Minnesota State Legislative Special Elections, 2015

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2015 State Legislative Special Elections
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In 2015, two seats were vacated and filled by special elections in the Minnesota State Legislature. The following districts had a vacancy in 2015:

• State House District 46A: The seat was vacant following Ryan Winkler's (D) resignation on July 1.

• State House District 3A: The seat was vacant following David Dill's (D) death from cancer on August 8.

Breakdown of 2015 special elections[edit]

In 2015, the reasons prompting state legislative special elections were as follows:

• 38 due to appointment, election or seeking election to another position
• 14 due to a retirement
• 15 due to the incumbent accepting another job
• 1 due to an invalidated 2014 election result
• 1 due to a disqualification in the 2014 elections
• 9 due to a death
• 6 due to legal issues
• 3 due to moving
• 2 due to filling a remaining term

The partisan breakdown for vacancies were as follows:

• 42 Democratic seats
• 46 Republican seats
• 1 Independent seat

Note: This table reflects information for elections that were held and not total vacant seats.

*In 2015, Democrats lost nine seats in special elections, but gained six seats. Republicans lost five seats in special elections, but gained eight seats.
*Although Edwin Gomes won election to the Connecticut State Senate as a Working Families Party candidate, after swearing in he was listed as a Democratic senator.
*Although Diane Richardson won election to the New York State Assembly as a Working Families Party candidate, after swearing in she was listed as a Democratic representative.
*Although Jay Mathis won election to the Mississippi House of Representatives as a Nonpartisan candidate, after swearing in he was listed as a Republican representative.

How vacancies are filled[edit]

Vacancies in the Minnesota State Legislature are filled through election. If there are more than 150 days before the next state general election, and the legislature will not be in session before the results are canvassed, then any vacancy is filled at the next state general election.^[1][2]

If the vacancy happens during the legislative session, the governor has five days to issue a writ calling for a special election. The election must take place no more than 35 days after the issuance of the writ. If the legislature is out of session and there are fewer than 150 days before the next state general election, the governor must call for a special election so the winner of the election can take office when the legislature reconvenes.^[2][3]

See sources: Minnesota Cons. Art. 4, § 4 and Minnesota Stat. § 204D.19

Special elections[edit]

November 3, 2015[edit]

December 8, 2015[edit]

☑ Minnesota House of Representatives District 3A

See also: Minnesota state legislative special elections, 2015 A special election for the position of Minnesota House of Representatives District 3A was called for December 8. A primary election was held on September 29. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was August 31.[7] The seat was vacant following David Dill's (D) death from cancer on August 8.[8] Rob Ecklund defeated Heidi Omerza, Eric Johnson and Bill Hansen in the Democratic primary. Roger Skraba was unopposed in the Republican primary. Kelsey Johnson ran as an independent candidate.[9] Ecklund defeated Skraba and Johnson (I) in the special general election.[7][10][11] Minnesota House of Representatives, District 3A, Special Election, 2015 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Rob Ecklund 63.4% 4,591      Republican Roger Skraba 19.3% 1,399      Independent Kelsey Johnson 15.8% 1,144      Other Write-ins 1.5% 109 Total Votes 7,243 September 29 Democratic primary candidates: Rob Ecklund a Heidi Omerza Eric Johnson Bill Hansen September 29 Republican primary candidates: Roger Skraba a December 8 Special election candidates: Rob Ecklund Roger Skraba Kelsey Johnson (independent)

See also[edit]

• State legislative special elections, 2015
• Minnesota State Senate elections, 2016
• Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2014
• Minnesota State Senate elections, 2012
• Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2012
• Minnesota State Legislature
• Minnesota state legislative special elections: 2013, 2012, 2011

Footnotes[edit]

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