Tim Walz, D* 19,049 votes

Jim Hagedorn, R 16,788 votes

*incumbent

By Josh Moniz, Mankato Free Press

 

MANKATO — U.S. Rep. Tim Walz emerged victorious Tuesday, fending off a challenge by Republican candidate Jim Hagedorn despite 2014 being a challenging election for Democrat lawmakers.

With 71 percent of the district precincts reporting, the Associated Press called the race for Walz, who had 55 percent of the votes compared to Hagedorn’s 45 percent of the votes.

Walz won about 60 percent of the votes in Blue Earth County and Nicollet County.

In his victory speech, Walz said he continue to push for bipartisan compromise in Congress. He also congratulated Hagedorn on

Walz said he plans to push hard for a new federal transportation bill, comprehensive immigration reform and his veteran suicide prevention bill when he returns to Congress.

“I’m willing to compromise,” Walz said. “Let’s get something done for the American people.”

The 1st District voters saw many twists and turns this year in the election race.

Hagedorn, a Blue Earth resident and former U.S. Treasury official, heavily focused his campaign on criticizing Walz about health care, energy policy and immigration. He argued the election offered opportunity of limited government, free-market solutions to produce meaningful solutions to national issues.

He initially lost the endorsement race to first-time Republican candidate Aaron Miller of Byron but later defeated him in a close August primary battle, gaining statewide attention for his extensive campaigning.

Walz, a former Mankato teacher, faced a tougher re-election this year because of backlash against Democrats on the troubled roll out of the federal Affordable Care Act. He focused on running a low-profile campaign that emphasized his work passing the STOCK Act and the new federal Farm Bill. He also pushed new legislation aimed at helping veterans.

Walz dominated Hagedorn in fundraising by raising $1.4 million, more than seven times the $203,151 raised by Hagedorn, according to the FEC fundraising reports covering the election up to Oct. 10.

Additional, the FEC 24-hour reports for major donations since Oct. 10 shows Walz has raised an additional $72,000. Hagedorn has raised an additional $16,250.

Hagedorn self-funded 25 percent of his total fundraising. He also received 7 percent of his donations from the regional Fitzsimmons family and employees related to their agricultural business Protein Solutions. Walz received over 40 percent of his funds from PACs, with most PAC funds coming from unions.