Gov. Mark Dayton set Nov. 3 as the date of a special election to decide who will replace outgoing Rep. Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley.

Winkler is stepping down July 1. He is moving to Belgium because his wife, Jenny Winkler, recently accepted a job there with a hotel management firm based in Brussels.

Already two candidates have emerged. They are Peggy Flanagan, executive director of the Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota; and Tim Reardon, who founded his own leadership consulting firm, Cheassisi Consulting.

Brian Shekleton, policy aide to Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, had considered running for the seat but endorsed Flanagan instead.