Candidates line up for Minnesota Senate special elections that will determine control of the chamber

Seven candidates have filed to run for two vacant Minnesota Senate seats in special elections in November.

The seats were left vacant last month by the sudden death of Republican Bruce Anderson of Buffalo and resignation of Democrat Nicole Mitchell of Woodbury.

Primary elections in both districts are slated for Aug. 26 with a general election Nov. 4.

In the race for Anderson’s seat, three Republicans will face off in the primary before facing DFL candidate Louis McNutt. They are Rachel Davis, Michael Holmstrom Jr. and Bradley Kurtz.

Anderson, who died at age 75, had served in the Legislature for 30 years. He was first elected to the House in 2024 and the Senate in 2012.

His District 29 seat encompasses Buffalo, Monticello and Annandale, and is thought to be extremely safe for Republicans.

In Mitchell’s old district, state Reps. Ethan Cha and Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger will face off in the Democratic primary. The winner will meet Republican Dwight Dorau in the general election.

Democrats control the Senate by a single vote. While they are expected to hold onto the Woodbury seat, the GOP is trying to flip the district. Republicans would take control of the chamber if they win both special elections.

The two contests are the fifth and sixth special elections in Minnesota this year.

In the first four months of the year, voters elected Sens. Keri Heintzeman and Doron Clark and Rep. David Gottfried via special election. Next month, voters in the district previously held by slain former House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, will elect her successor. Three Democrats will face off in a primary for that seat next week. The winner will face the Republican in September.