Farnsworth Wins Minnesota Senate District 7 Seat
Republican incumbent Robert Farnsworth defeated DFL challenger Kim Kotonias McLaughlin in the unofficial early returns for the Iron Range district.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Republican Senator Robert Farnsworth won Minnesota's District 7 Senate seat over DFL challenger Kim Kotonias McLaughlin, with unofficial Secretary of State results showing Farnsworth at about 54% and McLaughlin at about 46%.
Why it matters
The result keeps the District 7 seat in Republican hands for another term in a district covering parts of Aitkin, St. Louis and Itasca counties. The margin reflects the continued competitiveness of the Iron Range region.
Unofficial Secretary of State returns show Farnsworth with about 21,700 votes (54%) and McLaughlin with just over 18,200 (about 46%). The results have not yet been certified, and the official canvass could shift the totals.
The players
Robert Farnsworth
Republican state senator who has represented Minnesota Senate District 7 since 2022 and won re-election in the unofficial results.
Kim Kotonias McLaughlin
DFL challenger and member of the Hibbing School Board who previously lost the 2022 DFL primary.
The details
Farnsworth has held the District 7 seat since 2022, when boundary redistricting followed the 2020 census. McLaughlin, a Hibbing School Board member and business manager, lost the 2022 DFL primary to Ben DeNucci and later received 346 write-in votes in the general election.
Timeline
2022: Farnsworth won the District 7 seat after redistricting; McLaughlin lost the DFL primary to Ben DeNucci.
November 4, 2026: Election held, with unofficial results reported early Wednesday morning.
Political Context
Minnesota's post-2020 census redistricting redrew Senate boundaries across the state, and District 7 remains a contest between Republican and DFL candidates in the Iron Range. Opposition arguments in the race centered on the DFL's effort to win back the district.
Farnsworth's re-election keeps District 7 represented in the Minnesota Senate for another four-year term. The Senate seat pays an annual salary of $51,750 to state senators.
The takeaway
Unofficial results can change during the canvass, so the final outcome in District 7 will be confirmed only after certification.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in Minnesota Elections.
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