When U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips threw his hat in the race for president of the United States, it set off a chain reaction of sorts through the Minnesota State Capitol. The outcome this November could change partisan control of the state Senate, which is currently evenly split, 33-33, between the two leading political parties.

While launching her campaign to fill Phillips’ congressional seat, state Sen. Kelly Morrison, DFL-Deephaven, resigned from the Senate in early June, igniting a special election for the Senate District 45 seat. Morrison, who had been the assistant majority leader in the state Senate, was first elected to the House in 2018 and to the Senate in 2022.

Four candidates have filed for the seat.

Kathleen Fowke, a Realtor and former landscape designer, was uncontested on Tuesday for the GOP nomination for Senate District 45, which covers Deephaven, Excelsior, Long Lake, Orono, Wayzata, the northern part of Minnetonka and other western suburbs.

The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party primary for Senate District 45 drew three candidates. Ann Johnson Stewart, a civil engineer and former state senator, will advance to the November ballot, having garnered 59% of the vote. She was followed in the primary by business consultant Emily Reitan with 39% of the vote and Kyle Jasper Meinen, with 2%.

Washington County

On Tuesday, two House races based in Washington County drew partisan primary races on either sides of the aisle.

State Rep. Brion Curran, DFL-White Bear Lake, a first-term representative in House District 36B, handily defeated challenger T.J. Malaskee, executive director of the Maplewood Area Historical Society, to win the party primary 63-37%.

Patty Bradway, a sonographer and former cardiac nurse, was uncontested for the GOP nomination in House 36B.

State Rep. Mark Wiens, R-Lake Elmo, has chosen not to run for re-election in House District 41A, choosing instead to run for Washington County commissioner.

For the GOP, former Washington County Commissioner and Cottage Grove City Council member Wayne A. Johnson won the political primary in 41A, defeating Grayson McNew, 54% to 46%. With the endorsement of GOP chair David Hann, McNew, a first officer in the St. Croix River Company, had run a campaign to repeal the state gas tax entirely and institute castle doctrine and stand-your-ground gun laws.

Lucia Wroblewski, a retired St. Paul Police officer, firearms instructor and field training officer, was uncontested for the DFL nomination for 41A.

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