie Ruud, former DFL Sen. Jim Carlson, former DFL Rep. Ted Suss, and former GOP Sen. David Gaither.
