Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger won the DFL primary Tuesday for an open Senate seat in a Woodbury district over challenger Rep. Ethan Cha and will advance to the November election.
Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger (Courtesy of the candidate)
Hemmingsen-Jaeger received 82% of the vote and will go on to face Republican Dwight Dorau in a Nov. 4 special election. The seat was held by former Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, before she resigned after being convicted on felony burglary charges in July.
District 47 includes the city of Woodbury in Washington County and the southern part of the city of Maplewood in Ramsey County. Hemmingsen-Jaeger had won the District 47 DFL endorsement at the Aug. 12 convention.
The special election’s outcome could change the balance of power in the Minnesota Senate, where the DFL has a one-seat majority.
Woodbury has favored DFLers in recent elections, though Republicans are expected to put resources into the race. Democrats have controlled the chamber since the 2022 election.
The circumstances leading to the vacancy — Mitchell’s criminal conviction and unwillingness to resign even as she was stripped of committee assignments and DFL caucus involvement — may prove a strong message for Republicans. Nevertheless, it would be a steep climb for the GOP as the east metro suburbs have become bluer.
Mitchell, a DFLer, won election to the Senate with nearly 59% of the vote in 2022. Hemmingsen-Jaeger won House District 47A, which falls in the Senate district, with more than 60% of the vote in 2024 and 2022.
Senate District 29 election
Meanwhile, Michael Holmstrom Jr. won a GOP primary for the Senate District 29 seat vacated by the July death of Sen. Bruce Anderson, of Buffalo.
Holmstrom received 73% of the vote, while Bradley Kurtz took 22% and Rachel Davis 5%.
Holmstrom will face DFL candidate Louis McNutt in a Nov. 4 special election. Senate District 29 includes most of Wright County, and parts of Meeker and Hennepin counties. It heavily favors Republicans and is not seen by political observers as an especially competitive race.
Related Articles
Tuesday primary to pick DFL nominee for former Sen. Nicole Mitchell’s seat
Xp Lee wins primary for Melissa Hortman’s seat; White Bear Lake mayor primary results in
Republican joins 2 DFLers in race for Nicole Mitchell’s former Senate seat
Gov. Tim Walz calls special elections for 2 vacant Senate seats
Divided government means high stakes for Woodbury special election
Leave a Reply