I Don’t Hate America!

When the Star Tribune’s website launched “Politically Connected” a few months ago wasn’t that supposed to make the Strib the end-all/be-all source for politics?

Apparently not if you are interested in what’s going on in Minnesota. As I visited the area of the site today to see what they had to say about Kevin Dahle’s victory over Ray Cox last night, I noticed they have not updated since December 20th. In fact, the most recent story about the District 25 race was about the Republican primary.

Good job serving your readership, Strib.

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[UPDATE]:  It was brought to my attention that I did not have the address in the title bar causing suspicion that this was from a Google (or other) cache.  It is not; it is the “Local Politics” page currently featured at the Star Tribune.  When you goto Politically Connected and click “Local Politics” on the left-side navigation, this is what you get.

Regardless, above is a double screen-shot of the page featuring old content.  I also assumed that when I said “Apparently not if you are interested in what’s going on in Minnesota,” that would imply “local politics.”  I apologize for any confusion.

Unbelievable. MEGA Congratulations goto DFL Senator-elect from Minnesota’s 25th District, Kevin Dahle, who just won the special election to replace departing State Sen. Tom Neuville (R).

HUGE win in a race which was to be much more competitive, if not a GOP landslide victory. Dahle takes it 55.15 percent (6802 votes) to Republican Ray Cox’s 42.37 (5225). The Independence Party’s Vance Norgaard rounded out the field with 2.4 percent (296) of the vote.

This now gives a veto proof majority to the DFL in the Minnesota State Senate for, potentially, the next three years.

We were waiting on Northfield’s 8 precincts, which I thought would be very competitive considering both main players were from the city, but that Dahle would have an edge. Not only did he have an edge, but he dominated, winning each precinct convincingly, for a total of 3061-1160 in the city.

This is a crushing defeat for Ray Cox, a former member of the House who was defeated by a slim margin in 2006. Our congratulations to Ray on a fine campaign and simply being a class act.

Update: One thing I forgot to mention was the amount of money spent. From 11/28 to 12/20, Cox spent $29,418.29. Dahle spent just $12,146.16. This is just one of the things Dahle had to overcome to emerge victorious.

I wonder if Tim Pawlenty still feels good about appointing Tom Neuville to the bench?

7:39 p.m.: I will be bringing liveblog coverage of the results of the special election in Senate District 25. Polls close in about 20 mins; results should flow in shortly thereafter.

Check back soon!

8:07 p.m.: With two (Ottawa Township and Heidelberg) of 63 precincts reporting, Kevin Dahle (DFL) leads with 66 percent, Ray Cox (R) follows with 29 and Vance Norgaard (IP) trails with 5.

8:10 p.m.: Belle Plaine goes heavily for Cox, (321 to Dahle’s 273) and pulls ahead 49-48.

8:22 p.m.: The election judges must be in traffic; nothing new to report.

8:27 p.m.: Sharon Township goes 52-41-2 (votes) for Cox goes to 50%-47%-3%.

8:29 p.m.: Dahle wins Cordova township 32-31-5.

8:32 p.m.: with 9 of 63 precincts in, we have a close one kids. Cox: 48.71%. Dahle: 48.18%. Norgaard: 2.97%.

8:36 p.m.: Dahle doing better in 25A (contrary to what you have have heard on the radio, is held by Republican Laura Brod) than I thought he had any chance of doing. He takes New Prague 217-202. Cox leads with 11 precincts in 48.59% to 48.11%.

8:40 p.m.: Dahle takes Montgomery Twp. (60-48). Pulls ahead 48.43%-48.20%. Only one precinct in Rice county in so far (Sheildsville Twp.) which went for Dahle 61-47.

8:43 p.m.: 14 precincts in and political newcomer Kevin Dahle leads former House member Ray Cox by a single vote, 902-901. Eight precincts in Northfield we are still waiting for (ya know, where all those eeeeevil college students are).

8:45 p.m.: Cox pulls ahead with a 125-103 win in Lanesburgh. 48.72 to 47.72. I think I will feel comfortable finding my way around if I get lost in this district after I learn all of these townships.

8:49 p.m.: Cox wins Waterville Twp. 44-42. With 18 of 63 reporting, Cox leads 48.44 to 47.99.

8:52 p.m.: Almost 1/3rd of the way home. Cox continues to lead 48.63 to 47.85. Wins Le Center 116-94.

8:57 p.m.: As I was bickering with Sean over at MNPublius, Dahle pulls ahead BIG (well only by 2 percent and only 63 votes, but still significant relatively) 49.21-47.14. Dahle wins Montgomery (178-116), Erin Twp. 62-47 and Kasota 26-13.

9:02 p.m.: Just like that, Cox pulls ahead in a huge way, now leading 50.02 to 46.49 percent. Cox destroyed Dahle in Cedar Lake Township 214-105 and in Lonsdale 188-111.

9:05 p.m.: What’s taking Northfield so freakin’ long? Dahle tightens things up a bit, is behind Cox 47.04 to 49.50. Dahle annihilates Cox in Dundas 93-52. Cox wins Forest Township 117-101.

