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Minnesota, State House, District 5A

Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A
Current incumbentJohn Persell Democratic Party

Minnesota's state house district 5A is represented by Democratic Representative John Persell.

Minnesota state representatives represent an average of 39,582 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 36,713 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Minnesota legislators assume office the first day of the biennial (2-year) session.

Qualifications

To be eligible to run for the Minnesota House of Representatives, a candidate must be:

  • Eligible to vote in Minnesota
  • Not filed for more than one office for the upcoming primary or general election
  • At least 21 years old
  • A resident of Minnesota for a least one year
  • A resident of the legislative district for at least 6 months before the general election date

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$45,000/year$86/day for senators; $66/day for representatives.

Vacancies

In Minnesota, all vacancies in the house must be filled by a special election. It is up to the appropriate elections authorities to schedule an election as soon as possible. The election must be held during the next general election if there is more than 150 days left in the term. If the house is in session, a special election must be called by the Governor no later than 35 days after the vacancy happened. If a vacancy happens when the house is out of session and less than 150 days are left in the term, a special election must called by the Governor as soon as possible. This is to allow the winner of the election to be sworn in when the house reconvenes.

2016 pivot county

206 Pivot Counties Logo.png

This district is one of 710 state legislative districts that intersects with one or more Pivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.

The 206 Pivot Counties are located in 34 states. Iowa, with 31, had the most such counties. The partisan makeup of state legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties is slightly more Republican than the overall partisan makeup of state legislatures throughout the country.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Minnesota House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for August 11, 2020. The filing deadline is June 2, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A

John Persell (D) defeated incumbent Matt Bliss (R) in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

John Persell (D)
50.0
8,452

Matt Bliss (R)
50.0
8,444
Other/Write-in votes
0.0
7

Total votes: 16,903
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A

John Persell advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A on August 14, 2018.

Candidate

John Persell (D)

Republican primary election
Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A

Incumbent Matt Bliss advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A on August 14, 2018.

Candidate

Matt Bliss (R)

2016

Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 31, 2016.

Matt Bliss defeated incumbent John Persell in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A general election.

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 5A General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Matt Bliss 53.95% 10,318
Democratic John Persell Incumbent 46.05% 8,808
Total Votes 19,126
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State

Incumbent John Persell ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A Democratic primary.

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 5A Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png John Persell Incumbent (unopposed)

Matt Bliss ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A Republican primary.

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 5A Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Matt Bliss (unopposed)

2014

Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election was held on August 12, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 3, 2014. Incumbent John Persell defeated Lavern Pederson in the Democratic primary. Phillip Nelson was unopposed in the Republican primary. Persell defeated Nelson in the general election.

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 5A General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Persell Incumbent 55.2% 7,871
Republican Phillip Nelson 44.7% 6,385
Write-in Write-in 0.1% 14
Total Votes 14,270

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 5A Democratic Primary, 2014

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Persell Incumbent 84.6% 1,544
Lavern Pederson 15.4% 281
Total Votes 1,825

2012

Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 14, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 5, 2012. Incumbent John Persell (D) defeated incumbent Larry Howes (R) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 5A, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Persell Incumbent 56.2% 10,901
Republican Larry Howes Incumbent 43.8% 8,497
Total Votes 19,398

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A raised a total of $439,651. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $23,140 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $60,254 2 $30,127
2014 $57,367 3 $19,122
2012 $51,494 2 $25,747
2010 $38,391 2 $19,196
2008 $61,470 2 $30,735
2006 $46,360 2 $23,180
2004 $52,304 2 $26,152
2002 $44,244 2 $22,122
2000 $27,767 2 $13,884
Total $439,651 19 $23,140