MN-HD26A: Winona-area House seat -- one of the last DFL rural holdouts -- could be key to legislative control

WINONA - For the first time in 38 years, there’s an open seat to represent the Winona area in the Minnesota House.

DFL Rep. Gene Pelowski announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election after 19 terms. But his seat isn’t a lock for Democrats — the Winona area has moved more conservative in recent years. Now the contest is drawing outsized attention as the two parties duke it out for control of the Legislature, making the race between DFLer Sarah Kruger and Republican Aaron Repinski one of the key races around the state that could determine the direction Minnesota moves over the next few years.

“It’s a really good opportunity for the Republicans to pick up the seat,” said Jim Cottrill, political science professor at Winona State University. “I don’t know if I’d rate it 50/50; it might be more than [that].”

Kruger and Repinski are both Winona natives. Repinski is a tour boat captain and a Winona City Council member among other jobs — volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician, as well as a part-time bailiff for Winona County. Kruger has worked in politics for years, including as a chief of staff for the nonpartisan group FairVote Minnesota championing ranked-choice voting at the Capitol in St. Paul.




https://www.startribune.com/winona-area-house-seat-one-of-the-last-dfl-rural-holdouts-could-be-key-to-legislative-control/601166277