Aaron Repinski

Aaron Repinski (born c. 1972) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, he represents District 26A, located in Winona County in southwestern Minnesota.^[2][3]

Aaron Repinski
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 26A district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 14, 2025
Preceded by	Gene Pelowski
Winona City Council member
In office 2021–2025
Preceded by	Paul Schollmeier
Succeeded by	Jason Dicus[1]
Personal details
Born	1972 or 1973 (age 51–52)
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Michelle
Residence(s)	Winona, Minnesota, U.S.
Education	Cotter High School (secondary) Winona State University (A.A.)
Occupation	Firefighter Legislator Business owner
Website	Government website Campaign website

Early life, education and career

Repinski grew up in Winona, Minnesota, where he attended Cotter High School. He received an associate's degree at Winona State University. Earlier in life, he was a firefighter in Winona and in Fountain City, Wisconsin.^[2]

In 2020, he ran for the at-large district of the Winona City Council and defeated incumbent Paul Schollmeier for the seat by over eleven percentage points.^[4]

Minnesota House of Representatives

In 2024, after 38 years in office, Gene Pelowski of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, representative for Legislative District 26A in the Minnesota House of Representatives, retired and did not seek re-election.^[5] District 26A was quickly identified as a potential flip for the Republican Party: although Pelowski had won by over 10 points in 2022, the Winona area been trending conservative in recent years.^[6][7]

Repinski ran for the seat in the 2024 election, defeating S. James Doerr in the Republican primary.^[8] He then won the general election by five points^[9] over Fair Vote Minnesota leader Sarah Kreuger (DFL).^[10] This result was a sixteen-point swing in favor of the Republican Party, one of the largest swings in the house that year.^[11]

Electoral history

2020 Winona Council Member at Large^[12]

Candidate		Votes	%
Aaron Repinski		6,559	55.70
Paul Schollmeier		5,171	43.92
Write-in		45	0.38
Total votes		11,775	100.0

2024 Minnesota House District 26A Republican primary^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Aaron Repinski	2,247	86.69%
	Republican	S. James Doerr	345	13.31%
Total votes			2,592	100%

2024 Minnesota House District 26A^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Aaron Repinski	12,240	52.74
	Democratic (DFL)	Sarah Kruger	10,916	47.04
	Write-in		52	0.22
Total votes			23,208	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic (DFL)

Personal life

Repinski lives in Winona with his wife Michelle. He is a member of the Basilica of Saint Stanislaus Kostka,^[2] a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church.^[13] He is the owner of Winona Tour Boat, a company offering Mississippi River cruises.^[1] He also officiates weddings and has a hypnosis act.^[14]