Edelson wins special election for District 6 seat

State Rep. Heather Edelson (DFL-50A, Edina) defeated businesswoman Marisa Simonetti in Tuesday’s special nonpartisan election for the Hennepin County District 6 commissioner seat.

Unofficial results from the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website showed Edelson received 6,194 votes (54.40%), and Simonetti received 5,171 votes (45.42%). There were also 21 write-in votes. The results are set to be canvassed on Friday, May 17.

In Eden Prairie’s six precincts (1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8), Simonetti received 325 votes, and Edelson received 287.

Edelson is filling the vacancy left by Chris LaTondresse’s resignation last September. A full-term election for this seat will be held in November, with the term starting in January 2025. Candidates must file between May 21 and June 4, the same timeframe as for other offices requiring a primary.

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Although the election was officially nonpartisan, the candidates, both from Edina, presented differing viewpoints.

Edelson, a Democrat in her third term in the state Legislature, emphasized her background as a clinical social worker and her passion for serving people. Simonetti, a Republican making her first run for office, focused on addressing public financial issues and crime rates.

In a candidate questionnaire for Eden Prairie Local News, Edelson highlighted her professional experience and personal background as motivations for running.

“The work of the Hennepin County Board complements my professional experiences in the Minnesota House of Representatives and as a trained mental health therapist,” she wrote. “Equally important is my personal experience using Hennepin County services as a child growing up in poverty. From rental and heating assistance to food supports, Hennepin County social services were a lifeline for my family, helping me to be the first person in my family to graduate college.”