The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Election 2010

November 3, 2010

State House roundup

By Mark Fischenich Free Press Staff Writer

— A trio of Republicans easily held on to their state House seats Tuesday night and freshman Democratic Rep. Kory Kath handily won his first re-election bid.

There was also an open seat in Sibley and Le Sueur counties, and Republican Glenn Gruenhagen of rural Glencoe held a lead over Democrat Mick McGuire of Montgomery just before midnight.

District 24A

Longtime state Rep. Bob Gunther, R-Fairmont, once again was cruising to another term. At 2:35 a.m., The Associated Press declared Gunther as the winner over Democrat Steven Fausch of Fairmont.

District 24B

State Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder, won a fifth term in the state House, and it was a dominant victory over two challengers. The Lake Crystal police chief won 63 percent of the vote, Democrat Joan Muth-Milks of Wells had 22 percent, and Independence Party candidate Mark Meyer of Lake Crystal had 15 percent.

District 25A

McGuire, the mayor of Montgomery, and Gruenhagen, a Glencoe-Silver Lake School Board member, were locked in a tight race in the battle for the seat left open with the retirement of four-term Republican Rep. Laura Brod. At 2:35 a.m., The Associated Press reported Gruenhagen defeated McGuire.

District 26A

Kath, who became the first DFLer in decades to represent Waseca and Owatonna in the House, beat David Thul, R-Owatonna, 62 to 38 percent with all precincts counted.

District 21B

A Republican win was guaranteed in District 21B, which includes all of Brown County and parts of Watonwan and Redwood counties. Freshman Rep. Paul Torkelson, R-St. James, was unopposed.

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Election 2010