DFLer Dahle wins special legislative election

by Tim Pugmire, Minnesota Public Radio

The DFL majority in the Minnesota Senate will grow to 45 seats after a special election in southern Minnesota.

St. Paul, Minn. — DFLer Kevin Dahle, a Northfield high school teacher, will fill the vacant seat in Senate District 25. Dahle won 55 percent of the vote in Thursday's special election.

Republican Ray Cox, a former state representative from Northfield, followed with 42 percent. Vance Norgaard, the Independence Party candidate, had 2 percent.

Gov. Pawlenty called the special election after appointing Republican Sen. Tom Neuville of Northfield to the bench in the 3rd Judicial District. Neuville had held the Senate seat since 1991.

Senate Republicans will now number 22, and the Democratic majority of 45 is now large enough to override any vetos issued by Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

District 25 includes LeSueur County, and parts of Rice, Scott and Sibley counties in southeastern Minnesota.