Minnesota Midday: Rain and a possible freeze, Hennepin County attorney and a 1st District recount
Statewide rain and a possible first Twin Cities freeze Saturday, Cedrick Frazier's narrow win for Hennepin County attorney, and a 324-vote gap in southern Minnesota's 1st Congressional District.
Rain continues across Minnesota on Wednesday, November 4, with highs in the 50s. The Twin Cities set a Tuesday rainfall record of 0.66 inches, breaking 0.53 inches, and several northern and central Minnesota spots had more than 2 inches from Monday through Wednesday morning, including Hibbing at 3.06 inches. Rain tapers off Wednesday night and Thursday is drier. Saturday morning is chilly, and the Twin Cities could see their first freeze of the season.
State Representative Cedrick Frazier (DFL-New Hope) narrowly defeated former acting U.S. Attorney Anders Folk in the race for Hennepin County attorney, according to unofficial results. MPR News reports he led by less than 2 percentage points, about 8,300 votes, of more than 500,000 cast. He would be the county's first African American county attorney and succeeds Mary Moriarty, who did not seek reelection.
Frazier saysHe campaigned on crime prevention, alternatives to incarceration, and a greater focus on victims, and said he will work to uphold equal justice and strengthen public safety.
Folk saidHe campaigned on charging repeat and violent offenders and argued the office has been too lenient on sentencing.
In Minnesota's 1st Congressional District, DFL challenger Jake Johnson leads Republican Rep. Brad Finstad by 324 votes, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office as reported by KSTP. FOX 9 says the race is too close to call. Johnson and the Minnesota DFL have declared victory. Finstad had not released a statement or conceded as of Wednesday morning, and KSTP reports a recount will likely follow. The district covers nearly all of southern Minnesota.
Johnson saysHe declared victory and said he is ready to get to work bringing down costs and investing in small towns across southern Minnesota.
FinstadHad not released a statement or conceded as of Wednesday morning.
