Wright County-based Republican Eric Lucero, who represents St. Michael, Albertville Otsego and Hanover, is projected to retain his seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives, according to projections.
But the staunch conservative, who has championed gun ownership and data privacy laws, will be in a new minority, as the Democratic-Farm-Labor Party used a strong night of support and historic voter turnout for a Midterm Election to ride into power in the State House.
Former U.S. Rep. Tim Walz also sailed to victory with the DFL, giving Democrats control of the governor’s office and the House for the first time since the 2013-2014 session.
Walz defeated Republican Jim Johnson in that race handily, controlling the Twin Cities and the southern two-thirds of the state in his election.
Other state offices also went “blue,” as Democrats captured the Secretary of State’s Office (incumbent Steve Simon), State Auditor’s Office (Julie Baha) and were leading in the race for the Attorney General seat (former Rep. Keith Ellison).