Gov. Tim Walz Calls Special Elections for Two House Seats

Governor Tim Walz has issued writs for special elections to fill two vacant House seats in Minnesota. The move follows the recent wins of Rep. Kaohly Vang Her and Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, who are leaving their respective positions to take on new roles in local government. Her will become the new Mayor of St. Paul, while Hemmingsen-Jaeger will represent Woodbury in the Senate, succeeding former Senator Nicole Mitchell.

The special election primary is scheduled for December 16, with the final elections set for January 27. Both seats are anticipated to remain in the hands of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party, as Her secured her House seat in 2024 with an overwhelming 83% of the vote, and Hemmingsen-Jaeger won her seat with 61%.

Currently, the Minnesota House consists of 67 Republicans and 65 Democrats, a departure from the previous tie. In the Senate, the DFL holds a slim majority with 34 seats to the Republicans’ 33 seats. Should the DFL secure both wins in the upcoming elections, the House would return to a tie. Conversely, a single win by a Republican candidate would grant them a majority.

In a statement on Monday, Rep. Zack Stephenson, the House DFL Leader from Coon Rapids, expressed confidence regarding the elections. He stated, “House DFLers believe these special elections will not change the makeup of the House.” He emphasized the party’s commitment to maintaining the balance that Minnesotans voted for a year ago, highlighting the DFL’s focus on governance amid concerns regarding political stability at the federal level.

Candidates interested in running for these open seats can file their affidavits of candidacy and nominating petitions between November 18 and November 25 until 17:00 local time. The outcome of these elections will be closely watched, as they have the potential to significantly impact the political landscape in Minnesota.