Republican candidate Mike Parry is leading in early returns in a special election in southern Minnesota for a seat his party has long controlled. With 40 percent of precincts reporting, Parry led Democrat Jason Engbrecht, 41 percent to about 36 percent. Independent Roy Srp was trailing with 22 percent. Tuesday's special election will fill the remaining 11 months of Dick Day's term for a seat covering the cities of Waseca, Faribault and Owatonna.