The west metro saw various political newcomers take municipal leadership roles and one nail-biting race after polls closed, with all precincts reporting by Tuesday night.
Bloomington, with four tightly contested races, was poised to see the most leadership change of all the western suburbs.
Council Member Jack Baloga defeated challenger Larry Frost, while small-business owner Shawn Nelson ousted Eldon Spencer, a Minneapolis attorney appointed to the District 2 seat earlier this year.
Patrick Martin unseated incumbent Jon Oleson in a race that was decided by less than half a percentage point. Oleson did not say Tuesday whether he would request a recount.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Board Member Nathan Coulter defeated Michael Arulfo for the city's at-large seat. He will take over for Council Member Kim Vlaisavljevich, bringing about an all-male council for the first time since 1989.
In Hopkins, Mayor Molly Cummings won a landslide election to her second term over challenger Bob Ivers. Ivers was criticized in October for comments he made about "ethnics" and "coloreds" coming to the suburb on the proposed Southwest light-rail extension. Both Katy Campbell and Kristi Halverson were re-elected to their council seats.
Minnetonka Council Member Brad Wiersum will succeed Terry Schneider, a longtime mayor who did not seek re-election. A special election could be called to fill Wiersum's seat. Meanwhile, candidate Deb Calvert and incumbent Patty Acomb won the city's two at-large seats.
