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Wiener heads to MN Senate after defeating Fynboh in District 5 race

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KAXE

Wiener currently serves as the state representative for House District 5B and will begin his four-year term in January.

Republican state Rep. Mike Wiener of Long Prairie has defeated DFLer Skylar Fynboh of Akeley in the race for Senate District 5.

Wiener, 50, is from Long Prairie. He currently serves as the state representative for House District 5B.

District 5 incumbent Sen. Paul Utke lost to Wiener in the primary. Utke's decision to file as a general election write-in candidate drew criticism from Wiener, though Utke said he would not be campaigning for the race.

Wiener received the Republican Party endorsement over Utke, and he has also received backing from Action 4 Liberty, a polarizing organization among Republicans that frequently criticizes seated legislators as "Republicans In Name Only," or RINOs.

State Senate District 5 includes all of Wadena and Todd counties, eastern Becker County, southern Hubbard and Cass counties and a small portion of northwest Morrison County.

Explore results by region or by race at this one-stop location for all the election results Northern Minnesotans are seeking.

Emma Krab joined KAXE in July of 2026 as a news reporter covering Grand Rapids and the Arrowhead region.
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