Walz fends off Demmer and national GOP

Rep. Tim Walz was announced the winner in Minnesota’s First Congressional District by the Associated Press on Tuesday night. Walz fended off Republican Randy Demmer in a race that was originally seen as the best chance for a pickup for Republicans in Minnesota — and they spent over $500,000 in the effort. At the time the AP called it, Walz had 50 percent to Demmer’s 43 percent.

Walz faced a challenge by state Rep. Randy Demmer which political watchers expected to be close due to the “Republican wave.” Minnesota’s First Congressional District trends Republican, with the Cook Partisan Voter Index rating the district as R+1.

Two polls conducted in the district found the race to be close. In mid-October, a KSTP/SurveyUSA poll found Walz leading Demmer 47 to 42 percent, but a poll on Oct. 28 found Walz leading Demmer 50 to 41 percent.

The National Republican Congressional Committee spent more than $527,000 to defeat Walz on television ads aimed at beating Walz.

Walz outpaced Demmer in fundraising by a 2.8 to 1 margin.