Bliss Holds District 2B Seat in Minnesota House
Republican incumbent Matt Bliss leads Democratic-Farmer-Labor challenger Emily Thabes in the unofficial count for Minnesota House District 2B.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Republican incumbent Matt Bliss received 11,140 votes, or 61.45%, in the unofficial count for Minnesota House District 2B, while Democratic-Farmer-Labor challenger Emily Thabes received 6,976 votes, or 38.48%. The results were reported as precincts came in on Tuesday's midterm election day.
Why it matters
Bliss's lead gives him a continued seat in the state House representing District 2B, a district he has held since 2021 and previously served from 2017 to 2019. Results reflect voter preference in a midterm race within the state's legislative map.
The unofficial count showed Bliss ahead by roughly 23 percentage points with 86.4% of precincts reporting at 1 a.m. The remaining 17 precincts had not been tallied, and the results remain subject to official certification.
The players
Matt Bliss
A Republican incumbent serving Minnesota House District 2B, who owns and operates Bliss Point Resort in Cass Lake.
Emily Thabes
The Democratic-Farmer-Labor challenger who ran against Bliss in the District 2B race.
The details
Bliss is a 62-year-old Republican from Pennington who owns and operates Bliss Point Resort in Cass Lake. Thabes ran as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor challenger in the race for the District 2B seat.
Timeline
2017 to 2019: Bliss previously served District 2B.
2021: Bliss began his current service in District 2B.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Midterm election results were reported in District 2B.
January 2027: Bliss begins his next legislative term.
Political Context
Bliss's return to District 2B follows a pattern in which he first won the seat in 2017, left it, and then regained it in 2021. The result is reported within the existing House district structure used for state legislative elections.
Bliss's continued service means District 2B residents will be represented by the same incumbent for another term in the state House. The result affects who will vote on state legislation affecting the district starting in January.
The takeaway
Voters in District 2B returned Bliss to the seat by a wide margin in the unofficial count, which will shape the district's representation in the state House when the next term begins.
What happens next
Bliss will begin his next term as a state legislator in January 2027.
Further reading
For broader context on state legislative contests, see Elections coverage across Minnesota.
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