Minnesota State Senate District 17

Tue, Nov 3 · Represented by Glenn Gruenhagen Republican · Member list as of Oct 28

Glenn GruenhagenRepublican · Incumbent4 years since first win

No published poll names both candidates.Last result · 2022 general: Glenn Gruenhagen (R) 70.2, Chad Tschimperle (D) 29.8

Julie KelzerDemocratic

Last election: Glenn Gruenhagen (Republican) won by 40.4 points, 2022
On the 2026 ballot: 2 candidates

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Side by side

Left column: GruenhagenRight column: Kelzer

Donor-based spectrum: LiberalCentristConservativeGruenhagenNo published score for Kelzer
Races: Won 4 of 4; None listed
Years since first win: 4; Not available

How these are counted

The spectrum is a published research score, not our rating. How this works. Wins and losses count the races in our results files, the same as each profile.

More about this race

Candidates on the ballot

Julie KelzerDemocratic
Glenn GruenhagenIncumbentRepublican

Source: electionresultsfiles.sos.mn.gov, dated Oct 28

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More than one party
No member listed

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Official results for Minnesota

History (17 elections for this seat)

Votes for listed candidates: 39,631
Election day: November 8, 2022
District map: Older district map (2022)

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 2022, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanGlenn GruenhagenWon	Republican	27,81070.2%	70.2%
DemocraticChad Tschimperle	Democratic	11,79729.8%	29.8%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	240.1%	0.1%

Votes for listed candidates: 41,760
Election day: November 3, 2020
District map: Older district map (2012 to 2021)

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 2020, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanAndrew LangWon(incumbent)	Republican	28,33767.9%	67.9%
DemocraticFernando Alvarado	Democratic	13,38332.0%	32.0%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	400.1%	0.1%

Votes for listed candidates: 39,166
Election day: November 8, 2016
District map: Older district map (2012 to 2021)

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 2016, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanAndrew LangWon	Republican	22,42157.3%	57.3%
DemocraticLyle Koenen(incumbent)	Democratic	16,71342.7%	42.7%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	320.1%	0.1%

Votes for listed candidates: 39,025
Election day: November 6, 2012
District map: Older district map (2012 to 2021)

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 2012, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticLyle KoenenWon	Democratic	21,62155.4%	55.4%
RepublicanJoe Gimse(incumbent)	Republican	17,35044.5%	44.5%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	540.1%	0.1%

Votes for listed candidates: 37,802
Election day: November 2, 2010
District map: Older district map (2002 to 2011)

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 2010, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanSean NienowWon	Republican	21,17156.0%	56.0%
DemocraticRick Olseen(incumbent)	Democratic	16,56943.8%	43.8%
Scattered write-ins	Write-in	620.2%	0.2%

Votes for listed candidates: 36,552
Election day: November 7, 2006
District map: Older district map (2002 to 2011)

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 2006, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticRick OlseenWon	Democratic	17,35547.5%	47.5%
RepublicanSean Nienow(incumbent)	Republican	16,91946.3%	46.3%
OtherBill Neuman	Other	2,2786.2%	6.2%

Votes for listed candidates: 36,027
Election day: November 5, 2002
District map: Older district map (2002 to 2011)

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 2002, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanSean NienowWon	Republican	18,92452.5%	52.5%
DemocraticTwyla L. Ring(incumbent)	Democratic	17,10347.5%	47.5%

Votes for listed candidates: 35,925
Election day: November 7, 2000
District map: Older district map (1992 to 2001)

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 2000, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanDan StevensWon(incumbent)	Republican	18,14650.5%	50.5%
DemocraticGail Kulick Jackson	Democratic	15,53143.2%	43.2%
OtherBruno S. Gad	Other	2,2486.3%	6.3%

Votes for listed candidates: 30,473
Election day: November 5, 1996
District map: Older district map (1992 to 2001)

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 1996, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanDan StevensWon(incumbent)	Republican	16,50654.2%	54.2%
DemocraticMardi Lacher	Democratic	13,96745.8%	45.8%

Votes for listed candidates: 30,755
Election day: November 3, 1992
District map: Older district map (1992 to 2001)

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 1992, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanDan StevensWon	Republican	15,86051.6%	51.6%
DemocraticC. R. Davis(incumbent)	Democratic	14,89548.4%	48.4%

Votes for listed candidates: 26,327
Election day: November 6, 1990
District map: Older district map (1982 to 1991)

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 1990, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanJoanne BensonWon	Republican	13,31950.6%	50.6%
DemocraticDoug Risberg	Democratic	9,02934.3%	34.3%
IndependentEd Gerchy	Independent	3,97915.1%	15.1%

Votes for listed candidates: 20,066
Election day: November 4, 1986
District map: Older district map (1982 to 1991)

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 1986, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticJames PehlerWon(incumbent)	Democratic	10,22250.9%	50.9%
RepublicanJoanne Benson	Republican	9,84449.1%	49.1%

Votes for listed candidates: 23,801
Election day: November 2, 1982
District map: Older district map (1982 to 1991)

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 1982, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticJames PehlerWon(incumbent)	Democratic	16,14167.8%	67.8%
RepublicanJim Moline	Republican	7,66032.2%	32.2%

Votes for listed candidates: 27,181
Election day: November 4, 1980
District map: Older district map (1972 to 1981)

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 1980, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticJames PehlerWon	Democratic	14,33252.7%	52.7%
RepublicanJerry Weyrens	Republican	12,84947.3%	47.3%

Votes for listed candidates: 25,209
Election day: November 2, 1976
District map: Older district map (1972 to 1981)

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 1976, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticJack KleinbaumWon(incumbent)	Democratic	17,97271.3%	71.3%
RepublicanPaul Eberhart	Republican	7,23728.7%	28.7%

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 1972, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
NonpartisanJack KleinbaumWon	Other	14,69862.5%	62.5%
NonpartisanJ. C. Hennes	Other	8,80337.5%	37.5%

Votes for listed candidates: 18,513
Election day: November 3, 1970
District map: Older district map (1966 to 1971)

Minnesota Senate District 17, 1970 to 2022, 1970, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
NonpartisanCarl JensenWon(incumbent)	Other	9,70952.4%	52.4%
NonpartisanArlan W. Fuhr	Other	8,80447.6%	47.6%

1970 to 2022: State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse), retrieved Oct 28, 2026. Compiled by Carl Klarner (Harvard Dataverse) from official returns; not an official source

Last contest in this district on file: 2022.

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Election Wrld. (2026). Minnesota State Senate District 17, election results 1970 to 2022. https://www.electionwrld.com/mn/senate/17. Retrieved October 31, 2026.

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Sources

Sources: Census TIGERweb Legislative MapServer (120th CDs layer 0, 119th CDs layer 4, 2026 SLD upper layer 1 and lower layer 2) (US Census Bureau, public domain), retrieved Oct 28, 2026; Open Civic Data division identifiers (census_autogenerated us_sldl/us_sldu and openstates state files); also (sld-recent.json): Open Civic Data division identifiers (country-us) (CC0 (repository); also (sld-recent.json): CC0 1.0), retrieved Oct 28, 2026; Open States people (current) CSVs (CC0-1.0 (Open States people data)), retrieved Oct 28, 2026, compiled by Open States volunteers and staff (rosters from state legislature sites) from official returns, not an official source; State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse) (CC0 1.0), retrieved Oct 28, 2026, compiled by Carl Klarner (Harvard Dataverse) from official returns, not an official source.

District id: ocd-division/country:us/state:mn/sldu:17

DataState data (JSON)Sources: State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse), DIME (ODC-BY)Data as of Oct 28, 2026