Voters in Minnesota are headed to the polls on Tuesday to elect a new representative in a state House district that has traditionally favored Democrats. This special election in House District 40B comes after the recent court ruling that Democratic state Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson did not meet residency requirements. Because Johnson chose not to appeal, House Republicans now hold a slight majority of 67-66, which allows them to set the agenda until the election is decided.
The district, situated in the suburbs of northern St. Paul, is viewed as a place where Democrats typically perform well. A power-sharing agreement was reached in February, assuming that the Democrats would hold onto this seat, thereby restoring a tie in the House.
The candidates in this race are David Gottfried, a Democrat and attorney, and Paul Wikstrom, a Republican who previously ran for the seat in 2024 and was involved in the legal challenge regarding Johnson’s residency. In the last election, Johnson secured a significant 65% of the vote compared to Wikstrom’s 35%. In the larger context of the 2024 presidential election, Kamala Harris received an impressive 68% of the vote in this district, which contrasts sharply with her statewide performance of just 51%.
House District 40B is fully contained within Ramsey County and includes communities like Roseville and Shoreview. Notably, the precincts in Roseville accounted for nearly two-thirds of all votes in this district and tended to have higher percentages for Democratic candidates.
Voting in the special election will conclude at 8 p.m. local time, or 9 p.m. ET. Any resident of District 40B who is eligible to vote can participate, as Minnesota allows same-day registration at the polls.
In previous elections, the voter turnout in this district has been significant, with about 88% participation in November 2024 and 75% in November 2022. As of the latest updates, over 1,200 absentee ballots had been returned, out of approximately 3,400 requested.
While the Associated Press has not declared a winner yet, the results from House District 40B will be closely watched as they could influence the balance of power in the state House. The vote-counting process is typically swift, with results often reported within hours of polls closing.
This election is an important moment for both parties, as it will have implications not only for local governance but also for the political landscape in Minnesota.
