Two special elections in the Minnesota Senate on Tuesday could determine which party controls the state’s upper chamber. Democrats currently hold a slim 33-32 majority, but two open seats—one due to a resignation and the other to an unexpected death—have temporarily left the Senate evenly split. The outcomes of these races could either strengthen the Democrats’ narrow lead or shift power to the Republicans.
The two seats on the ballot are in Districts 29 and 47. District 29 includes Wright County and parts of Hennepin and Meeker counties, while District 47 covers Woodbury and parts of Maplewood.
The District 29 seat became vacant after the passing of Republican Senator Bruce Anderson, who died at the age of 75. Anderson had a long career in Minnesota politics, serving for more than 30 years in the Legislature. He represented Wright County in the House before being elected to the Senate in 2012. His passing created an opening in what has long been a Republican-leaning district.
In District 47, the seat opened after Democratic Senator Nicole Mitchell resigned in July following her conviction for burglary. Mitchell was found guilty of breaking into her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Her resignation came less than two years after she flipped the district from Republican control in 2022, defeating GOP candidate Dwight Dorau. Before Mitchell’s win, the area had been represented by Republicans since the 2012 redistricting.
In the race to replace Anderson in District 29, Republican Michael Holmstrom Jr. faces Democrat Louis McNutt. Holmstrom, a small business owner, won the GOP special primary in August. McNutt, who works as a mechanic for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, is the Democratic challenger. Both men live in Buffalo, Minnesota, are married, and have children.
Meanwhile, the District 47 race pits Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) candidate Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger against Republican Dwight Dorau. Hemmingsen-Jaeger currently serves as a state representative for District 47A and won her party’s primary in August. Dorau, a high school teacher and veteran, is aiming for a political comeback after losing to Mitchell in 2022. If Hemmingsen-Jaeger wins, her House seat would need to be filled through another special election, potentially creating an additional political shuffle in the Legislature.
Both parties are treating these special elections as crucial. With the Senate so closely divided, even a single seat could decide the balance of power heading into 2026. For Democrats, maintaining both seats would preserve their one-seat majority and give them more stability to advance their legislative agenda with Governor Tim Walz. For Republicans, winning one or both would open the door to taking control of the chamber and blocking key Democratic proposals.
Voters across both districts will head to the polls on Tuesday to decide their new representatives. Polling stations close at 8 p.m., and official results will be announced later in the evening. WCCO and CBS News Minnesota will provide live updates once the polls close, with results from every race—including school referendums—appearing online and on television.
As Minnesota voters cast their ballots, the state’s political future could hinge on the outcome of just a few thousand votes. These two races, though local, carry statewide importance and could reshape the balance of power in St. Paul for the rest of the term.
