Peterson Edges Kupec by Four Votes in District 4
Republican Austin Peterson narrowly defeats State Senator Rob Kupec in a race headed for a state recount.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Austin Peterson, a school board member in Hawley, defeated State Senator Rob Kupec by four votes in Minnesota's District 4 Senate race. A state recount is expected in the contest.
Why it matters
Kupec is the only Senate Democrat west of St. Cloud, and Republicans increased spending to unseat him, with opponents spending 2.2 million dollars against him. The margin's razor-thin outcome leaves the seat's control dependent on the recount.
Peterson's four-vote margin over Kupec compares with Kupec's roughly 1,700-vote win over Bohmer in 2022. Whether the recount preserves the four-vote result is still unknown.
The players
Austin Peterson
Austin Peterson is a school board member in Hawley who won the District 4 Minnesota Senate race by four votes.
Rob Kupec
Rob Kupec is the Democratic State Senator for Minnesota's District 4, the only Senate Democrat west of St. Cloud.
The details
Republicans increased spending against Kupec in 2026, with opponents spending 2.2 million dollars against him in total. House District 4A shows a Democratic lead of about 5,000 votes, while House District 4B shows a Republican lead of about 5,000 votes.
Timeline
In 2022, Kupec defeated Republican Dan Bohmer by about 1,700 votes.
Peterson bested Kupec by four votes in the 2026 midterm elections, held November 3, 2026.
Political Context
Kupec's comfortable 2022 win over Bohmer by about 1,700 votes stands in contrast to this four-vote outcome. Republicans singled him out as the only Senate Democrat west of St. Cloud, reflecting a broader push in the midterms that saw the DFL pick up several Minnesota Senate seats.
The outcome of this recount will determine which party holds the District 4 Senate seat. Voters in the district should watch for official results as the recount concludes.
The takeaway
Races decided by a handful of votes show how a single ballot can shift control of a legislative seat. Recount results will confirm whether this contest remains one of the closest in the state.
What happens next
A state recount will determine the final result of the District 4 Senate race.
Further reading
Explore more Minnesota Elections coverage for context on close state legislative races.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KVRR Local News.
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