2025 Minnesota Senate District 6 special election
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A special election was held in the U.S. state of Minnesota on April 29, 2025 to elect a new member for District 6 in the Minnesota Senate, representing Cass, Crow Wing, and Itasca Counties in northern Minnesota. The election filled a vacancy caused by the resignation of Republican member Justin Eichorn on March 20, 2025.[1] After winning the primary on April 15, Republican nominee Keri Heintzeman defeated Democratic nominee Denise Slipy in the special general election.
Background
[edit]On March 17, 2025, Eichorn was arrested during a sting operation on suspicion of soliciting a minor for sex.[2] On March 20, he was charged in federal court[3] and resigned from the Senate as Republicans and Democrats prepared to expel him.[4] On March 25, Governor Tim Walz set April 29, 2025, as the date for a special election, and April 15, 2025, for the primary election.[1]
District 6 covers parts of Itasca, Crow Wing, and Cass counties.[5] The district has voted strongly Republican in recent years:[6] Eichorn won the 2022 election by 27 points,[7] while Donald Trump carried the district by the same margin in the 2024 presidential election.[8]
The candidate filing period was from March 26 to April 1, 2025. Eight Republican candidates and one DFL candidate filed for office.[9]
Republican primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Keri Heintzeman, businesswoman and wife of state representative Josh Heintzeman[10]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]- Jennifer Carnahan, mayor of Nisswa (2025–present), former chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota (2017–2021), candidate for Minnesota's 1st congressional district in 2022, and widow of former U.S. representative Jim Hagedorn[11]
- Steve Cotariu, veteran and businessman[12]
- John A. Howe, businessman and retired veterinarian[13]
- Doug Kern, candidate for House District 6B in 2022[14]
- Josh Gazelka, marketing consultant and son of former Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka[15]
- Angel Zierden, former mayor of Breezy Point[16]
- Matthew Zinda, candidate for House District 6B in 2024[17]
Declined
[edit]- Carrie Ruud, former state senator from the 10th district (2003–2007, 2013–2022)[18]
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Keri Heintzeman | 3,404 | 46.77 | |
| Republican | John A. Howe | 1,127 | 15.49 | |
| Republican | Jennifer Carnahan | 812 | 11.16 | |
| Republican | Josh Gazelka | 679 | 9.33 | |
| Republican | Steve Cotariu | 458 | 6.29 | |
| Republican | Angel Zierden | 407 | 5.59 | |
| Republican | Doug Kern | 363 | 4.99 | |
| Republican | Matthew Zinda | 28 | 0.38 | |
| Total votes | 7,278 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Denise Slipy, environmental health and safety professional[20]
Withdrawn
[edit]- Samuel Grigsby, security officer[21]
- Nicky Hardy, scientist and substitute teacher[22][23]
- Emily LeClaire, nominee for House District 6B in 2024[16]
Endorsements
[edit]Denise Slipy
- Political parties
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Denise Slipy | 1,195 | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | 1,195 | 100.00 | ||
General election
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Signs for the Heintzeman and Slipy campaigns in Grand Rapids, Minnesota
The special general election was held on April 29, 2025.
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Keri Heintzeman | 12,751 | 60.27 | −3.23 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Denise Slipy | 8,376 | 39.59 | +3.15 | |
| Write-in | 30 | 0.14 | +0.08 | ||
| Total votes | 21,157 | 100 | N/A | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Writ of Special Election" (PDF). Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ Londoño, Ernesto (March 18, 2025). "Justin Eichorn, Minnesota Lawmaker, Tried to Meet With Underage Prostitute, Police Say". The New York Times. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ "Minnesota State Senator Charged with Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor". District of Minnesota. March 19, 2025. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ Vinall, Frances (March 21, 2025). "State senator resigns after being charged with soliciting sex from a minor". Washington Post. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
- ^ Kite, Allison; Hyatt, Kim (April 15, 2025). "Voters across northern Minnesota hit the polls in special primary election to replace Justin Eichorn". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
- ^ Griffith, Michelle (April 15, 2025). "House Rep.'s wife, senator's son, congressman's widow all aim to replace arrested senator". Saint Cloud Times. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
- ^ "Results for State Senator District 6". Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
- ^ "State & Federal Results in Legislative District 6B". Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved April 15, 2025. and "State & Federal Results in Legislative District 6A". Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
- ^ "Senate District 6 Special Election". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
- ^ McClure, Jeffrey (March 21, 2025). "Two candidates announce candidacy for the vacant District 6 seat". Northern News Now. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
- ^ Bettin, Anthony; Lentz, Nick; Cummings, Caroline (March 24, 2025). "Candidates announce campaigns for Justin Eichorn's vacant Minnesota Senate seat". WCCO-TV. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ "Cotariu announces candidacy for Minnesota Senate District 6". Brainerd Dispatch. March 24, 2025. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ "Candidates flock to join race for Minnesota Senate District 6 seat". Brainerd Dispatch. March 24, 2025. Retrieved March 25, 2025 – via Bemidji Pioneer.
- ^ "Conservative activist Kern will make GOP run for Senate District 6 seat". KAXE. March 24, 2025. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ Erickson, Matt (March 21, 2025). "Josh Gazelka joins race for Senate District 6 seat". Brainerd Dispatch. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ a b Dachel, Felicity (March 22, 2025). "Candidates announce bids for Minnesota Senate seat open after Eichorn resignation". KARE 11. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ "Zinda joins Republican candidates for Senate District 6 at deadline". KAXE. April 2, 2025. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
- ^ "Former Sen. Carrie Ruud says she won't enter race to replace Eichorn". KAXE. March 28, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ a b "Results for State Senator District 6". Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ "Breezy Point's Slipy files to represent state Senate District 6". KAXE. March 28, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ "Grand Rapids' Grigsby files for Senate District 6, considers next steps". KAXE. March 31, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ "Nicky Hardy launches DFL campaign for Senate District 6". Pine and Lakes Echo Journal. March 25, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ FOX 9 Staff (March 25, 2025). "Who is running for former Sen. Eichhorn's seat: List". FOX 9 KMSP. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Buffington, Megan (March 31, 2025). "DFL endorses Slipy before filing period ends in SD6 race". KAXE. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ "Index - Election Results". electionresults.sos.mn.gov. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
External links
[edit]Campaign websites
[edit]- Steve Cotario (R)
- Nicky Hardy (DFL)
- Josh Gazelka (R)
- Keri Heintzeman (R)
- Emily LeClaire (DFL)
- Denise Slipy (DFL)
- Angel Zierden (R)
