Bahner House 34B Win Helps DFL Power Shift
A House district race that involves voters in Maple Grove and Osseo is among those that will result in a power shift at the state Capitol.
“I’ve equated it to sort of walking on sunshine,” said Kristin Bahner, a DFLer from Maple Grove. “We are just overjoyed. Completely elated and excited. I know that my team did an amazing job.”
Bahner defeated Republican incumbent Dennis Smith by more than 1,300 votes for the right to represent House District 34B. Bahner, a Maple Grove resident and IT consultant, has never held public office. But she said she already has a list of priorities she’d like to focus on in the legislature. That list includes passing bills dealing with elder abuse and tax conformity.
When asked if she benefited from being part of the so-called “blue wave” that thrust Democrats into office statewide, she said there’s more to it than that.
“In order to ride a wave, you’ve got to paddle like heck to get out and get into position to be able to ride that wave,” Bahner said. “So for me it was a lot about hard work and determination.”
DFL Wrests Control From GOP
The Bahner victory is one example of a strong showing by Democrats in the suburbs. As a result, when the Minnesota House convenes Jan. 8, the DFL will take control. Republicans currently hold a 73-61 advantage. The DFL picked up 18 seats in Tuesday’s election and will hold a 75-59 edge.
The Ginny Klevorn victory over Republican incumbent Sarah Anderson in Plymouth’s House District 44A is another local example of where the DFL flipped a seat.
