1977 Election Cycle

The state’s fifth – and most recent – special U.S. House election was held in February 1977 to fill the 7th CD vacancy caused by the resignation of Democrat Bob Bergland to become the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The Independent-Republicans picked up the seat behind former state Representative Arlen Stangeland.

There were also five special state legislative elections held for vacant DFL seats. As a harbinger of the party’s success to come in 1978, the GOP picked up four of them: SD 21 in February, HD 21B in March, HD 22B in September, and HD 35A in December. The DFL held SD 49 in December.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
12/10/1977 State House, District 35A Special Elton R. Redalen (Independent-Republican) won with 3,474 votes (72.10%) and a winning margin of +44.21
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Elton R. Redalen Man Independent-Republican 3,474 72.10
Renée Haugerud Woman Democratic-Farmer-Labor 1,344 27.90

Special election caused by the resignation of DFL Representative Neil Haugerud on November 4, 1977 following his appointment as Upper Mississippi River Basin Commissioner by President Jimmy Carter.

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12/03/1977 State Senate, District 49 Special Delores (Dee) Knaak (Independent-Republican) won with 3,441 votes (60.71%) and a winning margin of +21.42
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Delores (Dee) Knaak Woman Independent-Republican 3,441 60.71
Howard J. Neisen Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 2,227 39.29

Special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of DFL Senator John W. Milton on November 1, 1977 .

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11/26/1977 State House, District 35A Special Primary Renée Haugerud (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 193 votes (100.00%) and a winning margin of +100.00
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Renée Haugerud Woman Democratic-Farmer-Labor 193 100.00

Special primary election caused by the resignation of DFL Representative Neil Haugerud on November 4, 1977 following his appointment as Upper Mississippi River Basin Commissioner by President Jimmy Carter.

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11/26/1977 State House, District 35A Special Primary Elton R. Redalen (Independent-Republican) won with 1,521 votes (79.84%) and a winning margin of +66.61
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Elton R. Redalen Man Independent-Republican 1,521 79.84
Marilyn Bunge Man Independent-Republican 252 13.23
Bob Gossman Man Independent-Republican 132 6.93

Special primary election caused by the resignation of DFL Representative Neil Haugerud on November 4, 1977 following his appointment as Upper Mississippi River Basin Commissioner by President Jimmy Carter.

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11/19/1977 State Senate, District 49 Special Primary Howard J. Neisen (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 348 votes (100.00%) and a winning margin of +100.00
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Howard J. Neisen Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 348 100.00

Special primary election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of DFL Senator John W. Milton on November 1, 1977. Neisen was a designer from Mounds View and state Representative (HD 49A, 1975-1979).

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