By FOCUS, A Leonine Business
While Minnesota doesn’t typically hold elections in off years, there are special elections being held in November for two state Senate seats. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party currently holds a one-seat majority in the Senate, with 33 seats to Republicans’ 32. With such a razor thin majority, these two special elections will determine which party controls the chamber until the entire legislature is up for election in 2026. With the House tied and governed by a power-sharing agreement between the two parties, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Republicans in this blue-leaning state.
The first seat, in District 29, opened after Republican Sen. Bruce Anderson died in July. This seat is considered safe for Republicans since Anderson has won every race with at least 60 percent of the vote since 2012. The race will see Republican small business owner Michael Holstrom face off against Democratic union leader Louis McNutt. Holstrom has listed protecting parental rights, cutting taxes and supporting law enforcement as his top issues. McNutt has said his focus would be on the rising cost of living and health care access.
The second seat is in District 47 and opened after Democratic Sen. Nicole Mitchell resigned after being convicted of burglary. District 47 has been solidly blue for years, but Republicans are hoping to capitalize on Mitchell’s scandal to clinch a majority. Republican retired Air Force colonel Dwight Dorau is running against Democratic Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jager. Dorau previously ran against Senator Mitchell in 2022, losing by 18 percentage points. Hemmingsen-Jager has highlighted her work regulating Bitcoin ATMs as a standout achievement in her tenure as a representative. Dorau, meanwhile, has listed public safety, tax cuts and education as his top priorities if elected.
Upsets look unlikely in either race, keeping the Senate in DFL hands, but with such close margins in the chamber these races are worth watching. FOCUS will continue to monitor this race and every other 2025 state election on our brand-new Elections Hub, which features interactive maps and in-depth analysis of state legislative, gubernatorial and attorney general races across the country. This year, voters in New Jersey and Virginia will make decisions that could shift the balance of power in key state governments; governorships, legislative chambers and Virginia’s attorney general seat are all in play. These off-year contests often signal broader political trends ahead of midterms and the next presidential cycle. Get the full story and track every race at the Elections Hub.
by Will Beacom 10/27/2025
