Minnesota Senate Retains 34-33 DFL Majority

There was no surprise that the DFL held its thin majority with two races on the ballot on Tuesday.

Senate District 29 was open due to the unexpected passing Sen. Bruce Anderson (R-Buffalo). Republican Michael Holmstrom won this Republican district taking 62% to DFLer Louis McNutt’s 38%, making it a Republican hold.

Senate District 47 was an open seat after the conviction of Sen. Nicole Mitchell (DFL – Woodbury) was convicted of felony burglary. St. Rep. Amanda Hemmingson-Jaeger won this DFL seat taking 62% vs. Republican Dwight Dorau’s 38% making it a DFL hold.

Minneapolis Mayor

Mayor Jacob Frey was re-elected after the second round of votes was counted in the city’s Ranked Choice Voting system and he received 53% of the vote vs his main rival Sen. Omar Fateh’s 47% after other candidates had been eliminated after the first found.

The Minneapolis City Council was also up for election 

Ward 1 – Incumbent DFLer Elliot Payne won with 65% of the vote

Ward 2 – Incumbent Democratic Socialist Robin Wonsley won with 60% of the vote

Ward 3 – Incumbent DFLer Michael Rainville won with 74% of the vote

Ward 4 – Incumbent DFLer LaTrisha Vetaw won with 61% of the vote

Ward 5 – Open Seat went to a second ballot and Pearll Warren won with 48.4% of the vote

Ward 6 – Incumbent Jamal Osman won with 59% of the vote

Ward 7 – DFLer Elizabeth Shaffer beat Incumbent Katie Cashman 52-46%

Ward 8 – DFLer Soren Stevenson won with 56% in an open seat

Ward 9 – Incumbent DFLer Jason Chavez won with 77% of the vote

Ward 10 – Incumbent DFLer Aisha Chughtai won with 59% of the vote

Ward 11 – DFLer Jamison Whiting won an open seat with 63% of the vote

Ward 12 – DFLer Aurin Chawdhury won with 62% of the vote

Ward 13 – Incumbent DFLer Linea Palmisano won with 94% of the vote

St. Paul Mayor

In an upset, State Rep. Kaohly Her defeated Mayor Melvin Carter in the second round of Rank Choice Voting receiving 47.8% to Carter’s 45%. Her, a four-term legislator, was once Carter’s political director and has described the mayor as a mentor. She entered the race late but was elected due to the many growing problems in the city. Her, a Laos-born child of refugees, will be the first woman and first Hmong American to serve as mayor of St. Paul.

The St. Paul City Council was not up for election this year.

NOTE: There will need to be two special elections in the Minnesota House to replace Representatives Her and Hemmingson-Jaeger, who were just elected to higher office. Both seat will be expected to be kept by DFLers.

Tim Wilkin, President
Capitol Strategies, Inc.

*Tim Wilkin is NAIFA-MN's paid lobbyist