Tuesday’s election brought an end to a long, tough campaign.

And, an unexpected win for Democrat Shannon Savick of Wells.

Part of Wednesday she spent the day resting and reflecting on her victory over single-term District 27A Rep. Rich Murray, R-Albert Lea.

“I didn’t do it by myself. There were a lot of people who helped and supported me,” she says.

“I really feel honored I was elected and that the people have faith in me,” she adds.

The race saw an influx of money from political parties and third-party groups.

According to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, each candidate had about $140,000 spent on their behalf in mailings, television and radio ads.

Savick’s victory was part of a surge statewide that saw the Democrats reclaiming control of both the House and Senate.

The former Wells mayor collected 9,744 votes to Murray’s 9,091.

Independent Party candidate William Wagner of Geneva receiving 1,574 votes may have been a factor in the race.

Around 10:30 p.m., Savick learned she had won.

“My knees started shaking when I heard I had won Freeborn County,” she says.

Savick, who worked in the high-tech computer industry for more than 20 years, had planned to run for the Legislature in District 24B before the state districts were reorganized.

District 27A includes all of Freeborn County and portions of Faribault, Mower, Dodge and Steele counties.

Her campaign theme was “Representation, not politics.”

Campaigning involved knocking on doors daily and meeting and talking with people at various events.

“It was physically demanding and stressful. I did a lot of walking, and I’m not as young as I use to be,” she says. “But, I wasn’t going to be outworked.”

The newly elected legislator didn’t have too much time off.

On Thursday, she was in St. Paul to attend orientation for new lawmakers.

“In December, I’ll be attending a three-day DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party) workshop,” she says. “I’ll also be talking to people before I take office in January.”

In other races, District 27 Sen. Dan Sparks was re-elected.

The Democrat incumbent finished with 26,549 votes, while Republican Linden Anderson garnered 12,326.

In District 23, Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, was elected to another term with 25,824 votes, over Democrat Paul Marquardt of Eagle Lake with 14,508.

Bob Gunther, R-Fairmont, won another House term in District 23A with 11,544 votes, compared to Democrat challenger Kevin Labenz of Welcome with 8,868.