Ninth District incumbent judges Benshoof, Rasmussen win re-election

Incumbents Paul Rasmussen and Paul Benshoof have won re-election to the bench as Ninth Judicial District judges.

As of 8:45 a.m., Benshoof, based in Beltrami County, garnered 58,666 votes for 55 percent and opponent Darrell Carter had 47,796 for 45 percent.

Districtwide, incumbent Rasmussen, based in Clearwater County, was also leading former Judge Terrance Holter of Bemidji. Rasmussen had 63,829 votes for 59.8 percent and Holter had 42,704 for 40 percent.

Benshoof, appointed by Gov. Arne Carlson in 1997 to fill a vacancy and elected unopposed twice, was challenged for the first time in his judgeship by Bemidji attorney Carter. Carter has practiced law since 1987 and began his Bemidji practice in 1992.

Rasmussen, based in Clearwater County, was elected Ninth Judicial District Judge in 1993 and has been re-elected since.

Holter served as judge for 27 years, but lost the 2006 election to John Melbye.