Minnesota Democrats captured the state’s coveted Senate majority after a blowout win in the state’s special election for District 60.
Democratic-Farmer-Labor nominee Doron Clark won in a landslide, 90.91% to Republican Abigail Wolters’s 8.71%.
With the win, Democrats seize a 34-33 majority over Republicans in the state Senate and prevent Republican control in both of the state’s legislative chambers. The GOP has a 67-66 majority in the state House pending a 2025 special election, but the state Supreme Court has ruled that Republicans cannot use that majority because 68 seats are needed for a quorum.
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The Minnesota Senate won’t hold elections for the entire chamber until 2026, which is the Republicans’ next chance at capturing the Senate.
The special election for District 60 was called after the death of former Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic from cancer in December 2024. She had stepped down as the Democratic majority leader earlier in 2024 after finding out that her cancer had returned.
Dziedzic’s former district is based in Minneapolis and is considered a heavily blue area that Wolters, who had run and lost in nearby House District 60B in 2024, had little chance of winning.
Clark had won his primary with 38.1% of the vote with two other contenders grabbing more than 20% support. He’s the former chairman of the district’s DFL party.
“It is an honor to be your newly elected State Senator,” his website now says. “I look forward to carrying on the legacy of Senator Dziedzic and getting to work for the people of Senate District 60.”
Democrats have reveled in Clark’s win, which will help them counterbalance efforts from state House Republicans.
“I am excited that the people of Senate District 60 have elected Doron Clark to be their voice in the state Senate,” Senate DFL Leader Erin Murphy told MPR. “We welcome him to this institution and into the work for the people of Minnesota. His election will restore the DFL majority that has accomplished so much for our state these past two years.”
National Democrats shared in their excitement.
“While MAGA Republicans seize control in Washington, protecting and expanding Democratic power in the states is of the utmost importance,” Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams said in a statement. “Tonight’s victory in defending our one-seat majority in the Minnesota Senate highlights how every seat matters and can make a difference in shaping the balance of power in the states where so many chambers are decided by the slimmest of margins.”
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“There are no off-years for this ballot level and this is already the third majority-deciding special election in January alone, with more on the way,” she added. “Democrats must ensure that we aren’t giving an inch and are ready to take advantage of every opportunity to defend and strengthen our state legislative majorities in these uncertain times.”
Minnesota House Democrats have boycotted the start of the legislative session over frustrations that Republicans, who have a one-seat advantage but not a majority according to the state’s high court, have not come to a power sharing agreement with them.
