GOP’s Heintzeman wins Senate District 6 special election to replace Justin Eichorn

BRAINERD, Minn. (FOX 9) - Republican Keri Heintzeman will represent Minnesota’s Senate District 6 after a special election was held to replace the spot resigned by Justin Eichorn.

According to Minnesota's Office of the Secretary of State's results, Heintzeman has edged challenger Denise Slipy (the DFL's candidate) by a 60.27% to 39.59% margin - or 12,751 to 8,376 votes.

Heintzeman history

Dig deeper:

Heintzeman is the wife of Rep. Josh Heintzeman, the Minnesota House rep for the Brainerd area.

She previously worked as a district director for the Trump 2024 campaign and owns a recreational rental business in Nisswa.

Senate District 6 seat vacated

The backstory:

The two candidates faced off for the seat left vacant by Sen. Justin Eichorn, who resigned after being charged as part of a prostitution sting.

Police say Eichorn attempted to solicit a teen girl for sex but was really texting with an undercover police officer in Bloomington.

He was arrested when he allegedly showed up to meet with the girl and is now facing federal charges in the case. He resigned days after his arrest.

By the numbers:

Before Eichorn, the Senate District 6 seat was held by DFLer David Tomassoni for more than two decades until his death in 2022 after being diagnosed with ALS.

Senate District 5, which previously covered much of the new District 6, was last won by a Democrat in 2012. Eichorn won the seat in 2016 by a narrow margin and easily earned re-election in 2020.

New details released on sex sting operation

Bloomington police chief Booker Hodges released additional details on the sex sting operation that resulted in the arrest of at least 14 men, including former Minnesota Sen. Justin Eichorn. FOX 9’s Bill Keller has more on the story.