Pro-Choice Victories in State House Races
St. Paul, MN--Pro-choice voters spoke out in Minnesota on November 2nd in force. Not only did Minnesota voters select pro-choice presidential candidate John Kerry, they made significant changes in the state Legislature. Out of the 134 state House races, nine seats that were formerly held by anti-choice and mixed-choice incumbents are now held by pro-choicers. Only one pro-choice seat was lost (Rep. Rebecca Otto-52B). There was a net gain of eight additional committed pro-choice votes in the Minnesota Legislature. NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota congratulates and welcomes the newly-elected pro-choice Legislators: 1. BRITA SAILER (2B-Park Rapids) defeated anti-choice Rep. Doug Lindgren.
2. FRANK MOE (4A-Bemidji) defeated anti-choice Rep. Doug Fuller.
3. RUTH JOHNSON (23A-St. Peter) defeated anti-choice Rep. Howard Swenson.
4. JEANNE POPPE (27B-Austin) defeated anti-choice Rep. Jeff Anderson.
5. TINA LIEBLING (30A-Rochester) defeated anti-choice Rep. Carla Nelson.
6. RICK HANSEN (39A-South St. Paul) won an open race.
7. MARIA RUUD (42A-Minnetonka) defeated anti-choice Rep. Peter Adolphson.
8. STEVE SIMON (44A-St. Louis Park) defeated pro-choice Rep. Jim Rhodes (one of the few match-ups between two pro-choice candidates).
9. SANDRA PETERSON (45A-New Hope) defeated anti-choice Rep. Lynne Osterman.
10. MELISSA HORTMAN (47B-Brooklyn Park) defeated anti-choice Rep. Stephanie Olsen.
11. BEV SCALZE (54B-Little Canada) won an open race (against former anti-choice, MCCL lobbyist Ryan Griffin).
12. LEON LILLIE (55A-North St. Paul) won an open race.
13. DIANE LOEFFLER (59A-Minneapolis) won an open race. ###
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