Democrat Alex Falconer has won the open seat for Minnesota House District 49A, defeating Republican Stacy Bettison. Meanwhile, incumbent Democrat Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn retained her seat in District 49B, prevailing over Republican Wendi Russo.
According to unofficial vote tallies from the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office:
With all 16 precincts reporting, Falconer received 16,104 votes, or 60.8%, while Bettison garnered 10,342 votes, or 39.1%, in District 49A, which includes seven precincts in northern Eden Prairie, eight in southern Minnetonka and one in Chanhassen. There were 37 write-in votes.
With all 13 precincts reporting, Kotyza-Witthuhn held her seat with 13,505 votes, or 57.1%, against Russo’s 10,125 votes, or 42.8%, in District 49B, which represents southern Eden Prairie. There were 21 write-in votes.
In District 49A, Falconer’s victory marks a transition as he prepares to assume the seat held by Rep. Laurie Pryor (DFL), who steps down in January after serving since 2017. Falconer, 44, an Eden Prairie resident and campaign director for Save the Boundary Waters, centered his campaign on environmental protection, strengthening education, and expanding healthcare access.
“This is an incredible moment,” Falconer said. “I am deeply honored to have earned the trust of District 49A, and I want to thank every volunteer, supporter, and voter who believed in this campaign. This win isn’t just for me — it’s for all of us who believe in protecting our natural resources, building an economy that works for everyone, and ensuring access to quality healthcare and education for all Minnesotans. Tonight, we celebrate, and tomorrow, we get to work.”
Running for office for the first time, Bettison, a former swing voter, emphasized practical, community-focused solutions. Her campaign focused on fiscal responsibility, educational reform, and balanced support for law enforcement.
In District 49B, incumbent Rep. Kotyza-Witthuhn, 37, won a fourth term, defeating Russo, 58, a small business owner, TV host, and community volunteer. Kotyza-Witthuhn, who flipped the district for Democrats in 2018, campaigned on bolstering family support, increasing public education funding, and protecting reproductive rights.
Russo, who aimed to offer a moderate Republican perspective in a Democratic-leaning district, highlighted affordability, public safety, and local control over education as her key issues.
“In knocking on doors and speaking with residents over the last six months, I found that a move toward fiscal responsibility and my perspective as a first-time candidate were especially meaningful,” Russo said Tuesday, after the results were known. “Residents are tired of the division in politics and expressed appreciation for someone more moderate and reasonable to represent them at the Capitol.”
The Minnesota State Canvassing Board will meet on Nov. 21 to officially certify the election results.
Comments
We offer several ways for our readers to provide feedback. Your comments are welcome on our social media posts (Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn). We also encourage Letters to the Editor; submission guidelines can be found on our Contact Us page. If you believe this story has an error or you would like to get in touch with the author, please connect with us.