Think 1 vote doesn't matter? A single ballot decided Franson race

    State GOP lawmaker Mary Franson, who represents Minnesota House District 8B, appears to have won by a single vote in her race with DFLer Bob Cunniff of Alexandria. The final tally: 10,652 to 10,651.
    Author:
    Publish date:

    State GOP lawmaker Mary Franson, who represents Minnesota House District 8B, appears to have won by a single vote in her race with DFLer Bob Cunniff of Alexandria, the Alexandria Echo Press reports.

    The final tally: 10,652 to 10,651, MPR reports. A race that close triggers an automatic recount, Politics in Minnesota notes.

    Franson has found herself at the center of controversy this year. She said a House prayer that mentioned Earth Day was offensive, the Star Tribune reported.

    She refused to heed protesters who called for her to step down after a video surfaced that critics said was offensive to the poor. She suggested offering food stamps was akin to feeding wild animals.

    And Franson got into a nasty fight with her ex-boyfriend Eric Harpel, McLeod County GOP chairman, last summer that temporarily involved a restraining order, CityPages reported.

    Next Up

    Related

    News

    Recounts likely in 2 razor-thin state lawmaker wins

    Election wins in at least two races for seats in the Minnesota Legislature are so slight that both appear to fall within the half-percent margin that automatically triggers a recount, Politics in Minnesota reports. State Rep. Mary Franson won by just a single vote, early tallies indicate. And Kevin Dahle had a slight edge over retired FBI agent and GOP candidate Michael Dudley, just 0.2 percent more than Dudley’s share of the vote.

    News

    With Gauthier's name listed on absentee ballot, DFLer launches write-in campaign

    Endorsed Duluth DFLer Erik Simonson is proceeding with his write-in campaign for a Minnesota House seat in District 7B after the State Supreme Court didn't act to remove disgraced Rep. Kerry Gauthier's name from the ballot. Gauthier withdrew from the race last month after admitting to a sexual encounter with a 17-year-old boy at a Duluth rest stop.