There was little need to burn the midnight oil during Election Day 2012. From President of the United States to the dozens of candidates seeking local and legislative offices, results came in early for many races involving Lake Minnetonka communities.

By 10 p.m. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar had already made her acceptance speech and was making the rounds on television and radio.

Mark Gaylord knew he would be the next Mayor of Excelsior by 9:15 p.m. Gaylord defeated challenger Steve Finch by about 250 votes, 667-411. Nick Ruehl announced earlier this year that he would not seek re-election.

Mary Jo Fulkerson and Greg Miller won four-year seats on the Excelsior City Council, and John Beattie won the special election for a two-year term.

Results arrived early in the evening from Minnetrista as well, where Bob Christians and Mark Vanderlinde won city council seats.

With all four of Orono's precincts reporting, Kristi Anderson (with 31.84 percent of the vote) and Lizz Levang (27.53 percent) won city council seats. Full results below.

Lili McMillan, who was running unopposed for re-election as Mayor of Orono, tweeted her congratulations to Anderson and Levang Tuesday night.

In Wayzata, the three-way race for two city council seats appears to have come down to less than five votes. Andrew Mullin received 1,261 (36.68 percent) votes to win one of the seats, and Bridget Anderson's 1,079 votes edged Alex Plechash's 1,076 votes. Write-in candidates received 22 total votes. Mullin cautioned Tuesday night on Twitter that results would not be official until Wednesday morning.

Ken Willcox was running unopposed for another term as Mayor of Wayzata.

Results for the City of Shorewood were among the last to be posted, but even final numbers from there arrived before midnight. Kristine Sundberg (with 40.21 percent of the vote) and Dick Woodruff (35.20 percent) won city council seats, while Scott Zerby (running unopposed) was elected to his first term as mayor.

While Democrats appear to have retained the White House and taken control of the Minnesota State Legislature, Republicans maintained their traditional strength in the Lake Minnetonka area. 

With 77 percent of precincts reporting as of 11:15 p.m., Erik Paulsen appeared headed for re-election with a 17 point lead over DFL challenger Brian Barnes. Full results below.

Tea Party Republican Cindy Pugh, seeking elected office for the first time, led the DFL's Denise Bader by about 300 votes after the first wave of results. Pugh stretched that lead to nearly 2,000 votes with 20 percent of precincts to report and eventually won with nearly 55 percent of the vote.

Voters in Minnesota State House District 33B also showed early support for the GOP, with Jerry Hertaus leading by 3,000 votes with just four precincts still out. Hertaus eventually won more than 60 percent of the nearly 25,000 ballots cast. The 33B seat had been previously held by Republican Connie Doepke.

Republican David Osmek won the Minnesota State Senate District 33 seat.

RESULTS

United States Congress, Minnesota District 3

Minnesota State Senate District 33

State House of Representatives, District 33A

State House of Representatives, District 33B

Wayzata City Council (vote for two)

Orono City Council (vote for two)

Hennepin County Commissioner

Excelsior City Council (four-year seat; vote for two)

Excelsior City Council (two-year seat)

Mayor of Excelsior

Shorewood City Council (Vote for two)

Minnetrista City Council

Mound City Council (vote for two)

Mayor of Mound

Editor's note: Ken Willcox (Wayzata) and Scott Zerby (Shorewood) are running unopposed for mayor.

For National and Minnesota State Races, including the constiutional amendments, click on our state elections roundup.

Historical Data

Redistricting slightly modified Lake Minnetonka's legislative districts in 2012, but the area is traditionally a Republican stronghold. Northern Lake Minnetonka municipalities, from Wayzata west to the northern half of Jennings Bay, are now part of State House District 33A, while southern Lake Minnetonka communities, from Deephaven west to Tonka Bay, remain in District 33B.

Cummulatively, Lake Minnetonka communities overwhelmingly supported John McCain in 2008 and George Bush in both 2004 and 2000, and Republican U.S. congressmen have represented District 3 since 1961.

Republican Gen Olson represented the Lake Minnetonka area, District 33, in the Minnesota State Senate for more than 20 before announcing her retirement in 2012. 

One Lake, two districts, three races

Both State House districts, as well as State Senate District 33, will have new representatives beginning next session.

Steve Smith, who previously represented District 33A but sought the District 33B seat following redistricting, was defeated during the primary season by first-time candidate Cindy Pugh. Smith had been the longest-tenured House Republican. District 33B was previously represented by Connie Doepke, who vacated the seat to run for State State. Pugh is running against the DFL's Denise Bader in the general election. 

Doepke was defeated by Dave Osmek in the State Senate District 33 primary back in August. Osmek is running against the DFL's Judy Rogosheske in the general eleciton.

Republican Jerry Hertaus and the DFL's Todd Mikkelson are running for the open District 33A seat.

Like Lake Minnetonka Patch on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our daily newsletter