ST. PAUL, Minn. – The death of Congressman Jim Hagedorn leaves a vacancy that state law requires be filled by a special election. Governor Tim Walz has three days to announce the date, although he has little choice. Under the specifics of law, the election will will be the date also of the 2022 Minnesota primaries — August 9. In the meantime, southern Minnesota’s First Congressional district has no voice in Congress. And whoever wins in August may be a short-termer. He or she will hold the seat only five months until January when the 118th Congress is sworn in. It’s conceivable, of course, that the winner of the August special election could run in November for the 118th.
Calendar ins and outs
The Minnesota statute on filling a Congressional vacancy specifies that vacancy occurring more than 22 weeks but fewer than 27 weeks before the state primary, the governor has three days to call for a special election to be held on the day of the primary election, with a special primary held 11 weeks prior.