Sen. Dan Larson says he will leave the Minnesota Senate after two years of service.
The Bloomington Democrat says his retirement takes effect Nov. 5, the day after the election. That means Gov. Tim Pawlenty will have to call a special election this fall for the seat representing Bloomington, Richfield and Minneapolis -- even though the rest of the Senate isn't up for election until 2010.
In a prepared statement, Larson said that he wants to get back into the private sector and that he has accepted a job with a Minneapolis law firm.
He has spent 10 years in the Legislature, including four terms in the House before he switched to the Senate.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
