Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger was sworn in on Nov. 18 as the new state senator for Senate District 47, representing Woodbury and part of South Maplewood.

Senator Hemmingsen-Jaeger wore a Minnesota-shaped necklace as Judge David Knutson administered the oath of office in the Senate chamber. Knutson, a former state senator for Districts 36 and 37, welcomed her with the “old joke” that when a representative becomes a senator, the IQ of both chambers rises.

With Hemmingsen-Jaeger’s elevation to the Senate, she leaves a vacancy in the House of Representatives. On Nov. 17, Gov. Tim Walz set Jan. 27 as the date for the special election to fill the District 47A seat on Woodbury’s west side. Should there be more than one candidate from either major party, a special primary election will be held on Dec. 16.

Party officials will soon announce schedules for nominating and Washington County will alert voters to schedules for early voting.