Daisane Flips St. Cloud House Seat for Democrats
Democrat Abdi Daisane won Minnesota's House District 14A, a seat Republicans had held since at least 2002.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Elections
Democrat Abdi Daisane won the House District 14A seat in Minnesota with 52% of the vote in an election held Tuesday. The win flipped a seat Republicans had held through several rounds of redistricting.
Why it matters
Daisane's victory gives St. Cloud a new state representative and marks a shift in a district covering parts of St. Cloud, St. Joseph, Waite Park and St. Augusta. The race reflects the city's growing Somali and nonwhite or Hispanic population, which has expanded considerably over the past two decades.
The result is a 52% share of the District 14A vote, a seat Republicans held since at least 2002. The source does not report the opposing candidate's percentage or total votes cast.
The players
Abdi Daisane
A 38-year-old Democrat born in Somalia who moved to St. Cloud more than a decade ago and won the House District 14A seat.
Zach Dorholt
A Democrat who won House District 14B in the same election cycle.
Aric Putnam
A Minnesota state senator who was re-elected to Senate District 14.
The details
Daisane, 38, was born in Somalia and moved to St. Cloud more than a decade ago. He won the seat in Tuesday's election, while fellow Democrat Zach Dorholt won House District 14B and Sen. Aric Putnam was re-elected to Senate District 14.
Timeline
2002: Republicans began holding the District 14A seat.
2010 to 2020: The share of St. Cloud residents identifying as Hispanic or nonwhite doubled to 32%.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Voters elected Daisane to House District 14A.
Thursday, November 5, 2026: Daisane spoke about his victory.
2027: Daisane is set to take his seat at the State Capitol.
Demographic Shift
The win comes as St. Cloud's nonwhite or Hispanic population share doubled between 2010 and 2020 to 32%, according to census figures. Somali residents now make up about 8% of the city, the third-highest Somali population share in Minnesota after Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Residents of District 14A now have a Democratic state representative who will carry their concerns to the State Capitol next year. The seat covers parts of St. Cloud, St. Joseph, Waite Park and St. Augusta, so the change affects voters across that area.
The takeaway
A single House seat flip can reflect broader demographic change, and Daisane's win shows how a growing community is reshaping its representation in state government.
What happens next
Daisane is set to take his seat at the State Capitol next year.
Further reading
For more on local races, see the Elections coverage for Saint Cloud.
