Dwight Dorau is learning the rhythms of a special election.
With only weeks between a primary and the November 4 general election, the retired Air Force colonel and current high school instructor is squeezing in campaign work around a full-time job, focusing on grassroots energy and the voters most likely to cast a ballot.
The compressed timeline has forced Dorau to think carefully about where to spend his hours. The Republican is facing DFL candidate Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger to replace Nicole Mitchell as Minnesota’s District 47 state senator.
“Each of us has the same amount of time,” Dorau said. “So spending the time wisely and maybe focusing more on higher likelihood of voters who have a higher probability of voting is something I’m more concerned with now.”
In turn, he has prioritized door knocking and meet-and-greets in precincts across Woodbury and Maplewood, aiming to cover the district neighborhood by neighborhood before Nov. 4.
Balancing campaigning with teaching duties has added another layer of challenge. Dorau continues to work full-time at Johnson High School, instructing students in Air Force Junior ROTC, and only takes a handful of days away from class. Much of the campaign coordination happens during evenings, weekends or even lunch breaks.
That discipline is carried into his campaign finances. According to Dorau, his campaign has leaned on small-dollar donors, most contributing in the $5 to $75 range, rather than relying on large checks from outside groups.
“There’s one large donor to date, one individual, who donated $1,000,” Dorau said. “I haven’t seen [larger donations from the Republican Party of Minnesota] really. I’m all about the local grassroots effort here.”
Dorau’s name is not new to local ballots. In 2024, he ran for the House District 47B seat and lost to Rep. Ethan Cha by nine points. The result reflected the east metro’s recent Democratic lean, with Cha securing 54 percent of the vote. His colleague Hemmingsen-Jaeger, carried House District 47A with more than 60 percent that same year.
Those results underscore the uphill nature of this race. Woodbury has favored DFL candidates in recent cycles, and former Sen. Nicole Mitchell won the Senate District 47 seat in 2022 with nearly 59 percent before resigning after a felony burglary conviction. Republicans argue that her departure has opened the door for change, while Democrats point to recent margins as proof of their strength in the city.
Dorau has emphasized turnout as a central concern, pointing to low participation in other special elections, like the District 34B race on Sept. 16 that saw just over 26 percent of registered voters participate. Based on this, he directed his campaign efforts toward high-propensity voters, including outreach through mailings, outdoor events and social media.
“We’re contemplating having a town hall, but the problem is, there’s not a lot of venues, and there’s so much construction,” Dorau said. “It’s hard to find a place, but I would like to get out and see what’s on everybody’s minds.”
The bigger picture
The outcome of the District 47 special election could determine which party controls the Minnesota Senate. The chamber is currently split 33-32 in favor of the DFL Party, but with vacancies in both District 47 and District 29, either party could claim a majority after Nov. 4. District 29, left open after the July death of Republican Sen. Bruce Anderson, leans strongly Republican, leaving Woodbury as the more competitive contest.
The result in November will decide who serves out the remainder of Mitchell’s term through 2026.
