The GOP-majority Minnesota House gained another Republican seat when voters in Bloomington elected Chad Anderson, a local real estate agent, over Democrat Andrew Carlson for the House District 50B seat.  A big thanks goes out to the SD 49 volunteers who answered our call to support our neighboring precinct and elect a strong Republican representative!

Chad Anderson is seen here on the right at his victory party.  With Chad is his wife, Annie, and her parents, MN Senator Dan Hall and his wife.

Anderson won 51.24 percent of the vote, compared to Carlson’s 48.66 percent.  The winning margin was 130 votes out of just over 5000 votes cast.

The special election filled the seat of longtime DFL Rep. Ann Lenczewski, who resigned her seat in December.  The DFL has held this seat since 1993.

Bloomington has leaned Democrat during Lenczewski’s tenure, but went Republican Tuesday with the help of an ad that criticized Carlson, a Bloomington City Council member, for voting to raise property taxes. 

The Republican Party of Minnesota attributed Anderson’s win to his stand on local issues.

“Chad’s strong local message of controlling government and focusing on real priorities like the I494/35W interchange and education was appealing to his district, especially against the Democrats’ hand-picked candidate who had voted to raise taxes and take over trash collection as a Bloomington city council member.”

Chad Anderson clearly worked very hard to win this seat.  His family and friends knocked on doors and called the residents of House District 50B tirelessly.  Credit also goes to House representatives and staffers, who volunteered on Chad’s behalf.