Challenger edges longest-serving woman in Minnesota Legislature by 35 votes, triggers automatic recount

people talking with candiadates — Natalie Zeleznikar, center, Minnesota House District 3B candidate, looks at results with Karen Bonniwell, left, of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and Nancy Loudon of Maple Plain, Minnesota, at Black Woods Event Center on Tuesday in Proctor.

By Brielle Bredsten

November 09, 2022 at 5:46 PM

DULUTH — Just 35 votes edged Natalie Zeleznikar, a Republican from Duluth, over Rep. Mary Murphy, the longest-serving female legislator in Minnesota, in the House District 3B race, according to unofficial results Wednesday morning, Nov. 9.

Murphy, DFL-Hermantown, also the second-longest-serving legislator in the state, has held the seat since 1976.

Zeleznikar received 10,812 votes (50.01%), while Murphy had 10,777 (49.85%), according to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office.

According to the Minnesota secretary of state , the race falls within the parameters of a publicly funded recount.

"I'm just committed to the process that every legal vote counts and I'm confident in the strength of our campaign. It's a testament to how hard we worked the last eight months," Zeleznikar said.

District 3B includes Two Harbors and other unorganized territories in Lake County; Proctor; Rice Lake; Hermantown; and the following St. Louis County townships: Alden, Ault, Canosia, Duluth, Fairbanks, Fredenberg, Gnesen, Grand Lake, Lakewood, Midway, Normanna, North Star, Pequaywan and Solway.

By Brielle Bredsten

Brielle Bredsten is the business reporter for the Duluth News Tribune.

She earned a bachelor's degree in Professional Writing & Technical Communication, with minors in Advertising and Creative Writing from Metropolitan State University, in addition to a two-year professional paid internship as reporter/editor of the student newspaper.

She is an award-winning professional writer, photographer and editor based in rural Minnesota. Over the past decade, Brielle Bredsten has contributed more than 1,000 articles, feature stories, non-profit press-releases, photographs and columns. Her work has been published in several community newspapers.

Send her story tips, feedback or just say hi at bbredsten@duluthnews.com.

Challenger edges longest-serving woman in Minnesota Legislature by 35 votes, triggers automatic recount

Duluth's Natalie Zeleznikar unseated Mary Murphy, DFL-Hermantown, in House District 3B by margin of 50.01%-49.85%, according to unofficial results.