2018 Minnesota Senate District 13 special election

File:Minnesota Senate District 13 location.svg

In early January 2018, Republican Senator Michelle Fischbach became lieutenant governor after Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL) Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith resigned to be appointed to the U.S. Senate. As president of the Senate, Fischbach was first in line to succeed her. She did not resign from the Senate, citing a Senate counsel opinion that she could both hold her Senate seat and be lieutenant governor. Several DFLers disagreed, including Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk and Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson, asserting that holding both positions violated constitutional separation of powers.{{Cite news |url=http://www.startribune.com/constituent-sues-lt-gov-michelle-fischbach-says-she-must-give-up-senate-seat/469017603/ |title=Constituent sues Lt. Gov. Michelle Fischbach, says she must give up Senate seat |last=Van Berkel |first=Jessie |date=January 12, 2018 |work=Star Tribune |access-date=January 28, 2018}}

On January 12, 2018, Destiny Dusosky, then-chair of the Senate District 13 DFL, filed a lawsuit challenging Fischbach's ability to remain in the Senate. The lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice on February 12, 2018, by Chief Judge John Guthmann of the Minnesota Second District Court in Ramsey County, who said the lawsuit was premature as it was unclear whether the Senate would allow her to continue to serve once the Legislature reconvened later that month. Guthmann also denied a request for a temporary restraining order to prevent Fischbach from serving in the Senate.{{Cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/ramsey-county-judge-dismisses-lawsuit-against-fischbach-over-senate-seat-but-fight-likely-not-over/473857923/|title=Ramsey County judge dismisses lawsuit against Fischbach over Senate seat, but fight likely not over|last=Van Berkel|first=Jessie|date=February 12, 2018|website=Star Tribune|access-date=February 12, 2018}} Dusosky filed a second lawsuit in April 2018, charging that Fischbach's status in the Senate was still undetermined.{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/constituent-sues-minnesota-lt-gov-michelle-fischbach-for-remaining-in-senate/479326593/|title=Constituent sues Minnesota Lt. Gov. Michelle Fischbach for remaining in Senate|last=Coolican|first=J. Patrick|date=April 10, 2018|work=Star Tribune|access-date=May 25, 2018}}

On May 25, 2018, Fischbach resigned from the Senate and took the oath of office as lieutenant governor. She said the end of the legislative session and Governor Mark Dayton's pledge that he would not call a special session prompted her decision to resign. Following Fischbach's resignation, Dusosky withdrew her lawsuit. Fischbach said she would not run in the special election.{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/fischbach-to-resign-state-senate-be-sworn-in-as-lieutenant-governor/483692271/|title=Fischbach resigns from state Senate, is sworn in as lieutenant governor|last=Golden|first=Erin|date=May 25, 2018|work=Star Tribune|access-date=May 25, 2018|last2=Coolican|first2=J. Patrick}}

District 13 includes parts of Benton and Stearns counties. Fischbach became its senator in February 1996 after winning a special election. In the last election in 2016, she won 69% of the vote.

The candidate filing period was from May 29 through June 5, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/election-administration-campaigns/elections-calendar/senate-district-13-special-election/|title=Senate District 13 Special Election|publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State|access-date=May 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526113012/https://www.sos.state.mn.us/election-administration-campaigns/elections-calendar/senate-district-13-special-election/|archive-date=May 26, 2018|url-status=dead}} A primary election was not held.

• Jeff Howe, member of the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2013{{cite news|last1=Van Berkel|first1=Jessie|title=State Rep. Jeff Howe enters race to determine political control of state Senate|url=http://www.startribune.com/state-rep-jeff-howe-enters-race-to-determine-political-control-of-state-senate/483966931/|accessdate=May 29, 2018|work=Star Tribune|date=May 29, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Hertel |first1=Nora G. |title=Rockville rep runs for Michelle Fischbach's Senate seat |url=https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2018/05/29/rockville-rep-runs-michelle-fischbachs-senate-seat/651043002/ |accessdate=July 2, 2018 |work=St. Cloud Times |date=May 29, 2018 |language=en}}

• Joe Perske, member of the Stearns County Board of Commissioners since 2017; DFL nominee for Minnesota's 6th congressional district in 2014; former mayor and City Council member of Sartell, Minnesota{{cite news |last1=Van Berkel |first1=Jessie |title=Two DFLers enter state Senate race to replace Fischbach |url=http://www.startribune.com/two-dflers-enter-state-senate-race-to-replace-fischbach/484203811/ |accessdate=May 31, 2018 |work=Star Tribune |date=May 31, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Hertel |first1=Nora G. |title=Former Sartell mayor makes bid for Fischbach's Senate seat |url=https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2018/06/01/joe-perske-former-sartell-mayor-bids-fischbach-senate/664594002/ |accessdate=July 2, 2018 |work=St. Cloud Times |date=June 1, 2018 |language=en}}

• Michael Willemsen, group home site supervisor; DFL nominee for District 13 in 2016{{cite news |title=Central Minnesotans withdrawal, file anew as election window closes |url=https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2018/06/04/withdrawals-new-filings-election-window-closes/669151002/ |accessdate=June 4, 2018 |work=St. Cloud Times |date=June 4, 2018 |language=en}}

• List of special elections to the Minnesota Senate

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20180526113012/https://www.sos.state.mn.us/election-administration-campaigns/elections-calendar/senate-district-13-special-election/ District 13 special election - Minnesota Secretary of State]

{{Minnesota elections}}

Category:2018 Minnesota elections

Category:Minnesota special elections

Special 2018 13

Minnesota Senate, District 13