2012 Candidate Grades (General Election)

During election cycles, GOCRA evaluates Minnesota candidates to determine their positions on issues of importance to gun owners, and all defenders of liberty. We examine voting records of incumbents, send questionnaires to all candidates, and review candidates’ public statements and actions. We use this research to produce candidate grades below.

When looking at these ratings, please remember that due to redistricting, your district and polling place may have changed since last election! To find your district and polling place, please visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office’s poll finder web site at http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/

Please see our grading scale below to see what each letter grade means.

Minnesota House races:

1A	BRUCE PATTERSON	DFL	F*
1A	DAN FABIAN	R	A-
1B	MARC DEMERS	DFL	D-
1B	DEBRA (DEB) KIEL	R	A-
2A	ROGER A ERICKSON	DFL	F*
2A	DAVE HANCOCK	R	A-
2B	BRITA SAILER	DFL	A-
2B	STEVE GREEN	R	C-
3A	DAVID DILL	DFL	A
3A	JIM TUOMALA	R	A-
3B	MARY MURPHY	DFL	B
3B	KEITH MACDONALD	R	F*
4A	BEN LIEN	DFL	F*
4A	TRAVIS REIMCHE	R	F*
4B	PAUL MARQUART	DFL	A
4B	PAUL SANDMAN	R	A-
5A	JOHN PERSELL	DFL	A-
5A	LARRY HOWES	R	A
5B	TOM ANZELC	DFL	A-
5B	CAROLYN MCELFATRICK	R	A-
6A	CARLY MELIN	DFL	A-
6A	ROGER WEBER	R	F*
6B	JASON METSA	DFL	F*
6B	JESSE COLANGELO	R	A-
7A	THOMAS HUNTLEY	DFL	F
7A	THERESE BOWER	R	A-
7B	KERRY GAUTHIER	DFL	F
7B	TRAVIS SILVERS	R	F*
8A	CHESTER (CHET) F. NETTESTAD	DFL	D-
8A	BUD NORNES	R	A
8B	BOB CUNNIFF	DFL	C
8B	MARY FRANSON	R	A-
9A	DON NILES	DFL	F*
9A	MARK ANDERSON	R	A-
9B	ADRIAN WELLE	DFL	B+
9B	RON KRESHA	R	A-
10A	JOHN WARD	DFL	A-
10A	CHRIS KELLETT	R	A-
10B	JOE RADINOVICH	DFL	B+
10B	DALE K. LUECK	R	A-
11A	MIKE SUNDIN	DFL	F*
11A	CORY M. PYLKKA	IP	A-
11A	JIM PUTNAM	R	B-
11B	TIM FAUST	DFL	B+
11B	BEN WIENER	R	A-
12A	JAY MCNAMAR	DFL	F*
12A	DAVE HOLMAN	IP	F*
12A	SCOTT DUTCHER	R	A-
12B	RICK ROSENFIELD	DFL	C
12B	PAUL ANDERSON	R	A
13A	RICHARD BOHANNON	DFL	F*
13A	JEFF HOWE	R	A-
13B	SHANNON SCHROEDER	DFL	B+
13B	TIM O’DRISCOLL	R	A-
14A	ANNE NOLAN	DFL	F*
14A	STEVE GOTTWALT	R	A-
14B	ZACHARY “ZACH” DORHOLT	DFL	F*
14B	KING BANAIAN	R	A-
15A	JOE WALSH	DFL	F*
15A	SONDRA ERICKSON	R	A
15B	BRIAN JOHNSON	DFL	F*
15B	JIM NEWBERGER	R	A-
16A	AL KRUSE	DFL	F*
16A	CHRIS SWEDZINSKI	R	A-
16B	JAMES KANNE	DFL	F*
16B	JERRY “PIKE” PAGEL	IND	A-
16B	PAUL TORKELSON	R	A-
17A	ANDREW FALK	DFL	F
17A	TIM MILLER	R	B-
17B	MARY SAWATZKY	DFL	F
