The St. Cloud Times is reporting that after initial recounts in both the SD16 and HD16A races, both Lisa Fobbe (DFL) and Gail Kulick-Jackson (DFL) have come away victorious.

Fobbe, a Princeton school board member, saw her final margin narrow by one vote over Big Lake Republican Alison Krueger, to 84 votes in a Senate District 16 special election to replace Betsy Wergin.Kulick Jackson, a Milaca attorney, saw her final margin narrow by five votes over Rep. Sondra Erickson, R-Princeton, to an identical 84 votes in their House District 16A race.Once certified, the results would cement a 40-seat DFL majority in the House of Representatives and a 25-seat DFL supermajority in the Senate.

These are particularly gratifying pick-ups given that the area that they now represent is notably conservative. So conservative, in fact, that the Republican Party in the area was willing to turn a blind eye to spousal abuse in order to get their two time endorsed candidate. Their task now will be to govern in a manner centrist enough to keep the seats from quickly returning to the conservative column.

The word on the street, well according to my right wing nemesis Gary Gross, is that Mary Kiffmeyer will challenge Fobbe for the state senate seat. If she decides to do this will she also try to install Alison Krueger in the 16B seat? How will Mark Olson and his write in warriors react to this continued Kiffmeyer coup d'etat? Will Mark Olson run again regardless? So many questions remain about the future of that kooky conservative team in Senate District 16...

If you are a write in warrior or a member of the Olson intelligentsia I encourage you to send me an email about what is next for the Olson machine. Inquiring minds want to know...

Finally, I am hoping to have some interviews with the two new representatives from SD16 and will bring them to you as soon as possible.