A special election will be August 9th, with a special primary on May 24th if needed, for the U-S House seat formerly held by the late First District Congressman Jim Hagedorn.
Carleton College political analyst Steven Schier says possible Republican candidates in that GOP-leaning district include state senators Carla Nelson and Dave Senjem from Rochester, state Representative Jeremy Munson from Lake Crystal, and former state Representative Brad Finstad.
There's also the possibility of Jennifer Carnahan, the spouse of Jim Hagedorn, getting into the race, Schier says. Carnahan is a former chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota. She was forced out because of her closeness to a major party donor, Tony Lazzaro, who was arrested on federal sex-trafficking charges. Other G-O-P names being tossed out as possible candidates in the First Congressional District include state Senator Julie Rosen from Fairmont and state Representative Steve Drazkowski from Mazeppa.
Schier says it's a big opportunity for Republicans because the national environment favors them, particularly in an off-year election.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon has said the filing period for the Congressional District 1 Special Election must end by March 15, and that the filing period will be at least two weeks. He noted that the special election will take place within the current congressional district boundaries. The candidate winning the special election to serve the remainder of Hagedorn’s term, which expires Jan. 3, 2023.
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