McNamara re-elected in District 54B

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

McNamara, R-Hastings, beat DFLer Joanna Bayers 57-42 percent in the House District 54B race last week. McNamara had 12,498 votes to Bayers’ 9,228.

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.

“I’m excited to serve the residents of the district again,” he said after the election. “I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

As he knocked on doors in the district, McNamara said people expressed their concerns and issues to him.

“They want government to live within their means,” he said. “People live within their budget—government should too.'

“They respect that I stay close with them – they want that to continue,” he said.

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.

Jane Lightbourn of the Hastings Star Gazette contributed to this story.

Tags: minnesota politics, politics, elections