Persell cruises to victory in battle of House incumbents

BEMIDJI - Rep. John Persell will retain his seat in the Minnesota House, which now finds itself again in the majority after Tuesday’s election.

Persell, DFL-Bemidji, easily defeated Larry Howes, a veteran Republican representative from Walker, in a battle of incumbents.

Persell received 10,901 votes, or 56.1 percent, to Howes’ 8,497 votes, or 43.8 percent.

District lines redrawn earlier this year pitted Persell against Howes in a district that includes parts of Beltrami, Cass and Itasca counties.