St. Paul voters Tuesday returned a former lawmaker to the state Capitol.
DFLer Mary Jo McGuire beat Republican Greg Copeland by raking in more than 80 percent of the vote in Tuesday's special election to replace former Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul. Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Anderson as chair of the state's Public Utilities Commission in February.
McGuire, who served in the Minnesota House from 1988 to 2002, is likely to be a lawmaker very much in sync with the legacy Anderson leaves behind. McGuire even held her election night party at Anderson's house.
McGuire left the Legislature when new political maps pitted her against a DFL colleague and friend.
She will return to the Capitol with newfound energy and "open-eyed optimism," she said. She said she'll stress education, criminal justice and environmental issues in her new post.
Star Tribune staff
