Doron Clark, a Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) candidate, secured a Minnesota Senate seat in a special election held Tuesday, representing the predominantly Democratic District 60 encompassing northeast Minneapolis. His victory ends a 33-33 partisan deadlock in the Senate, with Clark capturing nearly 91% of votes against Republican Abigail Wolters. He succeeds late Senator Kari Dziedzic, who passed away in December after a decade-long tenure.
In a post-election interview, Clark, 47, expressed astonishment at the outcome and gratitude toward his campaign team, emphasizing his focus on education, healthcare affordability, and housing. Senate DFL Leader Erin Murphy praised Clark as a “skilled and dedicated leader” who will honor Dziedzic’s legacy while addressing statewide issues.
Clark garnered 7,783 votes to Wolters’ 746, following a competitive January 14 primary where he edged out seven rivals, including runner-up Monica Meyer (35%), with 38% support. A longtime DFL chair in District 60, Clark works in Medtronic’s ethics compliance and coaches at Yinghua Academy. Despite the Senate’s prior tie, legislative proceedings continued with shared committee control; Clark will be sworn in shortly.
Meanwhile, Minnesota’s House remains gridlocked. Republicans hold a narrow 67-66 majority but lack quorum due to a Democratic boycott, stalling sessions. A recent state Supreme Court ruling requires 68 members for quorum. Democrats advocate for power-sharing, anticipating a pending special election in a Roseville-area district could restore a 67-67 split.
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