Klobuchar's Resignation Triggers 2027 Special Senate Election in Minnesota
The governor-elect will wait until January 4 to leave the Senate, allowing her to select a replacement for a seat that expires in January 2031.
By Michael Bennett ·
Minnesota will hold a special U.S. Senate election in 2027 to determine who serves the final four years of Amy Klobuchar's term, which ends in January 2031. Klobuchar, who won the governor's race on Tuesday, currently holds the Senate seat with four years remaining.
The timing of the special election depends on when Klobuchar resigns. She will be sworn in as governor on January 4 in St. Paul. Current Governor Tim Walz has the authority to appoint her replacement immediately if she resigns now. However, Klobuchar has indicated she will wait until just before her inauguration to resign, which would give her the power to choose the successor.
Klobuchar stated she will be careful in making that selection. "I will do right by the state of Minnesota with that person," she said. The identity of the appointee remains unknown. Nick Howard, a political scientist at Concordia College, noted that Klobuchar has kept the decision close to the vest. "Closed mouth about what they are going to pick," Howard said.
The appointed candidate will face a special election in 2027 to secure the remainder of the term. Howard expects the race to draw significant national attention and spending. He compared the upcoming contest to the 2026 Senate race, which Democrat Peggy Flanagan won against Republican Michelle Tafoya on Tuesday.
The timing of the 2027 special election coincides with the early stages of the 2028 presidential primary cycle. Howard noted that while formal primaries have not yet begun, debates and candidate visits are expected to occur simultaneously in states like Minnesota. This overlap will likely increase scrutiny on the Senate race.
The last time Minnesota appointed a U.S. Senator was in 2017. Then Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith was appointed to replace Senator Al Franken after his resignation. Howard suggested that high-profile candidates from the 2026 election cycle could run for the Republican nomination next year. He cited Michelle Tafoya and Lisa Demuth, who lost to Klobuchar for governor, as potential contenders due to their existing name recognition and connections within the state party.
