Welcome to the Friday, Jan. 24, Brew.
By: Briana Ryan
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- The latest on two special elections for the Minnesota Legislature
- Six statewide ballot measures have been certified for 2025, 10 have been certified for 2026
- Did you know Ronald Reagan began the tradition of presidents leaving letters to their successors?
The latest on two special elections for the Minnesota Legislature
Two special elections are coming up to determine control of both chambers of the Minnesota Legislature. Both were scheduled for Jan. 28. However, as we note below, only one—for the state Senate—will happen on that date owing to a Minnesota Supreme Court decision issued on Jan. 17.
First, let’s recap about how we got here.
- Minnesota Senate: Before the death of state Sen. Kari Dziedzic (D) on Dec. 27, there was a 34-33 Democratic majority in the chamber. However, the vacancy in Senate District 60 caused by her death led to an evenly split, 33-33 chamber.
- Minnesota House of Representatives: As a result of the 2024 general elections, there was an evenly split, 67-67 chamber. However, Ramsey County District Judge Leonardo Castro voided the election results for House District 40B after determining that the winning candidate—Curtis Johnson (D)—did not meet the residency requirements needed to run in the general election. The vacancy resulted in a 67-66 Republican majority.
State Senate Democrats and Republicans established a power-sharing agreement until the election is held. According to the agreement, each caucus leader will appoint a co-presiding officer, and no changes will be made to Senate rules through 2025. However, state House Democrats and Republicans disagree with how to proceed with chamber business. You can read more about that disagreement in the Jan. 15 edition of the Daily Brew.
Now, let’s look at the special election that is happening on Jan. 28. In that race, Doron Clark (D) and Abigail Wolters (R) are running for Senate District 60. According to 270toWin, “Democrats are expected to hold the seat, returning the party to a majority after the special election.”
Clark is a senior director at Medtronic, a medical device company. According to his campaign website, he would work to improve education and access to housing. Clark said he is running because “I want to take our local stories to St. Paul to fight for our community’s needs. No one can ever fill Kari Dziedzic’s shoes, but I will do everything in my power to live up to her legacy.”
Wolters is a software engineer. According to her campaign website, she would work to improve public safety and the cost of living. Wolters said she is running because “I believe Minneapolis would benefit from having a conservative voice representing us in the state legislature. The Minnesota legislature needs balance when discussing issues specific to the Minneapolis community.”
State Supreme Court rules special election for House District 40B called too soon
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) scheduled the Jan. 28 special election for House District 40B on Dec. 27. In response, the Minnesota Voters Alliance and the Minnesota Republican Party filed a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court, arguing that state law required the governor to wait 22 days after the first day of session to schedule the special election. A representative for Walz argued that “State law requires the governor to call a special election as soon as possible.”
On Jan. 17, six of the court’s seven justices ruled that the special election “was issued prematurely and therefore must be quashed.” The court did not say when Walz would be able to reschedule the special election. The court is also set to hear separate lawsuits regarding which day will be considered the start of the session. You can read more about that here. Justice Karl Procaccini did not weigh in on the decision. As of Jan. 23, Walz has not determined a new date for the special election but said it could be March 5.
Minnesota is one of 25 states that fill vacancies in the state legislature through special elections. Twenty-one states fill vacancies through appointments, and four states use a hybrid system that uses both appointments and special elections.
Six statewide ballot measures have been certified for 2025, 10 have been certified for 2026
We last updated you on ballot measure activity on Jan. 13. Since then, the number of certified ballot measures for 2025 and 2026 has been trending above the long-term averages for each year.
Six statewide ballot measures have been certified for the 2025 ballot in Louisiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Since 2010, an average of three measures have been certified at this point for elections in odd-numbered years.
Ten statewide ballot measures have been certified for the 2026 ballot in eight states. Since 2010, an average of five measures have been certified at this point for elections in even-numbered years.
Here’s an update on ballot measure activity since we last updated you.
One ballot measure was certified in Wisconsin.
- The Wisconsin Require Voter Photo Identification Amendment would require valid photo identification to vote and authorize the Legislature to determine what qualifies as valid photo identification as well as exceptions to the requirement. It will appear on the ballot on April 1, 2025.
Signatures have been submitted and are pending verification for one indirect initiative in Maine and two in Nevada.
- The Maine Require Voter Photo Identification Initiative would require voters to present photo identification for in-person and absentee voting. It would appear on the ballot on Nov. 4, 2025.
- The Nevada Exempt School Teachers from Public Employee Strike Ban Initiative would exempt public school teachers and certain other education personnel from the state’s prohibition on strikes for state and local government employees. It would appear on the ballot on Nov. 3, 2026.
- The Nevada Limit Contingency Fees in Civil Cases Initiative would limit the contingency fees attorneys can charge or receive in civil cases to 20% of any amounts recovered. It would appear on the ballot on Nov. 3, 2026.
As these are indirect initiatives, each state’s legislature can choose to pass them outright. Otherwise, with enough valid signatures, voters will decide on these initiatives.
The most recent signature deadline for citizen initiatives was Jan. 3 in Washington. Signatures were not submitted for any proposed initiatives.
The next signature deadline is Jan. 23 in Maine. In addition to the voter ID initiative, a campaign is collecting signatures for an indirect initiative related to extreme risk protection orders and firearms.
Did you know Ronald Reagan (R) began the tradition of presidents leaving letters to their successors?
Joe Biden (D), who left a letter for President Donald Trump (R), was the seventh outgoing president to do so and the sixth to leave one to a successor of a different political party. Reagan’s letter to George H.W. Bush (R) was the only letter in the tradition to a member of the same political party. The image below is of Reagan’s letter to Bush.
You can learn more about letters left by U.S. presidents to their successors here.