Special election set for suburban state Senate seat
A special election to fill the Minnesota Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Branden Petersen, R-Andover, has been scheduled for Feb. 9, 2016.
Petersen announced last month that he would resign from office effective Oct. 31. He was serving his first Senate term and previously served a term in the House.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said Friday that he received a writ from Gov. Mark Dayton ordering the special election in District 35 to fill the vacancy.
If necessary, a special primary election will be held on Jan. 12, 2016, in the northern suburban district. The candidate filing period run from Dec. 8 through Dec.14, at 5 p.m.
Five Republicans have already filed campaign fundraising paperwork to run in District 35. They are former state Rep. Jim Abeler, Andy Aplikowski, Alexander Huffman, Donald Huizenga and Reid Oines.
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