Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.
A verification code has been emailed to
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
The recent death of Minneapolis DFL state Sen. Kari Dziedzic left a 33-33 tie in the Minnesota Senate. On Tuesday, seven Democrats and two Republicans will be on the ballot in a primary to pick one candidate from each party to run in a Jan. 28 election.
The Jan. 28 winner will tip the majority control in the chamber.
The Minnesota Senate District 60 seat has been in DFL hands stretching back to the early 1970s. Dziedzic won her last contested race with an overwhelming majority.
In a field this large, it’s hard to stand out. Here’s a look at how the candidates running in Tuesday’s primary are trying to distinguish themselves.
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Clark is the DFL-endorsed candidate. He’s worked and advocated in his community and neighborhood organizations.
“When (Minnesota House member) Diane Loeffler died, Kari Dziedzic and I sat down to figure out who else should run, and Kari said, ‘We get to be sad. We get to mourn, and then we got to get to work.’ And this is a time we got to get to work.”
“We need to more fully fund education. I’d start with how we fund school lunches. I’d open up ensure so more groups could opt in to take advantage of MNsure and three housing. Housing helps on transportation. Housing helps on the environment. Housing makes it, well, just plain, cheaper to live. And we have a housing emergency. We’ve got encampments here, and we’ve got to fix that now.”
Altamirano says she has dedicated her life to advocating and negotiating on behalf of vulnerable communities.
“I feel that our party has unfortunately lost touch with working families and communities of color that have been taken for granted for decades.”
“I believe that I am one of the few candidates that have proven to be a champion and an advocate for constituencies that, unfortunately, our party has been talking around for far too long and it's evident by the results of our last election.”
Wagenius has the endorsement of Attorney General Keith Ellison and some sitting state legislators. He’s the son of DFL Rep. Jean Wagenius, who was first elected in 1986.
“In a low turnout election, a lot of things come down to word of mouth. And so it matters that my wife and I have been extremely active in the Minneapolis public schools. I want to go to the place where the future of Minnesota is decided, and that’s the Minnesota State Legislature. That’s where I want to be to be most effective for my community.”
“We don’t have time to put any of those issues on pause because of national trends or because Donald Trump is in office, states can do a ton on all of those issues, all of those issues, and I’m going to insist on it. As long as I’m in the Senate, we’re going to push on all of those issues.”
Meyer has the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, and some prominent Minneapolis politicians in state and city offices. She’s worked at the Capitol with groups including Gender Justice and OutFront Minnesota.
“I have a lot of experience organizing and working with in community and with organizations to pass policies that make a difference in people’s lives. I really believe that we come up with the best policies at the state Capitol.”
“If we bring the people who are most affected by those issues into make sure that their voices are heard, make sure that we are working with community groups. To really make sure that our Capitol is the people’s house, and that people feel like they that it’s really accessible.”
Karim is a former classroom teacher on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. She supports Minnesota’s standing as sanctuary state for those seeking gender-affirming care and newly arrived immigrants.
“I’ve lived in five different countries in my life, and five different states, and the longest I have lived anywhere in my 35 years is northeast Minneapolis. It’s where I have a home now, and where I’m raising my daughter and our dog with my husband.”
“For me, what’s really compelling about running for public office is having diverse, community based voices in positions where those voices are valued. I [want] to be someone who offered a different, fresh perspective of someone who who hasn’t been a candidate before.”
Rodríguez is the youngest candidate. He’s a student at the University of Minnesota and a community organizer and wants to expand the North Star Promise free college tuition program.
“This is our moment to center our policy and our vision around the lived experiences of marginalized groups. I don’t see myself represented in these in these areas. I don’t see the people who I’m fighting for represented in these areas and only with lived experience, only with marginalized voices at the table.”
“Can we successfully navigate a Trump presidency? Can we successfully chart the course for an equitable and just society and secure a future that is bright for us and our children and their children? We have to be bold, we have to take risks, and we have to fight.”
Preston is a lawyer who wants to address the housing crisis.
“I’m running for one term only. I’m focusing on one issue, and that’s addressing native homelessness. I want to address the issue of poverty in our communities.”
“I want to make sure that people have shelter over their home. I want to make sure folks are getting culturally competent care. I want to make sure that we aren’t just kicking these people around from one neighborhood to another.”
Wolters is the Republican endorsed candidate. She’s running on a platform on public safety and increasing jobs for recent graduates.
“I’m Republican, but I think people will find that I really do have a lot of their interest at heart. I love Minnesota a lot. I love Minneapolis a lot, and that’s why I’m running. I don’t want to see it in decline.”
“I’m looking forward to sensible spending. Of course, I’m also looking forward to taking crime more seriously. I think there’s been a lot of violent crime in the past four years, and some of that comes from people who aren’t documented. I think Trump has said he’ll be serious about that and kind of prevent more needless crime.”
Zimmerman is running on the Republican ticket although he identifies as an independent.
“I’ve never considered myself loyal to any party. I’m just concerned with getting the nomination. I am concerned about trans rights.”
“I think we need to keep the gains that we’ve made and expand on them. I’m not sure [if] the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is going to have a deep cut in funding, and that may affect stations such as KFAI. Obviously, protect the Boundary Waters, all the good stuff. It’s become more of a protest vote for others.”
