Polls are open in two special elections for Minnesota House seats that are expected to restore the chamber to an even partisan split before the Legislature returns for its 2026 session.
The seats are open after two House Democrats won other elections this year. In St. Paul, DFL Rep. Kaohly Her won St. Paul’s election for mayor in November. In the east metro, former DFL Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger was elected to the state Senate in a special election.
DFL labor lawyer Meg Luger-Nikolai will face off against Republican and IT professional Dan Walsh for the safely blue seat in St. Paul.
Nonprofit executive Shelley Buck does not have a registered Republican opponent in the race for Hemmingsen-Jaeger’s old seat, which covers parts of Woodbury and Maplewood. In December, Buck won a three-way DFL primary against advocates David Azcona and Juli Servatius.
The races follow a year of upheaval for the Legislature, with several resignations and deaths, including the June assassination of former House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman. There were six special elections last year, tying for the record previously set in 1994.
This year’s legislative session begins Feb. 17.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
