Special Senate Primaries Held in Minnesota, Iowa Could Shift Control

Special primaries are being held on August 26, 2025, in Minnesota and Iowa to fill vacant state Senate seats with potential implications for legislative power balance. In Minnesota, Senate District 29 is open following the death of Republican Sen. Bruce Anderson, with three Republicans competing in the primary against one Democratic candidate, while Senate District 47 is vacant after Sen. Nicole Mitchell resigned following a burglary conviction; Democrats currently hold a one-seat advantage in the Minnesota Senate. In Iowa’s Senate District 1, Democrat Catelin Drey and Republican Christopher Prosch are competing to fill the seat left by the late Republican Sen. Rocky De Witt, with national Democratic groups supporting Drey in a bid to break the Republican supermajority in the Iowa Senate. The outcomes of these special elections could shift partisan control and influence the legislative agenda in both states. Polls in Minnesota are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with special general elections scheduled for November 4, 2025. These races are closely watched as they may affect confirmation votes and power dynamics in state governments.