2018 Minnesota Senate District 13 special election

A special election was held in the U.S. state of Minnesota on November 6, 2018, to elect a new senator for District 13 in the Minnesota Senate, caused by the resignation of Republican Senator Michelle Fischbach effective on May 25, 2018. The special election determined which political party would control the Senate given that Fischbach's resignation left it equally divided between the Republicans and the DFL. Jeff Howe won the special election, preserving a Republican one-seat majority. The special election coincided with the 2018 general election.

District 13 special election, 2018
November 6, 2018 (2018-11-06)
Minnesota Senate District 13
 
Nominee Jeff Howe Joe Perske
Party Republican Democratic (DFL)
Popular vote 21,714 16,108
Percentage 57.38% 42.57%
Senator before election

Michelle Fischbach
Republican

 Elected Senator

Jeff Howe
Republican

Background
Location of District 13 and its cities and townships.

In early January 2018, Republican Senator Michelle Fischbach became lieutenant governor after Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL) Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith resigned to be appointed to the U.S. Senate. As president of the Senate, Fischbach was first in line to succeed her. She did not resign from the Senate, citing a Senate counsel opinion that she could both hold her Senate seat and be lieutenant governor. Several DFLers disagreed, including Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk and Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson, asserting that holding both positions violated constitutional separation of powers.[1]

On January 12, 2018, Destiny Dusosky, then-chair of the Senate District 13 DFL, filed a lawsuit challenging Fischbach's ability to remain in the Senate.[1] The lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice on February 12, 2018, by Chief Judge John Guthmann of the Minnesota Second District Court in Ramsey County, who said the lawsuit was premature as it was unclear whether the Senate would allow her to continue to serve once the Legislature reconvened later that month. Guthmann also denied a request for a temporary restraining order to prevent Fischbach from serving in the Senate.[2] Dusosky filed a second lawsuit in April 2018, charging that Fischbach's status in the Senate was still undetermined.[3]

On May 25, 2018, Fischbach resigned from the Senate and took the oath of office as lieutenant governor. She said the end of the legislative session and Governor Mark Dayton's pledge that he would not call a special session prompted her decision to resign. Following Fischbach's resignation, Dusosky withdrew her lawsuit. Fischbach said she would not run in the special election.[4]

District 13 includes parts of Benton and Stearns counties. Fischbach became its senator in February 1996 after winning a special election. In the last election in 2016, she won 69% of the vote.

Candidates

The candidate filing period was from May 29 through June 5, 2018.[5] A primary election was not held.

Republican Party of Minnesota

Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

Withdrawn
  • Michael Willemsen, group home site supervisor; DFL nominee for District 13 in 2016[8][10]

Results
Candidate Party Votes %
Jeff Howe Republican Party of Minnesota 21,714 57.38
Joe Perske Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party 16,108 42.57
N/A Write-ins 20 0.05
Total 37,842 100.00
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State[11]

See also

References
  1. Van Berkel, Jessie (January 12, 2018). "Constituent sues Lt. Gov. Michelle Fischbach, says she must give up Senate seat". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  2. Van Berkel, Jessie (February 12, 2018). "Ramsey County judge dismisses lawsuit against Fischbach over Senate seat, but fight likely not over". Star Tribune. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  3. Coolican, J. Patrick (April 10, 2018). "Constituent sues Minnesota Lt. Gov. Michelle Fischbach for remaining in Senate". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  4. Golden, Erin; Coolican, J. Patrick (May 25, 2018). "Fischbach resigns from state Senate, is sworn in as lieutenant governor". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  5. "Senate District 13 Special Election". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  6. Van Berkel, Jessie (May 29, 2018). "State Rep. Jeff Howe enters race to determine political control of state Senate". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  7. Hertel, Nora G. (May 29, 2018). "Rockville rep runs for Michelle Fischbach's Senate seat". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  8. Van Berkel, Jessie (May 31, 2018). "Two DFLers enter state Senate race to replace Fischbach". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  9. Hertel, Nora G. (June 1, 2018). "Former Sartell mayor makes bid for Fischbach's Senate seat". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  10. "Central Minnesotans withdrawal, file anew as election window closes". St. Cloud Times. June 4, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  11. "Results for State Senator District 13". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
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