The Minnesota Senate returned to its 34-33, razor-thin majority that Democrats have over Republicans this week—with less than two weeks to go in the legislative session.
Keri Heintzeman, who won the Senate District 6 special election one week ago, took her oath of office in the chamber late Tuesday morning and then took her seat representing the north central Minnesota area she’s called home for several decades.
Supreme Court Justice Paul Thissen, a former DFL legislator, administered the brief oath of office, and politely called for applause, as members across the chamber floor congratulated Heintzeman, the wife of state Rep. Josh Heintzeman and the mother of six children. She and her husband will be the second married couple serving concurrently in the legislature.
Heintzeman cruised to a 20-point margin of victory in the special general election on April 28 against DFLer Denise Slipy. That came after she garnered 47 percent of the vote in a special primary election win just two weeks prior, among a field of eight Republican candidates.
The Senate District 6 seat became vacant in March following the resignation of then-Sen. Justin Eichorn.
While Tuesday marked Heintzeman’s first official day as a member of the legislature, she arrived at her office in the Capitol late last week.
With just less than two weeks remaining before the legislature is constitutionally obligated to adjourn on May 19, Heintzeman knows her role this session will be limited to mostly delivering votes for her constituents on bills that make it to the Senate floor.
“I will be supporting all of the bills that will be what’s best for my communities,” Heintzeman said during an interview at the Capitol with a Brainerd Lakes-area television news station. “The (bills) that are going to reduce taxes, reduce regulation and that will support my communities best.”
DFL razor-thin majority may be in jeopardy after session ends, Mitchell trial begins
Democrats will hold onto that one-seat majority in the upper chamber for the remainder of the session. Following the session’s end, Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, is expected to stand trial for a felony burglary charge associated with her arrest at her mother-in-law’s home in April 2024.
A judge in Detroit Lakes ruled in January that Mitchell could have her trial delayed—at her request—until after the session concludes. Senate Republicans, Gov. Tim Walz and former DFL Party Chair Ken Martin all called for Mitchell’s resignation following her arrest just more than one year ago. But Mitchell’s DFL Senate colleagues have cautioned that she deserves due process on the charges.
Hank Long
Hank Long is a journalism and communications professional whose writing career includes coverage of the Minnesota legislature, city and county governments and the commercial real estate industry. Hank received his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota, where he studied journalism, and his law degree at the University of St. Thomas. The Minnesota native lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and four children. His dream is to be around when the Vikings win the Super Bowl.
