GOP's Michele Bachmann Takes Open House Seat in Minnesota's 6th District

MINNEAPOLIS – Republican State Sen. Michele Bachmann has won Minnesota's 6thCongressional District race.

Bachmann defeated Democrat Patty Wetterling in a hard-fought contest.

Bachmann led an effort at the Legislature for a constitutional ban on gay marriage. But in her congressional campaign she played up traditional Republican themes such as lower taxes and reduced government regulation.

• Check Your State, Check Your Race by clicking BALANCE OF POWER dropdown menu above.

Wetterling became a national child-safety advocate after her son Jacob was abducted 17 years ago.

Wetterling's House bid came two years after she lost a race for the same seat, that to Republican Representative Mark Kennedy. Kennedy ran this year for the U-S Senate.

• Click here to visit YOU DECIDE 2006, FOXNews.com's complete election center.