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After winning his seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives by a mere 15 votes, Roger Skraba earned another two years in St. Paul by nearly 15 percentage points.
The former Ely mayor flipped the script in his hometown and dominated in the northern and western parts of his spacious district, easily downing Democrat Harley Droba and independent candidate Rich Tru in Tuesday’s House 3A race.
Skraba, a Republican, racked up 55.4 percent of the vote and downed Droba to win another term.
The raw vote total was 14,443 to 10,779, with Tru collecting only 712 votes.
It was just two years ago that Skraba survived the state’s closest legislative race and unseated incumbent Democrat Rob Ecklund.
This time around, the Republican had much more breathing room and gained support across a district that extends east to Lake Superior’s North Shore and north and west to include Koochiching and part of Itasca County.
Skraba attributed the decisive win in part to the work he did in his first term.
“It’s something I reflected on since last night,” Skraba said Wednesday. “I think people recognized that I know how to work across the aisle. I’m not a hard core Republican - I’m more of a moderate. And then there’s my relationship with (State Sen.) Grant (Hauschild). And though he’s a Democrat, we worked well together.”
Skraba lost to Ecklund in several area precincts in 2022, including both Morse and Ely, but this time around he prevailed in both including Ely (1,099-877).
That provided a positive swing, and Skraba also dominated in Droba’s home turf, carrying International Falls easily as well as most precincts in Koochiching County.
Skraba maintained decisive margins in Itasca precincts, won in Babbitt and Hoyt Lakes, and had the edge in Lake County.
Other than Cook County, where Droba won all 14 precincts, the Democrat had little success.
“The last time I lost Lake County by 100 votes and this time I won it by about 300,” said Skraba. “I think that set the tone. I was the only Republican to win in Lake County. I also did a lot of door knocking in International Falls and I would go up to houses and the people would tell me they voted for me already.”
Skraba was in the minority in his first term but was able to help secure funding for several local initiatives, including additional funding for Ely school facility projects and money for Ely’s nursing home and ambulance operation.
When the 2025 session resumes, gone is the DFL “trifecta” that included Democrat control of both branches of the legislature and the governor’s mansion.
Now, the House is split right down the middle at 67-67.
“If the House stays divided, we’re going to have to come up with some caveats,” said Skraba.
A former Ely mayor, Skraba said bipartisanship and cooperation figures to be key in getting things done in 2025.
“I’m district first, then party,” said Skraba. “I’m fortunate that both Grant and I work that way. I spoke to him today and he congratulated me. Maybe there’s some way that we can work together to show, to teach people this is OK. This is normal. There’s no reason we shouldn’t all work that way.”
Skraba said he would push for a bonding bill in 2025, one that would include projects for this district.
“And because we have the divided House, I would be happy to take some laws off the books, or slow some of the ones they passed two years ago, specifically paid family leave,” said Skraba. “Conceptually you’re in the right area. I don’t disagree that people should have paid time off, but I think the bill that was passed was not vetted well enough. I think it needs more work.”
Skraba was set to caucus with fellow House Republicans Friday in St. Paul and said he’s committed to helping the district.
“I think the district has changed,” said Skraba. “I don’t think the people have changed but I think the DFL lost its compass. What happened to helping people? They had $17.8 billion in surplus and it's gone, and people are getting smarter and information is more available now.”
