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BEMIDJI 鈥� Republican incumbent Matt Grossell will retain his seat representing Minnesota House 2A, after defeating Democratic-Farmer-Labor challenger and Beltrami County Commissioner Reed Olson in Tuesday鈥檚 midterm election.

The final counts for the vote placed Grossell in the lead with just over 54% of the vote, earning 8,836 votes compared to Olson鈥檚 7,406.

Following the results, which were released in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Grossell said he felt relieved not just about the results but about the efforts he and his team had put in during the campaign season.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a relief to be done with the campaigning,鈥� he shared. 鈥淚鈥檝e never taken a campaign lightly, and I never underestimate an opponent running against me.鈥�

Grossell, who is a retired law enforcement officer and a veteran of the U.S. Navy, was first elected to represent District 2A in 2016. Following his victory in this year鈥檚 election, he鈥檒l soon begin his fourth term as a state legislator in January.

鈥淚t feels good to be able to keep serving the people in the district. For me, it鈥檚 a privilege and an honor,鈥� Grossell said.

With the new legislative session set to start in January, Grossell is already preparing for the work he would like to accomplish.

One of his primary goals, and something he鈥檚 been working on for months, is to increase the penalties associated with child pornography.

鈥淚鈥檝e been working on increased penalties for child pornography for a while now. I want to make sure that those children are heard,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 have a piece of legislation that I鈥檝e been fine-tuning, and I鈥檒l be dropping it and getting it circulated once we get rolling (as a legislature).鈥�

Another of his focuses for the upcoming legislative session is public safety, something he focused on heavily during his campaign.

鈥淭he public safety issue is one of the big things that people have been talking about,鈥� Grossell explained. 鈥�(We) need to really try and get a handle on that to make sure that people are safe wherever they are in Minnesota. That鈥檚 one of the top priorities for me.鈥�

Grossell noted that he looks forward to representing and serving everyone in District 2A, regardless of whether they voted for him during this election or supported his opponent.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 care if someone voted for me or if they didn鈥檛 vote for me. I鈥檓 just grateful to be able to keep serving the people of this district,鈥� Grossell left off. 鈥淚 want people to know that I鈥檓 here to serve. I鈥檓 here to make sure that the voices in District 2A are heard and taken seriously.鈥