17B	ZACHARY LIEBL	IP	B+
17B	BRUCE VOGEL	R	A-
18A	NANCY LARSON	DFL	D-
18A	DEAN URDAHL	R	A
18B	LOGAN CAMPA	DFL	F*
18B	GLENN GRUENHAGEN	R	A-
19A	TERRY MORROW	DFL	F
19B	KATHY BRYNAERT	DFL	F
19B	THAD SHUNKWILER	R	A-
20A	RYAN WOLF	DFL	F*
20A	KELBY WOODARD	R	A-
20B	DAVID BLY	DFL	F*
20B	BRIAN WERMERSKIRCHEN	R	B-
21A	JOHN BACON	DFL	B-
21A	TIMOTHY J. KELLY	R	A-
21B	BRUCE MONTPLAISIR	DFL	D
21B	STEVE DRAZKOWSKI	R	A+
22A	EUGENE SHORT	DFL	F*
22A	JOE SCHOMACKER	R	A-
22B	CHERYL AVENEL-NAVARA	DFL	F*
22B	ROD HAMILTON	R	A
23A	KEVIN LABENZ	DFL	C-
23A	BOB GUNTHER	R	A
23B	TONY CORNISH	R	A+
24A	CRAIG A. BRENDEN	DFL	F*
24A	JOHN PETERSBURG	R	A-
24B	PATTI FRITZ	DFL	F
24B	DAN KAISER	R	A-
25A	JOHN VOSSEN	DFL	F*
25A	DUANE QUAM	R	A-
25B	KIM NORTON	DFL	F
25B	MELISSA VALERIANO	R	A-
26A	TINA LIEBLING	DFL	F
26A	BREANNA BLY	R	F*
26B	PAT STALLMAN	DFL	F*
26B	MIKE BENSON	R	A-
27A	SHANNON SAVICK	DFL	F*
27A	WILLIAM J. WAGNER	IP	F*
27A	RICH MURRAY	R	A-
27B	JEANNE POPPE	DFL	A
27B	NATHAN NEITZELL	R	F*
28A	GENE PELOWSKI, JR	DFL	F
28A	ADAM PACE	R	F*
28B	KEN TSCHUMPER	DFL	F*
28B	GREGORY M. DAVIDS	R	A
29A	SUSANN DYE	DFL	D-
29A	JOE MCDONALD	R	A
29B	BARRETT A. CHRISSIS	DFL	F*
29B	EUGENE NEWCOMBE	IP	F*
29B	MARION O’NEILL	R	B-
30A	HOLLY NEUMAN	DFL	A-
30A	NICK ZERWAS	R	A-
30B	SHARON G SHIMEK	DFL	F*
30B	DAVID FITZSIMMONS	R	A-
31A	RYAN FIERECK	DFL	F
31A	KURT DAUDT	R	A-
31B	LOUISE FAY WOODBERRY	DFL	F*
31B	TOM HACKBARTH	R	A+
32A	PAUL BERGLEY	CP	A-
32A	PAUL GAMMEL	DFL	A-
32A	BRIAN JOHNSON	R	C
32B	RICK OLSEEN	DFL	F*
32B	BOB BARRETT	R	A-
33A	TODD MIKKELSON	DFL	D+
33A	JERRY HERTAUS	R	A-
33B	DENISE BADER	DFL	F*
33B	CINDY PUGH	R	A
34A	ADAM FISHER	DFL	C-
34A	JOYCE PEPPIN	R	A
34B	DAVID B. HODEN	DFL	F*
34B	KURT ZELLERS	R	A
35A	ANDY HILLEBREGT	DFL	F
35A	JUSTIN BOALS	IP	B-
35A	JIM ABELER	R	A
35B	SAM SCOTT	DFL	D+
35B	PEGGY SCOTT	R	A-
36A	GRACE BALTICH	DFL	F*
36A	MARK UGLEM	R	C+
36B	MELISSA HORTMAN	DFL	F
36B	ANDREW KRATOSKA	IP	F*
36B	ANDREW REINHARDT	R	A-
37A	JERRY NEWTON	DFL	F*
37A	MANDY BENZ	R	A-
37B	JON CHLEBECK	DFL	F
37B	TIM SANDERS	R	A-
38A	PATRICK DAVERN	DFL	F*
38A	LINDA RUNBECK	R	A-
38B	GREG M. PARISEAU	DFL	F*
38B	MATT DEAN	R	A
39A	JOHN E. BRUNO	DFL	F*
39A	BOB DETTMER	R	A-
39B	TOM DEGREE	DFL	F*
39B	KATHY LOHMER	R	A-
40A	MICHAEL NELSON	DFL	F
40B	DEBRA HILSTROM	DFL	D
40B	RICHARD D. CUSHING	R	A-
41A	CONNIE BERNARDY	DFL	F
41A	DALE HELM	R	A-
41B	TIM UTZ	CP	A-
41B	CAROLYN LAINE	DFL	F
41B	LAURA PALMER	R	A-
42A	BARB YARUSSO	DFL	F*
42A	RUSS BERTSCH	R	A-
42B	JASON “IKE” ISAACSON	DFL	F*
