DFL Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson Loses his seat

In a race that included shouting matches and significant amounts of outside money the current DFL Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson has lost to Republican challenger Joe Gimse.

With 100% of the precincts reporting in SD13 Gimse is at 50.79% with Johnson behind by 553 votes at 49.06%.

While Johnson has lost his seat the DFL has retained control of the Senate so the new question is who will take over the leadership role for the Senate. 

At the DFL HQ there were whispers of names two women came up frequently, Sandy Pappas and Ellen Anderson.  This would radically shift the Senate. Johnson being a rural DFLer is a fairly conservative Senator was a strong voice and presence for rural Minnesota and with the leadership position was able to bring a lot of those issues to the front. He was however criticized for not doing enough for his own district due to his role in the Senate.

This is a significant upset and will change the way the Senate functions. Another rural DFLer would help to keep the rural Democrats partnering with the urban Senators. However there was also much talk of getting a “suburban mom” candidate to step into the role.

Senators and Senators elect will likely be making their announcements Wednesday or Thursday as to weather or not they will be seeking the job.