McNamara holds onto House 54B as GOP loses majority

• Denny McNamara

Rep. Denny McNamara speaks to supporters after he was endorsed for re-election earlier this year. McNamara, R-Hastings, won a sixth term to the House on Tuesday. Bulletin file photo by Scott Wente

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State Rep. Denny McNamara was coasting to re-election but saw his Republican Party lose control of the Minnesota House.

McNamara, R-Hastings, was ahead of DFLer Joanna Bayers 57-42 percent in the House District 54B race, which includes part of south Washington County. McNamara had 8,309 votes to Bayers’ 6,073 with 14 of 19 precincts reporting.

McNamara has served five terms in the Minnesota House. With Republicans in control of that chamber for the past two years, McNamara has served as chairman of a House environment and natural resources committee. He loses that post when Democrats take over the House in January.

Bayers, also of Hastings, was waging her first legislative campaign, though she has been involved in politics for years, mostly in northeastern Minnesota. Bayers is a Minnesota Department of Revenue employee.

McNamara heavily outraised and outspent Bayers in the campaign.

McNamara’s District 54B includes part of Cottage Grove, Afton, Denmark Township, Hastings and Nininger Township.

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