DFL’s Doron Clark projected to win special election for Minnesota Senate District 60, tipping chamber into Democrats’ favor
MINNEAPOLIS — A tie at the Minnesota Senate has come to an end as the DFL’s Doron Clark is projected to win the special election for District 60 with 90.9% of the vote.
Clark ran against Republican Abigail Wolters for the seat, which was left empty after Sen. Kari Dziedzic died of ovarian cancer last month. The former Minnesota Senate majority leader had represented the district in northeastern Minneapolis for 12 years.
Doron, who grew up in southeast Minnesota and works in ethics and compliance for Medtronic, won the Jan. 13 primary with 38% of the vote.
“While MAGA Republicans seize control in Washington, protecting and expanding Democratic power in the states is of the utmost importance. Tonight’s victory in defending our one-seat majority in the Minnesota Senate highlights how every seat matters and can make a difference in shaping the balance of power in the states where so many chambers are decided by the slimmest of margins.
What was a 33-33 tie in the Senate will now lean in the Democrats’ favor. The chamber had been operating under a power-sharing agreement until the election. After Clark’s election is certified and he is seated, the chamber will have to take a vote to undo that deal, which has GOP and DFL lawmakers co-chairing committees and switching off who presides over the Senate chamber.
“Tonight’s victory in defending our one-seat majority in the Minnesota Senate highlights how every seat matters and can make a difference in shaping the balance of power in the states where so many chambers are decided by the slimmest of margins,” Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams said. “Democrats must ensure that we aren’t giving an inch and are ready to take advantage of every opportunity to defend and strengthen our state legislative majorities in these uncertain times.”
The Minnesota House of Representatives, on the other hand, remains locked in a power struggle as DFL representatives are continuing to boycott the session. Republicans have been unable to do anything official after the state Supreme Court ruled late last week that, since there are 134 seats, a quorum is reached once a single party has 68. The parties were tied 67-67 on Election Day, but a judge nullified one DFL candidate’s victory, giving the GOP a one-seat edge but not the quorum required to get business done.
Follow the live results of the special election below.
contributed to this report.
