Ann Johnson Stewart (D) and Kathleen Fowke (R) are running in the special election for Minnesota State Senate District 45 on Nov. 5, 2024.

The election is taking place because Kelly Morrison (D) resigned to run for U.S. House, leaving control of the Senate split 33-33. Minnesota state senators are elected to four-year terms in midterm years, meaning the outcome of this election will determine control of the chamber through the 2026 midterms or until another member leaves office. Because Democrats control the state House and a Democrat is governor, the outcome of this election will also determine Minnesota’s trifecta status. A Johnson Stewart win alongside a Democratic win in the state House elections would maintain the Democratic trifecta in Minnesota, while a Fowke win in this election or a Republican win in the state House elections would result in a divided government.

Johnson Stewart is a civil engineer and former state senator who did not run for re-election in 2022 after redistricting placed her and Morrison in the same district. Johnson Stewart says abortion is a key issue: “It only takes one election to see our reproductive freedom stripped away. In Minnesota, our rights are on the line again with one Senate seat deciding our future.” Johnson Stewart says she has “the grit and experience to build the thriving communities that we all want and deserve.”

Fowke is a realtor and former small business owner. Fowke was the Republican nominee in 2022, losing to Morrison 56.3% to 43.7%. Fowke says she is running “because your family deserves better…The high costs of groceries and essentials have driven our citizens to new levels of anxiety and stress.” Fowke says she is running to restore unity: “Using our hearts and minds I know we can find common sense solutions for complex problems. Let’s come together and find that common-ground that helps our communities flourish!”

According to Dave’s Redistricting, Joe Biden (D) defeated Donald Trump (R) 57% to 41% in the current boundaries of this district in 2020. In 2022, Democrats defeated Republicans in the district in all four statewide elections and the U.S. House election. The narrowest Democratic win was 50.59% to 45.39% in the state auditor election, and the widest was 56.96% to 40.91% in the gubernatorial election.