DFL State Rep. Ethan Cha has announced he’s seeking the Senate seat that is expected to open after Sen. Nicole Mitchell resigns.
He represents Woodbury in House District 47B. He says he’s proud of his work to protect reproductive rights, provide free meals for students, expand paid family leave, and reform tax policy.
“I’m running for State Senate because, now more than ever, we must defend the progress we’ve made and build on it,” he says in a statement on his website. “That means standing up for working families, supporting our most vulnerable neighbors, and investing in a Minnesota where every child has the chance to thrive.’
Mitchell has said she will step down by Aug. 4 after a Becker County jury found her guilty of two felony burglary charges after she was arrested in her stepmother’s house in April 2024 in Detroit Lakes.
Cha’s entry means a primary will be needed since state Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger also is running. The DFLer represents House District 47A, which includes parts of Woodbury and Maplewood. House Districts 47A and 47B make up Woodbury’s Senate District 47.
No Republicans have announced plans to seek the seat so far.
Electing A New Senator
Minnesota law requires Gov. Tim Walz to call for a special election once Mitchell resigns. Unless a special session of the Legislature is called, Woodbury’s newly elected senator wouldn’t take office until the Senate reconvenes in mid-January. The senator would serve an abbreviated term of two years, with the seat open for election again in November 2026.
Scheduling of the election is at the governor’s discretion. It cannot be held within four days of a state holiday and there needs to be time allowed for a primary now that more than one candidate has stepped forward from a major party.