42B	KEN RUBENZER	R	B+
43A	PETER FISCHER	DFL	F
43A	STACEY STOUT	R	B+
43B	LEON M. LILLIE	DFL	B-
43B	KEVIN J. KLEIN	R	A-
44A	AUDREY BRITTON	DFL	F*
44A	SARAH ANDERSON	R	A
44B	JOHN H. BENSON	DFL	F
44B	MARK STEFAN	R	B+
45A	LYNDON R. CARLSON	DFL	F
45A	JEFF PAULEY	R	A-
45B	MIKE FREIBERG	DFL	F*
45B	REID JOHNSON	R	F*
46A	RYAN WINKLER	DFL	F
46A	JOHN SWANSON	R	B-
46B	STEVE SIMON	DFL	F
46B	DAVID ARVIDSON	R	A-
47A	KEITH PICKERING	DFL	F*
47A	ERNIE LEIDIGER	R	A-
47B	JOE HOPPE	R	A
48A	YVONNE SELCER	DFL	F*
48A	KIRK STENSRUD	R	A-
48B	TORI HILL	DFL	F*
48B	JENIFER LOON	R	A-
49A	RON ERHARDT	DFL	F
49A	BILL GLAHN	R	F*
49B	PAUL ROSENTHAL	DFL	F*
49B	TERRY JACOBSON	R	C+
50A	LINDA SLOCUM	DFL	F
50A	JOSEPH KOCH	IP	D+
50A	CRAIG MARSTON	R	B+
50B	ANN LENCZEWSKI	DFL	F
50B	RICHARD BOHNEN	R	A-
51A	SANDRA A. MASIN	DFL	F*
51A	DIANE ANDERSON	R	A-
51B	LAURIE HALVERSON	DFL	F*
51B	DOUG WARDLOW	R	A-
52A	RICK HANSEN	DFL	B-
52A	JOE BLUM	R	A-
52B	JOE ATKINS	DFL	A
52B	PAUL TUSCHY	R	A-
53A	JOANN WARD	DFL	F*
53A	PAM CUNNINGHAM	R	B+
53B	ANN MARIE METZGER	DFL	F*
53B	ANDREA KIEFFER	R	A-
54A	DAN SCHOEN	DFL	F*
54A	RON LISCHEID	IP	F*
54A	DERRICK LEHRKE	R	A-
54B	JOANNA BAYERS	DFL	B+
54B	DENNY MCNAMARA	R	A
55A	CHUCK BERG	DFL	F*
55A	MIKE BEARD	R	A
55B	TRAVIS BURTON	DFL	F*
55B	TONY ALBRIGHT	R	A-
56A	DAVID (DAVE) JOHN JENSEN	DFL	F
56A	PAM MYHRA	R	A-
56B	WILL MORGAN	DFL	D+
56B	ROZ PETERSON	R	A-
57A	ROBERTA GIBBONS	DFL	F
57A	TARA MACK	R	A-
57B	JEFF WILFAHRT	DFL	F*
57B	ANNA WILLS	R	A-
58A	COLIN LEE	DFL	F*
58A	MARY LIZ HOLBERG	R	A
58B	JIM ARLT	DFL	D
58B	PAT GAROFALO	R	A
59A	JOE MULLERY	DFL	F
59A	CINDY LILLY	R	F*
59B	RAYMOND DEHN	DFL	F*
59B	ANTHONY HILTON	EDP	D-
59B	GARY J. MAZZOTTA	R	A-
60A	DIANE LOEFFLER	DFL	F
60A	BRENT MILLSOP	R	A-
60B	PHYLLIS KAHN	DFL	F
60B	KODY ZALEWSKI	R	C
61A	FRANK HORNSTEIN	DFL	F
61A	DEVIN GAWNEMARK	R	A-
61B	PAUL THISSEN	DFL	F
61B	NATE “HONEY BADGER” ATKINS	R	F*
62A	KAREN CLARK	DFL	F
62A	KURTIS HANNA	R	F*
62B	SUSAN ALLEN	DFL	F
62B	TOM F. JOHNSON III	R	A-
63A	JIM DAVNIE	DFL	F
63A	KIRK BRINK	R	F*
63B	JEAN WAGENIUS	DFL	F
63B	MATT ASHLEY	R	A-
64A	ERIN MURPHY	DFL	F
64A	ANDREW OJEDA	R	A-
64B	MICHAEL PAYMAR	DFL	F
64B	BRANDON CARMACK	R	A-
65A	RENA MORAN	DFL	F
65A	DANIEL LIPP	R	F*
65B	CARLOS MARIANI	DFL	F
65B	CARLOS CONWAY	R	F*
66A	ALICE HAUSMAN	DFL	F
66A	DAVE THOMAS	IP	C+
66A	MARK FOTSCH	R	F*
66B	JOHN LESCH	DFL	F
66B	BEN BLOMGREN	R	A-
67A	TIM MAHONEY	DFL	B-
67A	CATHY HENNELLY	R	C+
67B	SHELDON JOHNSON	DFL	F
67B	JOHN T. QUINN	R	A-

