Paul Anderson Wins Re-Election to Minnesota House
Incumbent Republican Paul Anderson holds District 12A seat, defeating Democrat Talitha Anderson in unofficial returns.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
Paul Anderson won re-election to the Minnesota House representing District 12A, receiving 72% of the vote to Talitha Anderson's 27%. The results were unofficial, with 66% of precincts reporting as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office.
Why it matters
The outcome keeps a long-serving legislator in a district spanning several counties across west-central Minnesota. Anderson's margin reflects the district's electoral preferences in a race where the challenger was seeking her first political office.
Unofficial returns show Paul Anderson winning 72% of the vote in District 12A against Talitha Anderson's 27%, with 66% of precincts reporting as of 11 p.m. Tuesday. The final certified count had not been released, and the remaining precincts were still outstanding.
The players
Paul Anderson
A Republican farmer from Starbuck who has served in the Minnesota House since he was first elected in 2009 and previously served as Pope County Commissioner.
Talitha Anderson
A sustainability project coordinator for the city of Morris who challenged Paul Anderson in her first run for political office.
Minnesota Secretary of State's Office
The state office that reported the unofficial election results and oversees the administration of Minnesota elections.
The details
Paul Anderson, a farmer from Starbuck who previously served as Pope County Commissioner and on township, school and other boards, will return to the Minnesota House. Talitha Anderson, a sustainability project coordinator for the city of Morris, ran in her first campaign for political office. District 12A includes Big Stone, Stevens and Swift counties, most of Pope County, and several townships in Stearns County.
Timeline
2009: Paul Anderson first elected to the Minnesota House.
Nov. 3, 2026: Election night, with unofficial results reported Tuesday night.
Political Context
The result keeps District 12A within the existing legislative boundaries that define Minnesota's House seats across Big Stone, Stevens, Swift, Pope and parts of Stearns counties. Challenger Talitha Anderson's campaign marked her first bid for public office, and the outcome reflects a race where the incumbent held a wide margin.
District 12A voters now have a returning representative in the Minnesota House, a seat held by Paul Anderson since 2009. The outcome determines who represents residents of Big Stone, Stevens, Swift and Pope counties and parts of Stearns County in the state Legislature.
The takeaway
Voters in District 12A returned an experienced local officeholder by a wide margin, a result that will shape representation for the district's residents in the Minnesota House.
Further reading
Explore more on the Elections section for context on how state legislative races are decided.
