Special election set for two open State Senate seats

Special elections have been set for two open seats in the Minnesota Senate.

Gov. Tim Walz announced that the elections for District 29 and District 47 seats will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

District 29 was formerly held by Sen. Bruce Anderson, who died on July 21. Anderson, a Republican, was first elected to that seat in 2012. The district covers parts of Wright, Meeker and Hennepin counties.

District 47 was formerly held by Sen. Nicole Mitchell, who resigned from her seat last week after she was found guilty of two felony burglary charges for breaking into her stepmother’s home. Mitchell, a Democrat, was in her first term in the Senate. The district covers parts of Washington and Ramsey counties.

Candidacy and nominating petitions will be open for both seats from July 30 to Aug. 6.

Special primary elections, if necessary, would be held on Aug. 26.

With those two seats open, Democrats hold a one-seat advantage in the Senate.