This is a list of special elections to the Minnesota Senate. Such elections are called by the governor of Minnesota to fill vacancies that occur when a member of the Minnesota Senate dies or resigns before the next general election. Winners of these elections serve the remainder of the term and are usually candidates in the next election for their districts.

General elections are held in November of the second year following the decennial United States Census and every four years thereafter. New Legislatures convene on the first Tuesday following the first Monday of the following year.

The first special election to the Minnesota Senate occurred in 1861 after the resignation of George Watson.

List of special elections

District Legislature Date Predecessor Winner Cause6469th (DFL) (DFL)Resigned to accept appointment as Commissioner of Public Safety4769th (DFL) (DFL) Resigned to become a district court judge3669th (DFL) (DFL) Resigned after election as state treasurer.3369th (I-R) (I-R) Resigned to become a district court judge 21 70th Resigned to accept appointment as lieutenant governor 49 70th (DFL) (I-R) Resigned effective November 1, 1977 13 70th (DFL) (I-R) Resigned to work for the Minnesota Association of Commerce and Industry4171st (DFL) (DFL)Death (heart attack)5571st (DFL) (DFL) Death (heart attack)6671st (DFL) (I-R) Retired to become the director of the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund (MERF)1671st (DFL) (I-R) Death2072nd (DFL) (I-R) Resigned to focus on his family and farm874th (I-R) (I-R)Resigned on January 9, 1985 to become the Senior Vice President for First Bank System475th (DFL) (I-R}Resigned to accept appointment as commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency3776th (DFL) (I-R)Resigned to devote time to his career at 3M4876th (I-R) (I-R)Resigned after election to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners2476th (I-R) (I-R) Retired with plans to run for governor; did not end up running6176th (DFL) (DFL)Resigned to become a lobbyist for the University of Minnesota4277th (I-R) (I-R) Resigned to accept appointment to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.3179th (I-R) (I-R) Retired to become executive director for the Minnesota Business Partnership1979th (DFL) (I-R) Resigned after injuries sustained in a car crash4779th (DFL) (I-R) Resigned after election to Minnesota's 6th congressional district1679th (I-R) (I-R) Resigned upon election as Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota3379th (I-R) (R) Resigned after upon election to be Hennepin County Sheriff 14 79th (DFL) (R) Resigned amidst expulsion procedures after pleading guilty to bribery and threats after shoplifting a leather vest2681st (DFL) (R) Resigned to accept appointment as Minnesota State Director of the Farm Service Agency3281st (DFL) (R)Resigned to accept appointment as Deputy Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.1881st (DFL) (DFL)Death (brain tumor)481st (DFL) (DFL)Resigned to accept appointment to the Crow Wing County District Court782nd (DFL) (DFL)Death (melanoma)6782nd (DFL) (DFL)Resigned upon election to the mayoralty of Saint Paul3783rd (R) (R)Resigned to accept appointment to the Minnesota 1st Judicial District Court1984th (R) (R)Resigned to take a position with non-profit Center for Energy and Economic Development4384th (R) (DFL)Resigned to accept appointment as Chief of Staff to Governor Tim Pawlenty1584th (R) (DFL)Resigned upon election to the mayoralty of Saint Cloud2585th (R) (DFL)Resigned to accept appointment to the Minnesota 3rd Judicial District Court6386th (DFL) (DFL)Resigned to become a lobbyist1686th (R) (DFL)Resigned to serve on the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission2686th (R) (R)Resign to become a full-time lobbyist for the state's two horse-racing tracks6687th (DFL) (DFL)Resigned to accept a position as chair of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission6187th (DFL) (DFL)Resigned to accept a job as a Hennepin County health policy program manager4687th (DFL) (DFL)Death (ovarian cancer)5987th (DFL) (DFL)Resigned to accept appointment as Director of Higher Education2087th (DFL) (DFL)Death (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) 35 89th (R) (R) Resigned effective October 31, 2015 54 90th Dan Schoen (DFL) Karla Bigham (DFL) Resigned due to allegations of sexual harassment 13 90th Michelle Fischbach (R) Jeff Howe (R) Resigned to accept appointment as lieutenant governor1191stTony Lourey (DFL) Jason Rarick (R)Resigned to accept appointment as Commissioner of Human Services4593rd (DFL) (DFL)Resigned to run for Minnesota's 3rd congressional district60 94th (DFL) (DFL)Death (ovarian cancer) 6 94th (R)Keri Heintzeman (R) Resigned after facing charges for soliciting a minor for sex29 94th November 4, 2025 (R) TBD Death47 94th November 4, 2025 (DFL) TBDResigned after being convicted of burglarySource: Minnesota Legislature

Results District 67 (2002)

District 25 (2008)

District 66 (2011)

District 46 (2011)

District 61 (2011)

District 59 (2012)

District 20 (2012)

District 35 (2016)

District 54 (2018)

District 13 (2018)

District 11 (2019)

District 45 (2024)

District 60 (2025)

See also List of special elections to the Minnesota House of Representatives

References

External links Results of Special Elections for the Minnesota Legislature, 1849-present Minnesota Legislative Reference Library