Democrat Angie Craig Projected To Win Re-Election In Minnesota

EAGAN, MN — Democratic Rep. Angie Craig will win her bid for re-election in Minnesota's Second District, the Associated Press projected Thursday. Craig declared victory over Republican challenger Tyler Kistner on Wednesday.

Craig received 203,640 votes, while Kistner received 194,254 votes, according to unofficial numbers from the Minnesota Secretary of State.

As votes came in Tuesday night, the two candidates lead at different points, but Craig found herself with a strong lead by early Wednesday morning.

"Since the day I was sworn in, it has been the honor of my lifetime to represent the people of Minnesota's Second Congressional District in the United States Congress," Craig said in a statement.

"From Shakopee to Lake City and everywhere in between, our communities are full of hardworking families who deserve the best representation possible in Congress. Over the past two years, I have tried to live up to that standard in Washington as I fought to lower the cost of health care, expand educational opportunities for young Minnesotans and create an economy that works for every American regardless of zip code."

Craig added that, "while it took longer than expected, I have said throughout this race that every voter in our district must have an opportunity to make their voices heard – and I am so thankful to the tireless election judges that counted votes throughout the night to ensure that was the case. I am so grateful to the people of this district for giving me an opportunity to return to Congress to continue this important work – and I look forward to fighting for them in the 117th Congress."

In 2016, Craig narrowly lost to Republican Jason Lewis. In 2018, Craig handily defeated Lewis, denying him a second term. However, the 2020 race in the Second District has been unlike any before it in recent history.

Election uncertainty

The date of the U.S. House election was thrown into question when Adam Weeks, who was running as the Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate in the district, died in September.

Voters in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District learned the date of their U.S. House election was to remain Nov. 3 after a decision from the nation's highest court.

On Oct. 27, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch rejected an appeal from Republican Tyler Kistner, who had sought to delay the election in the 2nd District.

Kistner fought to delay the election after Weeks died.

Under state law, a special election would be held in February, Secretary of State Steve Simon confirmed following Weeks' death. However, Democratic Rep. Angie Craig's campaign filed a lawsuit Sept. 28 in order to prevent a delay.

Her campaign argued that Minnesota's law on special elections conflicts with federal law. On Oct. 9, a federal judge ruled in Craig's favor, granting an injunction and forcing the election back to the original date of Nov. 3. In late October, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals denied a motion from Kistner to delay the election int0 2021.

Kistner vowed to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, but the Oct. 27 decision from Justice Gorsuch last week means the Republican challenger is out of options.