Gail Kulick Jackson

This year there were at least nine state House contests that were rematches from 2006. In three instances, challengers successfully avenged their previous defeats.

Former state Rep. Mark Olson’s bizarre write-in campaign, which was endorsed by the Republican Party in Senate District 16, fell slightly short of success. The Republican, who was kicked out of the party caucus after being arrested for assaulting his wife, received 310 votes in the state Senate race, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office. But that’s not to say that Olson didn’t play a vital role in the contest.

After a tough 2006 electoral battle in which Democrat Ken Tschumper prevailed over incumbent Gregory Davids, the opponents will face off again this year. It is perhaps the most intriguing rematch of the electoral season, but it’s far from the only one. There are at least seven other competitive state House contests that pit foes against each other for a second — or even third — time.