Simonson wins race for Kerry Gauthier's seat in state legislature
DFL endorsed Erik Simonson was the overwhelming winner in the race for Minnesota State House District 7B seat to replace disgraced Rep. Kerry Gauthier, the Duluth News Tribune reports. Simonson, an assistant Duluth fire chief, received 62 percent of the vote. Republican Travis Silvers received about 22 percent and write-in candidate Jay Fosle took the remaining 16 percent.
The Associated Press reports voters in one Duluth precinct received incorrect ballots that listed Kerry Gauthier as the Democratic candidate for state lawmaker. The correct ballots were later delivered to the precinct.
The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in September Gauthier would not appear on the ballot. He dropped out of the race in August after admitting to a sexual encounter with a 17-year-old boy at a Duluth rest stop.
