Minnesota on pace for record eight 2025 specials
Minnesota is on pace for a record eight special elections in 2025 after two more were announced, joining six earlier special-election triggers: the resignation of Sen. Nicole Mitchell, the death of Sen. Bruce Anderson, the assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, the resignation of former Sen. Justin Eichorn, a residency dispute involving Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson, and the death of former Sen. Kari Dziedzic. Gov. Tim Walz will set the dates; the two new House vacancies are in heavily DFL districts (Kaohly Her won HD 64A with 83% and Amanda Hemmingsen‑Jaeger won HD 47A with 61%, with presidential margins of roughly +70 and +25 for Kamala Harris), but with the House tied 67–67 a single GOP flip would create a Republican majority — though any GOP bills would still face a DFL Senate and the governor — and big 2026 issues already being floated include gun control and barring transgender women and girls from female sports.
📌 Key Facts
- Minnesota is on pace for a record eight special elections in 2025; the Twin Cities article says two more special elections are coming to the Capitol.
- The article lists six prior 2025 special-election triggers: resignation of Sen. Nicole Mitchell; death of Sen. Bruce Anderson; assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman; resignation of former Sen. Justin Eichorn; a residency dispute involving Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson; and death of former Sen. Kari Dziedzic.
- Gov. Tim Walz will set the dates for the upcoming special elections.
- The two districts expected to hold specials are strongly DFL: Kaohly Her won HD 64A in 2024 with 83% (Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump there by about 70 points), and Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger won HD 47A in 2024 with 61% (Harris beat Trump there by about 25 points).
- The Minnesota House is tied 67–67; flipping one seat would give Republicans a House majority, but any GOP bills would still face a DFL-controlled Senate and Gov. Walz.
- Big-ticket issues already being floated for 2026 include gun control and proposals to bar transgender women and girls from female sports.
📰 Sources (2)
- Article lists the six prior 2025 special-election triggers: resignation of Sen. Nicole Mitchell, death of Sen. Bruce Anderson, assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, resignation of former Sen. Justin Eichorn, a residency dispute involving Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson, and death of former Sen. Kari Dziedzic.
- Provides past vote margins: Kaohly Her won HD 64A in 2024 with 83%; Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger won HD 47A in 2024 with 61%.
- Cites presidential margins to underscore district partisanship: Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump by about 70 points (HD 64A area) and 25 points (HD 47A area).
- Notes Gov. Tim Walz will set the special election dates.
- Restates that with the House tied 67–67, flipping one seat would give Republicans a majority, but any GOP bills would still face a DFL Senate and Walz.
- Mentions big-ticket issues already being floated for 2026 (gun control; barring transgender women and girls from female sports).