6 special elections, 1 year: A look back at turnover at the Minnesota Legislature
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The Minnesota Legislature is almost back to full strength, with two new members joining the state Senate this week.
The big picture: A series of resignations related to members' legal troubles and several unexpected deaths — including the June assassination of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman — prompted six special elections across the state this year.
- That's more than typical — the average for the decade prior is 1.5 per year — and enough to tie the previous record set in 1994.
Stunning stat: All 201 seats in the House and Senate have been filled for just 42 days this year.
- Just 17 of those fell during the five-month regular session.
State of play: Newly elected Sens. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger (DFL-Woodbury) and Michael Holmstrom Jr. (R-Buffalo) will be sworn in Tuesday morning after winning this month's special elections.
- The outcome, which returns the Senate to its full membership of 67, restores Democrats' 34-33 majority in the chamber ahead of next year's session.
Yes, but: Hemmingsen-Jaeger's win creates yet another vacancy in the House, where she's served since 2023.
- Plus: DFL Rep. Kaohly Her resigns Monday following her recent victory in St. Paul's mayoral race, creating yet another opening that must be filled before legislators gavel in next February.
Between the lines: The early session openings temporarily altered the balance of power at the narrowly divided Capitol, sparking a political and legal fight that derailed the first few weeks of work.
- Several that happened after the Legislature adjourned for the year complicated the already dicey political dynamics around a proposed special session on gun violence.
What's next: Gov. Tim Walz told reporters recently that he plans to call special elections for the newly open Woodbury and St. Paul House seats this week.
- The primaries will be Dec. 16, he said, with new members elected on Jan. 27, just weeks before the Legislature reconvenes.
What we're watching: There will be even more turnover as a result of the 2026 midterms, when all 201 districts are on the ballot.
- Eighteen members have already announced plans to resign or seek another office.
Timeline: How it happened
The Legislature's attendance challenges started before this year's session even began in January.
- The first time both chambers were fully seated was in mid-March — and it lasted less than a week.
GOP Sen. Keri Heintzeman's swearing in on May 6 marked just the fifth day of the session that all 201 seats were filled, MPR News noted at the time.