Four special elections to the state House were held in 2003 – all vacancies for Republican-held seats – and the DFL picked up one of them (HD 52B in February).
Elections
Date
Office
Stage
Winners
Details
12/30/2003
State House, District 18A
Special
Scott Newman (Republican) won with 1,861 votes (64.69%) and a winning margin of +29.72
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Scott Newman
Man
Republican
1,861
64.69
Lowell Ueland
Man
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
1,006
34.97
Scattering
Write-In
10
0.35
Special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of GOP Representative Tony Kielkucki on November 24, 2003 after being appointed Deputy Minnesota Secretary of State.
Scott Newman (Republican) won with 909 votes (83.39%) and a winning margin of +66.79
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Scott Newman
Man
Republican
909
83.39
Ladon Rydberg
Man
Republican
181
16.61
Special primary election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of GOP Representative Tony Kielkucki on November 24, 2003 after being appointed Deputy Minnesota Secretary of State.
Lowell Ueland (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 99 votes (100.00%) and a winning margin of +100.00
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Lowell Ueland
Man
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
99
100.00
Special primary election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of GOP Representative Tony Kielkucki on November 24, 2003 after being appointed Deputy Minnesota Secretary of State.
Kurt Zellers (Republican) won with 2,422 votes (58.32%) and a winning margin of +20.08
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Kurt Zellers
Man
Republican
2,422
58.32
Mick Ganley
Man
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
1,588
38.24
Will Lines
Man
Independence
139
3.35
Scattering
Write-In
4
0.10
Special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of GOP Representative Rich Stanek on January 30, 2003 after being appointed Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Zellers was a resident of Maple Grove and the public affairs director for the Minnesota House Republicans. Ganley was a Minneapolis police officer. Lines was an electrical engineer and manager.
Rebecca Otto (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 3,233 votes (54.30%) and a winning margin of +10.83
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Rebecca Otto
Woman
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
3,233
54.30
Matt Dean
Man
Republican
2,588
43.47
Kathleen Vadnais
Woman
Green
84
1.41
Anthony Frolik
Man
Independence
35
0.59
Scattering
Write-In
14
0.24
Special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of GOP Representative Mark Holsten on January 17, 2003 after being appointed Deputy Commissioner in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.