The three people who had announced their candidacies have officially filed for the Senate District 47 special election. The seat covers Woodbury and part of Maplewood.

DFLers State Reps. Ethan Cha and Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger will face each other in a primary election Aug. 26. The winner will take on Republican Dwight Dorau in the general election Nov. 4.  

Dorau attended Finlayson High School, Brainerd Community College, and the University of Minnesota – Duluth. He is a teacher at Johnson High School in St. Paul as the Senior Aerospace Science Instructor for the Junior ROTC. He is a retired Air Force colonel who flew combat missions over Afghanistan.

In 2024 Dorau ran for the House of Representatives in Woodbury District 47A. He was defeated by Cha. 

Cha was born in a Thai refugee camp and immigrated to the United States as a child. He learned English at Webster Magnet Elementary School in St. Paul. His website says he’s been a small business owner, rancher, farmer, public radio host, stay-at-home parent, golf coach, home school teacher, and father. He has served one term in the House.

Hemmingsen-Jaeger earned her bachelor’s degree in cell biology and development from the University of Minnesota, and her master’s in genetics from Iowa State University. In 2016, she graduated from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs with a master’s in science, technology and environmental policy. She has worked as a forensic scientist for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and as an analyst for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the Minnesota Department of Human Services. She has been active with her union. Hemmingsen-Jaeger is serving her first term in the House of Representatives.

The Senate seat is open following former Sen. Nicole Mitchell’s resignation after a Becker County jury found her guilty of one felony count of burglary and one felony count of possession of burglary tools at her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes in April 2024.