A single seat in the Minnesota Senate is a must-win to maintain the state’s Democratic trifecta.
WASHINGTON — Today, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced the addition of the Minnesota Senate to its 2024 target map and unveiled Ann Johnson Stewart (SD-45) as a Spotlight candidate to defend the Democratic trifecta in a majority-making special election on November 5th. While the full Minnesota Senate is not up this cycle, the seat in this special election is a must-win for defending the Democratic majority in the chamber.
The DLCC’s target map represents the best opportunities in the upcoming elections where legislative majorities are in play or within reach, and where building Democratic power for the long-term is a must. The Minnesota Senate is now a top target alongside the Minnesota House and legislative chambers in several other states.
Ann Johnson Stewart (SD-45) is a former state senator, civil engineer, and small business owner running for the Minnesota Senate in a race that will decide control of the chamber. As the daughter of two teachers, Ann is keenly aware that strong public schools are foundational to a thriving community. If she is elected to return to the Senate, Ann is committed to fighting for education funding, reproductive freedom, and sustainable solutions to fight climate change, while vigorously defending her constituents from MAGA extremists trying to erode their rights.
The DLCC has been on the frontlines supporting Minnesota Democrats in their fight to win and defend their majorities cycle-over-cycle. In 2022, Democrats defended the House and flipped the Senate which gave Democrats the opportunity to fight for the people of their state through a unified Democratic trifecta. DFLers have since passed laws to fund free breakfast and lunch for K-12 students, increase funding for mental health services, protect school library books from censorship, establish paid family and medical leave, and enshrine protections for abortion.
All of this progress is at stake in November and the DLCC is leaving nothing to chance as we defend both the Minnesota House and the Senate from GOP control.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“Defending the Democratic trifecta in Minnesota is a top priority for the DLCC this cycle, and this special Senate election is a must-win to ensure Democrats can continue building a brighter future for the state.
“The accomplishments of the Minnesota Democratic trifecta in their last session is one of the strongest proof points for why Democratic majorities and leadership in the states are so crucial. With just a single-seat majority, Democrats have rewritten the standards of what’s possible, passing historic legislation that truly improves Minnesotans’ lives at warp speed, while defending Minnesotans from Republicans’ extreme and unpopular agenda.”
The DLCC is the official arm of the Democratic Party with the sole mission of building Democratic power in the states and setting the national agenda at the state level. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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