Result
Sen. Bonnie Westlin (D-Plymouth) has won a second term in Minnesota Senate District 42, beating Republican Kevin Peterson on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Unofficial results show Westlin with 28,366 votes, or 63.4%, to Peterson’s 16,343, or 36.5%.
That is a wider margin than her first win in 2022, when she took 57.7% in the newly drawn district. It also caps a long road to the Senate: Westlin lost twice to Republican Warren Limmer in the old District 34, including a 2020 race decided by 904 votes. Her new four-year term begins when the Legislature convenes Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2027.
Candidates and Platforms
Westlin is a family law attorney who has served as assistant majority leader since February 2025. This year she authored the Senate’s elections policy omnibus bill.pdf) and co-sponsored the final elections law, signed by Gov. Tim Walz, that bars elected officials and candidates from betting on elections. Her campaign website backs universal health care through the Minnesota Health Plan and higher pay for aides who serve Minnesotans with disabilities.
Peterson, a business owner, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2007. His campaign website calls for cutting state income tax rates, repealing 100% renewable energy mandates and expanding career and technical education and apprenticeships.
District and Chamber
District 42 covers nearly all of Plymouth, the city of Medicine Lake and a small part of southwest Maple Grove. Statewide, the DFL won at least 39 of the Senate’s 67 seats, widening the 34-33 majority it held going in and giving the party control of both chambers and the governor’s office, though some close races may go to recounts.
---
AllCiv makes it easy to stay politically informed and involved.
---
Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article