Hauschild defies massive outside spending to hold seat

REGIONAL- More than $1.7 million in outside spending supporting Andrea Zupancich or opposing Grant Hauschild wasn’t enough to keep the incumbent senator from winning a second term Tuesday, and by a considerably larger margin than four years ago.
Hauschild, a Hermantown DFLer, defeated Republican challenger and Babbitt Mayor Andrea Zupancich by 4,008 votes in their rematch for the Senate District 3 seat. Complete unofficial results showed Hauschild with 24,874 votes to Zupancich’s 20,866, compared with his narrow 703-vote victory in 2022.
Hauschild added 2,822 votes to his previous total, while Zupancich finished with 483 fewer. His winning margin grew more than fivefold.
In a written statement, Hauschild said the outcome showed the Northland is not for sale.
“When we started this campaign, we committed to being the candidate that will put the Northland first, ahead of party,” he wrote.
The victory came in a race that drew national Republican money and more than $2.15 million in combined candidate and outside spending through late October, placing it among Minnesota’s most expensive legislative contests.
Outside spending
The financial push to defeat Hauschild came largely from Renew Minnesota and Advance Minnesota, two outside groups substantially funded by national Republican organizations.
Campaign finance reports released Oct. 27 showed more than $1.3 million spent on advertising attacking Hauschild, with another $365,000 spent by the two groups to support Zupancich. Spending by smaller groups brought the total supporting Zupancich or opposing Hauschild to just over $1.7 million.
Outside expenditures on the other side were far smaller. DFL-aligned groups spent just over $50,000 supporting Hauschild, while the Political Committee for the Future of the Iron Range spent just over $75,000 opposing Zupancich. That put the outside spending imbalance at approximately 14 to 1 in favor of Zupancich.
Those outside expenditures were separate from the candidates’ own campaigns, where Hauschild held the spending advantage. His campaign reported $240,280 in expenditures, compared with Zupancich’s $90,198.
Those figures do not include all spending in the campaign’s closing days.
Local gains
Hauschild gained ground across the Timberjay’s coverage area, adding votes in Ely, Morse Township, Babbitt, Tower, Breitung Township, Cook, and Orr. Zupancich received fewer votes in each of those precincts than she did in 2022.
Ely delivered the largest improvement among those communities. After losing the city 887-811 four years ago, Hauschild carried it 1,086-726 this year. That turned a 76-vote deficit into a 360-vote advantage.
Neighboring Morse Township also boosted Hauschild, where he won 513-376, widening his advantage from 30 votes in 2022 to 137.
Zupancich retained her hometown of Babbitt, where she serves as mayor, but with less room to spare. She won 454-335, compared with 487-282 four years ago. Her advantage fell from 205 votes to 119.
Tower and Breitung Township both moved into Hauschild’s column. He edged Zupancich 101-100 in Tower and won Breitung 168-145. Combined, the two communities gave him a 269-245 victory, reversing a 100-vote loss in 2022.
Cook and Orr together also shifted narrowly in his favor. Hauschild won Cook 132-114, while Zupancich held Orr 55-50. Their combined totals gave Hauschild a 182-169 advantage, compared with a 52-vote deficit four years ago.
The broader county results followed the same direction. Hauschild strengthened his position in all five counties represented in the district. St. Louis County supplied most of his increased margin, while Lake and Cook counties also added substantially to his advantage. He narrowed his losses in the portions of Koochiching and Itasca counties within the district.
A closely watched seat
The contest drew attention well beyond northeastern Minnesota because of its potential to help determine control of the state Senate. Democrats entered the election with a one-seat majority, making District 3 a significant Republican target.
Hauschild was seeking reelection as the only DFL senator representing northeastern Minnesota outside Duluth, in a region that has moved increasingly toward Republicans in recent elections.
His first-term work included rural emergency medical services reform and support for an independent Office of the Inspector General to investigate fraud. During the campaign, he emphasized a willingness to challenge his own party on issues affecting the district.
Looking toward his second term, Hauschild identified fraud, affordability, and support for copper-nickel mining as priorities.
“I am honored to continue fighting for our region,” Hauschild said. “I will keep fighting for access to affordable health care and child care, combatting fraud, and making sure the Northland gets its fair share down in St. Paul.”