THC Science

District 35 special election, 2016
The District 35 seat in the Minnesota Senate
	Precinct Results ; Abeler: 60-70% 70-80% 80-90%
Senator before election; Branden Petersen; Republican	Elected Senator ; Jim Abeler; Republican

A special election was held in the U.S. state of Minnesota on February 9, 2016, to elect a new senator for District 35 in the Minnesota Senate, caused by the resignation of Senator Branden Petersen, effective on October 31, 2015. A primary election was held on January 12, 2016, to nominate a Republican Party of Minnesota candidate. Former state representative Jim Abeler, the Republican nominee, won the special election.

Candidates[edit]

Republican Party of Minnesota[edit]

The Senate District 35 Republican Party held a convention to endorse a candidate on November 14.^[1] Andy Aplikowski won the endorsement after four rounds of balloting. Former state representative Jim Abeler said he would continue to seek the Republican nomination.^[2] Don Huizenga was undecided on whether he would continue to seek the nomination, but ultimately did not file a candidacy. Brad Sunderland said he would abide by the endorsement.^[3]

Jim Abeler, former state representative and candidate for the 2014 U.S. Senate Republican nomination^[4]
Andy Aplikowski, party activist^[4]

Withdrawn[edit]

Alex Huffman, business owner and former U.S. Army serviceman^[5]^[6]
Don Huizenga, party activist^[4]
Reid Oines^[1]^[7]
Brad Sunderland, chair of the Senate District 35 Republican Party^[8]^[3]

Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party[edit]

The Senate District 35 Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party endorsed Roger Johnson on December 16, 2015.

Roger Johnson, community activist^[9]

Legal Marijuana Now Party[edit]

Zach Phelps^[10]

Primary election results[edit]

District 35 special primary election, 2016^[11]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican Party of Minnesota	Jim Abeler	2,818	60.93
		Andy Aplikowski	1,807	39.07
		Subtotal	4,625	100.00
	Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party	Roger Johnson	282	100.00
Total			4,907	100.00

Results[edit]

Minnesota Senate District 35 special election, 2016^[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆pp
	Republican Party of Minnesota	Jim Abeler	3,237	73.69	+19.48
	Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party	Roger Johnson	947	21.56	−24.07
	Legal Marijuana Now Party	Zach Phelps	180	4.10	+4.10
	Write-in	N/A	29	0.66	+0.50
Total			4,393	100.00	±0.00

Previous election results[edit]

Minnesota Senate election, 2012: District 35^[13]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆pp
	Republican Party of Minnesota	Branden Petersen	22,874	54.21	−6.38
	Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party	Peter Perovich	19,253	45.63	+6.33
	Write-in	N/A	69	0.16	+0.05
Total			42,196	100.00	±0.00

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b Brucato, Cyndy (November 5, 2015). "Facing long odds, a DFL lifer gets his shot in Senate District 35". MinnPost. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
^ Brucato, Cyndy (November 16, 2015). "Value of GOP endorsement to be tested in race for Petersen's old Senate seat". MinnPost. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
^ ^a ^b Moran-Froemming, Mandy (November 16, 2015). "Senate District 35 Republicans endorse Aplikowski". ABC Newspapers. ECM Publishers. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c Stassen-Berger, Rachel E. (October 16, 2015). "February special election set for Sen. Petersen's seat". Pioneer Press. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
^ "Huffman announces candidacy for GOP endorsement in SD 35". ABC Newspapers. ECM Publishers. September 19, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
^ "It is my regret to say that, after careful consideration, I am withdrawing my candidacy and will not be pursuing the GOP endorsement in November. A new job has come my way with a schedule that will not be conducive to me serving as a State Senator. Thank you to all of my supporters". Facebook. Huffman for Senate. October 27, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
^ Oines, Reid (October 29, 2015). "Important State Senate Special Election News". Reid Oines for State Senate Campaign Committee. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
^ Steller, Chris (November 9, 2015). "Another Republican joins race to replace Sen. Petersen". Politics in Minnesota. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
^ "Johnson to seek DFL endorsement in SD 35". ABC Newspapers. ECM Publishers. October 18, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
^ "State Senate District 35 Special Election". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on December 20, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
^ "Results for State Senator District 35". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
^ "Results for State Senator District 35". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
^ "Results for State Senator District 35". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved September 24, 2015.

External links[edit]

Information on the special election Archived 2015-10-18 at the Wayback Machine at the Minnesota Secretary of State website

[minnpost2015115-1] Brucato, Cyndy (November 5, 2015). "Facing long odds, a DFL lifer gets his shot in Senate District 35". MinnPost. Retrieved November 7, 2015.

[2] Brucato, Cyndy (November 16, 2015). "Value of GOP endorsement to be tested in race for Petersen's old Senate seat". MinnPost. Retrieved November 16, 2015.

[abc20151116-3] Moran-Froemming, Mandy (November 16, 2015). "Senate District 35 Republicans endorse Aplikowski". ABC Newspapers. ECM Publishers. Retrieved November 16, 2015.

[pp-4] Stassen-Berger, Rachel E. (October 16, 2015). "February special election set for Sen. Petersen's seat". Pioneer Press. Retrieved October 23, 2015.

[5] "Huffman announces candidacy for GOP endorsement in SD 35". ABC Newspapers. ECM Publishers. September 19, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.

[6] "It is my regret to say that, after careful consideration, I am withdrawing my candidacy and will not be pursuing the GOP endorsement in November. A new job has come my way with a schedule that will not be conducive to me serving as a State Senator. Thank you to all of my supporters". Facebook. Huffman for Senate. October 27, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.

[7] Oines, Reid (October 29, 2015). "Important State Senate Special Election News". Reid Oines for State Senate Campaign Committee. Retrieved November 12, 2015.

[8] Steller, Chris (November 9, 2015). "Another Republican joins race to replace Sen. Petersen". Politics in Minnesota. Retrieved November 10, 2015.

[9] "Johnson to seek DFL endorsement in SD 35". ABC Newspapers. ECM Publishers. October 18, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.

[10] "State Senate District 35 Special Election". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on December 20, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2015.

[11] "Results for State Senator District 35". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 12, 2016.

[12] "Results for State Senator District 35". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 9, 2016.

[13] "Results for State Senator District 35". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved September 24, 2015.

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