ST. PAUL, Minn. – The general election has left the Minnesota delegation to the U.S. House evenly split – four Democrats and four Republicans. All the incumbents were re-elected.
> MN-1 (southern Minnesota): Brad Finstad, a Republican, defeated Brad Ettinger 53% to 42%.
> MN-2 (south Metro, and contiguous southeast areas): Angie Craig, a Democrat, defeated Tyler Kistner 51% to 45%.
> MN-3 (Hennepin County except Minneapolis and suburbs, also contiguous areas): Dean Phillips, a Democrat, defeated Tim Weiler 59% to 40%.
> MN-4 (Ramsey County and suburbs): Betty McCollum, a Democrat, defeated May Lor Xiong 67% to 32%.
> MN-5 (Minneapolis and suburbs): Ilhan Omar, a Democrat, defeated Cicely Davis 74% to 24%.
> MN-6: (north and west Metro beyond Minneapolis and suburbs, St. Cloud areas): Tom Emmer, a Republican, defeated Jeanna Hendricks 61% to 37%.
> MN-7 (western Minnesota): Michelle Fischbach, a Republican, defeated Jill Abahsain 66% to 27%.
> MN-8 (northeast Minnesota): Paul Stauber, a Republican, defeated Jen Schultz 57 to 42%.
The ultra costly MN-2 contest
Republican political action committees, as well as the OP House re-elecyin committee, poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into Minnesota’s Second Congressional District to unseat Democrat Angie Craig. The Republican committees thought Craig was vulnerable. It didn’t work. Craig defeated Tyler Kistner 65,571 to 138,578. Perhaps it was because Democratic PACs matched the Republicans. The amounts spent aren’t available, but the political observers say the race was among the most expensive in the nation. For a while election night, Kistner led, but when delayed returns came in from Dakota County, where Craig lives, his lead evaporated. Craig is a former executive of medical device companies. She ran on a prochoice platform and new funding for local police. Kistner, a political newcomer, ran on limiting spending, on abortion restrictions, on gun rights, and local control over schools.
Craig and Kistner. The 2022 campaign wa a rematch between Craig and Kitsner. Craig defeated Kistner also in 2000, his first run for public office. Kistner is a Marine veteran. This will be Craig’s third term.
Sad footnote
Also on the ballot was Paula Overby of the Legal Marijuana Now Party. But she died on October 5. Because early voting had started already, her name couldn’t be removed from the ballot.