Minnesota Senate races:

1	LEROY STUMPF	DFL	A-
1	STEVE NORDHAGEN	R	A-
2	ROD SKOE	DFL	A
2	DENNIS MOSER	R	A-
3	THOMAS (TOM) BAKK	DFL	B-
3	JENNIFER HAVLICK	R	F*
4	KENT EKEN	DFL	A-
4	PHIL HANSEN	R	A-
5	TOM SAXHAUG	DFL	A
5	JOHN CARLSON	R	A-
6	DAVID J. TOMASSONI	DFL	A-
6	BRANDON D. ANDERSON	R	A-
7	ROGER J. REINERT	DFL	F
7	TYLER VERRY	R	F*
8	DAN SKOGEN	DFL	F*
8	BILL INGEBRIGTSEN	R	A-
9	AL DOTY	DFL	B+
9	PAUL GAZELKA	R	A
10	TAYLOR STEVENSON	DFL	A-
10	CARRIE RUUD	R	A-
11	TONY LOUREY	DFL	F
11	BILL SAUMER	R	A-
12	JOHN SCHULTZ	DFL	A-
12	TORREY WESTROM	R	A
13	PEGGY BOECK	DFL	F*
13	MICHELLE FISCHBACH	R	A
14	JERRY MCCARTER	DFL	C
14	JOHN PEDERSON	R	A-
15	SALLY KNOX	DFL	B-
15	DAVE BROWN	R	A-
16	TED L. SUSS	DFL	F*
16	GARY DAHMS	R	A-
17	LYLE KOENEN	DFL	A
17	JOE GIMSE	R	A-
18	STEVEN SCHIROO	DFL	F*
18	SCOTT J. NEWMAN	R	A
19	KATHY SHERAN	DFL	F
20	KEVIN L. DAHLE	DFL	F*
20	MIKE DUDLEY	R	A-
21	MATT SCHMIT	DFL	A-
21	JOHN HOWE	R	A-
22	ALAN OBERLOH	DFL	B-
22	BILL WEBER	R	A-
23	PAUL MARQUARDT	DFL	A-
23	JULIE ANN ROSEN	R	A
24	VICKI JENSEN	DFL	F*
24	VERN SWEDIN	R	B+
25	JUDY OHLY	DFL	F*
25	DAVID H. SENJEM	R	A
26	KENNETH R. MOEN	DFL	F*
26	CARLA NELSON	R	A
27	DAN SPARKS	DFL	A
27	LINDEN ANDERSON	R	B
28	JACK KRAGE	DFL	D-
28	JEREMY MILLER	R	A-
29	BRIAN DORAN	DFL	D
29	BRUCE ANDERSON	R	A
30	PAUL PEROVICH	DFL	C
30	MARY KIFFMEYER	R	A-
31	MIKE STARR	DFL	D-
31	MICHELLE BENSON	R	A-
32	JESKE NOORDERGRAAF	DFL	D-
32	SEAN NIENOW	R	A
33	JUDY ROGOSHESKE	DFL	F
33	DAVID OSMEK	R	A
34	SHARON BAHENSKY	DFL	F*
34	WARREN LIMMER	R	A
35	PETER PEROVICH	DFL	A-
35	BRANDEN PETERSEN	R	A-
36	JOHN HOFFMAN	DFL	F
36	BENJAMIN KRUSE	R	A-
37	ALICE M. JOHNSON	DFL	F*
37	PAM WOLF	R	A-
38	TIMOTHY HENDERSON	DFL	C+
38	ROGER CHAMBERLAIN	R	A-
39	JULIE BUNN	DFL	C-
39	KARIN HOUSLEY	R	B+
40	CHRIS EATON	DFL	F
40	TIMOTHY A. DAVIS SR.	DFL	F*
41	BARB GOODWIN	DFL	F
41	GINA BAUMAN	R	A-
42	BEV SCALZE	DFL	D
42	APRIL KING	R	A-
43	CHARLES “CHUCK” WIGER	DFL	F
43	DUANE E. (SWEDE) JOHNSON	R	A-
44	TERRI BONOFF	DFL	F
44	DAVID GAITHER	R	A-
45	ANN H. REST	DFL	D
45	BLAIR TREMERE	R	F*
45	TIMOTHY HALL	R	C+
46	RON LATZ	DFL	F
46	PAUL SCOFIELD	R	A-
47	JAMES F. WEYGAND	DFL	F
