WINONA, Minn. – Voters returned veteran legislator Gene Pelowski, D-Winona, to office for an 18th term. Pelowski won 55% to 44% over Republican Stephen James Doerr. It had been a spirited campaign – unlike Pelowski’s usual runaways and one election, in 2018, when Republicans didn’t even field a token candidate. There was new uncertainty this time. Based on the 2020 census, the boundaries of Pelowski’s Winona-centric House District 26-A had been redrawn to include suburban Goodview and Minnesota City and the rural Lewiston, Rollingstone and Stockton areas. That had been expected to give the district a more Republican favor and inspired Doerr to campaign aggressively, At one point Doerr, a political novice, went a bit far, claiming that Pelowski hadvoted to give himself and fellow legislators raises. The fact, however is that an independent commission sets legislators’ salaries, which are $48,250 a year plus a $66 allowance for daily expenses when the Legislature session.
Earlier: Almanac: November 2022 Minnesota election
Pelowski. Victory margin at 55%. Elected from redrawn House District 26-A.