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Politics and Government News
Dana Ferguson
Preston, Minn.

Primary battle features political upstart versus incumbent with 30 years experience

Two men in side by side images
(Left) Republican state House candidate Gary Steuart inside the Branding Iron Supper Club in Preston on July 25 and (right) State Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston, outside the Minnesota Veterans Home in Preston on July 25.
Dana Ferguson | MPR News

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On Tuesday, voters will decide who moves forward in 22 races for the Minnesota House of Representatives. And six GOP incumbents — along with one DFLer — are at risk of losing their jobs.

In rural southeastern Minnesota, Gary Steuart hopes he can unseat the longest-serving Republican lawmaker in the chamber — Rep. Greg Davids. 

Steuart has a simple message when he makes his pitch to voters: Davids has been in office too long.

“When something goes the wrong direction for years and years, we have to change things,” he said.

Steuart is a longtime party activist from Mabel, Minnesota. He clinched the local Republican Party’s endorsement in April over Davids. Despite losing the endorsement, Davids opted to run in a primary. On Tuesday, voters will determine who moves on to the General Election.

If Steuart’s bid is successful, voters in Fillmore, Houston and Mower counties could have new elected leadership for the first time in decades. Davids has served in the Minnesota House since 1991 and is the leading Republican voice on the powerful House Taxes Committee.

Davids isn’t shying away from his political experience. He also said candidates like Steuart want to raise their voice at the Capitol but don’t understand compromise is needed.

“If they got elected, I don’t think they could govern. Because it's no compromise, no compromise,” Davids said. He said he has worked as hard as he could to convince lawmakers to his point of view but “at some point, you have to make a deal on the budget, you have to govern.”

The race will not only determine who may represent the district in the Legislature but could also set the tone when lawmakers return to work in January. 

In 2022, Davids ran unopposed in the general election and won overwhelmingly. This year, he lost the party’s endorsement and two Democrats - Allie Wolf and Eric Leitzen — are vying to challenge him in November. 

While primary challenges occur every cycle, University of Minnesota at Morris Political Science Professor Tim Lindberg said challengers have seen recent success in toppling incumbents. He said former President Donald Trump’s “Drain the Swamp” message trickled down to local races. 

“It is a reflection of the same sorts of rhetoric that Donald Trump embodied, in particular in his first presidential run,” Lindberg said. “But it is also taking on a life of its own.”

Both Steuart — a business owner — and Davids — an insurance broker — have tried  to connect with voters ahead of Election Day. 

Davids highlighted his work on the state budget and tax bills — along with funding for a Veterans Home and Cemetery built in Preston. Steuart pushed for legislative term limits and vowed to be more vocal than Davids during floor debates.

Interviews with a few voters in the district show mixed feelings over Davids’ experience.

Carole Yenter voted for Davids early in the primary contest and appreciates his track record.

“These are local issues that we're voting for so I really feel confident in voting for him,” said Carole Yenter who voted for Davids early in the primary contest. 

But others argued they want different representation in the Legislature. 

Kate Snodgrass met Steuart through the Fillmore County GOP and thinks he’s the candidate that the district needs right now.

“It’s time for a fresh face,” said Kate Snodgrass, who met Steuart through the Fillmore County Republican Party. “It’s time for somebody else to step up and start offering some new ideas.”

This intraparty contest has also created division between Republican party power brokers. Republican legislative leaders supported Davids while local party leaders put their backing — and their money — behind Steuart. 

All 134 seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives will be on the ballot in November, along with one Senate seat up for a special election.

The results in the fall could flip — or secure — party control of the Legislature.