WINONA, Minn. – The Winona representative in the State House, Gene Pelowski, confirmed again that he will seek re-election. The confirmation came after at-large City Council member Aaron Repinsky announced his candidacy and as a former Pelowski challenger, Stephen Doerer, reportedly was preparing also to announce. Pelowski is a Democrat, Repinski and Doerr Republicans. Pelowski is among the longest-serving members in the Legislature. He was elected first in 1987. Consistently he has been re-elected even as the current House District, 26-A has moved through several reincarnations and redrawn borders as 34-B, 32-A, 31-A, and 38-A to reflect a population shifts. Pelowski’s only electoral setback was losing a multi-county State Senate seat that went vacant at midterm. He bounced back and was re-elected to the House from his familiar Winona County constituency without missing a term.
Pelowski. If re-elected it was be his 19th term.
Pelowski profile
Pelowski is retired from Winona High School, where he taught government and civics. He also coached debate. For students he created a local model-government project for serious-minded weekends of legislative process simulations. In summers he was a golf-shop pro. As a legislator he became a go-to expert on the state’s higher education systems. He has been friendly to construction and other projects at Winona State University. his alma mater.