Last night, in the wake of tragedy, Minnesota voters came together to end the Republican majority in the Minnesota House, electing Democrats Shelley Buck in District 47A and Meg Luger-Nikolai in District 64A.

Last night, in the wake of tragedy, Minnesota voters came together to end the Republican majority in the Minnesota House, electing Democrats Shelley Buck in District 47A and Meg Luger-Nikolai in District 64A.

Minnesota Voters Shift State House Control Amid Tragedy

Last night, in the wake of profound tragedy and heightened public concern over recent events involving federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, voters in Minnesota’s Twin Cities suburbs and urban core delivered a clear message at the ballot box. In special elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives held on January 27, 2026, Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL) candidates **Shelley Buck** in District 47A and **Meg Luger-Nikolai** in District 64A were elected, providing a decisive shift against the Republican Party’s control of the chamber. ([Democrats][1])

Buck, a nonprofit executive and former president of the Prairie Island Tribal Council, ran unopposed on the ballot in District 47A and secured the seat overwhelmingly, continuing the area’s Democratic representation. In St. Paul’s District 64A, labor attorney and community advocate Meg Luger-Nikolai won a commanding victory over Republican Dan Walsh, earning more than 95 % of the vote in a firmly Democratic district. ([house.mn.gov][2])

These victories came at a fraught moment for Minnesota. In recent weeks, the state has grappled with public outrage following fatal shootings by federal immigration agents that sparked protests and intense debate over immigration policy and law enforcement actions. That backdrop heightened the stakes of elections that would determine which party holds sway in the lower chamber of the state legislature. ([Huron Daily Tribune][3])

With Buck’s and Luger-Nikolai’s wins, Democrats succeeded in ending the Republican majority in the Minnesota House of Representatives as the results restored balance or produced a tied chamber, reshaping the political landscape just weeks before the legislative session begins. The outcomes underscore the deep engagement of voters responding not only to local issues like affordability and healthcare but also to broader concerns about community safety and federal oversight.

As Minnesota enters its 2026 legislative session, the newly elected representatives are poised to advocate for policies on economic stability, workers’ rights, and protections against federal overreach, reflecting both the concerns and priorities voiced by their constituents at the poll