by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Incumbent Mark Dayton survived a challenge from Republican candidate Jeff Johnson to once again win the Minnesota governorship.
Republicans, perhaps reflecting a nationwide wave, took control of the Minnesota House of Representatives and will now have 70 members, two more than needed for a majority. They might, in fact, pick up two more seats depending on the results of two very close elections. Members of the Minnesota Senate, still controlled by the Democrats, were not up for election in the mid-term.
Early Wednesday morning, just before press deadline, all of the state’s precincts had not been reported, but vote totals showed Dayton the clear winner, with 50 percent of votes followed by Johnson with 44 percent. Three other contenders of other parties (Hannah Nicollet, Chris Holbrook, Chris Wright) each garnered less than 3 percent of votes cast.
Steve Simon, was elected as Minnesota Secretary of State with a slim margin (about 1 percent) over Republican contender Dan Severson.
Democratic state auditor Rebecca Otto was also re-elected, as was Lori Swanson as the state’s attorney general.