9:09 p.m.: 34 of 63 precincts reporting. Cox now leads 50.17% (2530) to 46.56 (23.48). Cox wins the New Prauge precinct in Le Sueur County 153-148 and Helena Township 157-88.

9:15 p.m.: First precinct with “Northfield” in the name is in: Northfield Township goes for Dahle in convincing fashion: 143-106. Cox leads 49.78 to 47.14 percent (just 146 votes).

9:17 p.m.: I have CSPAN coverage on in the background featuring Des Moines precinct 53’s resolution discussion. Boy. this chair needs to get this rabid caucus goers in line! Cox wins Belle Plaine Township 72-45. Leads 49.97 to 46.93. Chair in Des Moines needed to call a division on the question; I <3 Robert’s Rules of Order.

9:21 p.m.: 41 of 63 precincts in. Cox wins Wheatland Township 123-81. Pulls ahead 50.49 to 46.44. Dahle has to hope to do huge numbers in Northfield.

9:27 p.m.: We have a tie: Cox ties Dahle in Dennision township goes 2-2. I’d hate to be that election judge.

9:30 p.m.: Roundabout the quarter pole, as Paul Allen would say at Canterbury. 53 of 63 in. Cox ahead 50.25% (3946) to 46.47% (3649). 59-59 tie in Wheeling Township. Cox wins 102-77 in Arlington, Dahle wins Arlington Township 27-11. Waiting on Northfield; did someone poison the Malt-O-Meal?

9:36 p.m.: One more precinct came in, not sure which one but results are essentially the same. I need a beer.

9:43 p.m.: Back from the fridge; no changes.

9:46 p.m.: Blakely Township goes for Cox 60-33. Nothing from the home of the Raiders, Northfield.

9:53 p.m.: All precincts are in except for the eight in Northfield (63 total). Results so far: 50.37 percent (4065) for Cox, 46.35 percent (3741) for Dahle, and 3.18 percent (257) for Norgaard.

9:56 p.m.: Final county results for Sibley, Le Sueur and Scott. Le Sueur: Cox: 47.23, Dahle: 49.14, Norgaard: 3.56. I’d say that’s pretty darn impressive for Dahle. Scott: Cox: 56.07, Dahle: 41.58, Norgaard: 2.24. Sibley: Cox: 51.86, Dahle 42.02, Norgaard: 6.12.

10:01 p.m.: Nothin’ yet from Northfield, kids. Joe Bodell at MN Campaign Report reports that Dahle and his team are feeling confident. Congrats to Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee for their respective victories in Iowa.

10:08 p.m.: So far, turnout is 16.1 percent district wide. These are three final county numbers: 16.8 percent in Sibley county, 18.5 in Le Sueur, and 19.3 in Scott.

10:27 p.m.: Joe Bodell says he has a report from the ground that Dahle has gotten enough votes in Northfield to win the election.

As an alumnus of Prior Lake High School, it would be easy to make make snide jokes about a couple of their Missota Conference foes in cities within Senate District 25 (here’s a PDF map) such as Northfield (I could reference how it was impossible to travel there for a wrestling meet without inhaling the powerful stench of Malt-O-Meal) or New Prague (I could make something up about, I don’t know, greased pigs).

I’m not nearly rude enough to make such jokes, so instead, I’ll take the high road and simply encourage any viewers from within that district today to goto the polls and vote.

Voters have three choices: DFLer Kevin Dahle (Northfield teacher), Republican Ray Cox (construction company owner and former House member) and the Independence Party’s Vance Norgaard (energy conservation advocate).

We will be back with updates later tonight after the polls close.

Today, Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced his appointment of state Sen. Tom Neuville, R-Northfield, to serve on the bench of the Rice County District Court.

Neuville’s rambling Senate floor crusades against the smoking ban and global warming legislation will be sorely missed.

This now sets up a special election yet to be called by Pawlenty. According to Mary Lahammer at Almanac, Ray Cox, a former state representative from Northfield, intends to seek the Republican nomination for this seat. No DFLers have yet announced.

The seat, SD 35, has been competitive the previous two elections. Neuville defeated Rice County Commissioner Jessica Peterson 52-48 in 2006 and beat Jim Mladek 53-47 in 2004.

This seat will be no means a shoo-in for the GOP, regardless of the candidate.

Cox, a moderate, should be a strong candidate for the GOP if endorsed. He had been in the House for two terms, succumbing to the DFL whirlwind in 2006 losing to DFLer David Bly by 60 votes. In 2004, Cox beat Bly 51-49. In 2002, Cox won the initial match-up between the pair by just 46 votes.

Knowing this, Cox should do better for the GOP in the DFL-leaning half of the district, but considering this is a special election, would the GOP be better served by having a more conservative candidate, one which the base would be more willing to work for, such as perhaps Rep. Laura Brod?

In Democratic times nationally, the DFL should do well but can by no means be lazy. The western part of the district especially, served by Brod in the House, is quite conservative. It will also make a difference when on the calendar the special election is held. If it is held while college is in session, following the winter break, the DFL would be able to take advantage of the added base, students, that would likely be less interested in the contest if they are home with mom and dad and away from SD 25.

This should be an interesting race to follow, as special elections usually are.

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