47	JULIANNE ORTMAN	R	B
48	LAURIE MCKENDRY	DFL	F*
48	DAVID HANN	R	A
49	MELISA FRANZEN	DFL	F*
49	KEITH DOWNEY	R	A-
50	MELISSA HALVORSON WIKLUND	DFL	F*
50	VERN WILCOX	R	A-
51	JIM CARLSON	DFL	F
51	TED DALEY	R	A-
52	JAMES METZEN	DFL	C+
52	DWIGHT RABUSE	R	A-
53	SUSAN KENT	DFL	F*
53	TED LILLIE	R	A-
54	KATIE SIEBEN	DFL	F
54	JANIS QUINLAN	R	A-
55	KATHY BUSCH	DFL	F
55	ERIC PRATT	R	B
56	LEON THURMAN	DFL	F*
56	DAN HALL	R	A-
57	GREG CLAUSEN	DFL	F*
57	PAT HALL	R	A-
58	ANDREW BROBSTON	DFL	C
58	DAVE THOMPSON	R	A
59	BOBBY JOE CHAMPION	DFL	F
59	JIM LILLY	R	D
60	KARI DZIEDZIC	DFL	F
60	RAHN V. WORKCUFF	IP	F*
60	MARK LAZARCHIC	R	F*
61	SCOTT DIBBLE	DFL	F
62	JEFF HAYDEN	DFL	F
62	ERIC BLAIR	IP	F*
63	PATRICIA TORRES RAY	DFL	C
63	PATRICK MARRON	R	F*
64	DICK COHEN	DFL	F*
64	SCOTT LARSON	IND	D-
64	SHARON ANDERSON	R	C
65	SANDY PAPPAS	DFL	F
65	RICK KARSCHNIA	R	F*
66	JOHN MARTY	DFL	F
66	WAYDE BROOKS	R	F*
67	FOUNG HAWJ	DFL	F
67	MIKE CAPISTRANT	R	A-

Our grading scale:

A+	Leads the way for gun owners and sportsmen in Minnesota (very few qualify for this grade).
A A-	A stalwart supporter of Minnesota gun owners and sportsmen.
B+ B B-	Can be expected to support Minnesota gun owners and sportsmen, but is not yet a proven “A-team” member.
C+ C C-	Not necessarily a passing grade. Has ignored Minnesota gun owners and sportsmen in the past.
D+ D D-	Not acceptable and not a friend of gun owners.
F	Hostile to sportsman and gun owner civil rights.
F*	May be hostile to Minnesota gun owners and sportsman: did not complete the GOCRA candidate questionnaire. Our experience is that candidates who do not return surveys may be hiding their positions, and often vote against gun owners.

Party abbreviations:

DFL:	Democratic-Farmer-Labor
R:	Republican
CP:	Constitution Party
IP:	Independence Party

GOCRA is a nonpartisan civil rights organization, focused on the right to keep and bear arms. Our grades are based only on the candidates’ stated views, voting records and other actions. To better show races, candidates are ordered first by district, then alphabetically by party, then alphabetically by name.