DFL's David Gottfried wins special election, ensuring power split in Minnesota House
Minnesota Democrat David Gottfried won a special election for House District 40B on Tuesday in a landslide, restoring a 67-67 split in the House of Representatives.
The special election for the district, which is in Ramsey County and covers most of Roseville and Shoreview, was organized after the November winner — DFLer Curtis Johnson — didn't meet residency requirements following a court challenge.
Gottfried defeated Republican Paul Wikstrom, who also ran for the seat in 2024 and challenged Johnson's residency in court. Gottfried received 70.15% of the vote (9,352 total). Wikstrom received 3,966 votes.
This marks an increase in the margin of victory compared to November's election, when Johnson received won by a 65%-34% margin over Wikstrom, albeit with lower turnout.
Gottfried said in a statement the victory is "for Roseville, Shoreview, and every constituent who hasn't been represented for weeks."
"I couldn't be more thrilled to be headed to Saint Paul as soon as possible to get to work for this district and Minnesota. Our team's efforts during the many phases of this campaign have been astounding. I'm so proud of the work of everyone who knocked doors, made phone calls, sent postcards, chipped in a few bucks, and did everything they could to make sure we won tonight," Gottfried said.
'We never lost sight of what's at stake. The President [Trump] is sowing chaos that is increasing the price of basic needs like food, energy, and healthcare. It's never been more urgent that we work together in Saint Paul to shield Minnesotans from the chaos, lower the cost of prescription drugs, and make a smart plan to protect our shared futures in Minnesota.'Democrats already hold a one-seat majority in the Minnesota Senate. Given that 68 votes are needed to pass anything in the House, bipartisan teamwork will ultimately be needed to get most bills passed onto Walz's desk for his signature.
DFL Chairman Ken Martin provided the following statement after Gottfried's victory:
'As a proud Minnesotan, I'm honored to congratulate David Gottfried on his crucial special election victory. Minnesota is a shining example of what can happen under Democratic leadership: providing free breakfast and lunch for K-12 students, investing in mental health services, strengthening worker protections, establishing paid family and medical leave, and enshrining protections for reproductive freedom into law. Since November's election, Democrats continue to fight and win in communities across the country.'
House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, also issued a statement following Gottfried's win, saying it "was always going to be an uphill battle to win in a dark blue Democrat seat."
"I want to thank Paul Wikstrom for running an incredible race and ensuring that District 40B is represented by someone who actually resides in the community," Demuth said.
'While the House will return to a 67-67 tie after tonight, House Republican priorities remain unchanged: we will continue our effort to stop the fraud, protect Minnesotans from harmful tax increases, and work with our Democrat colleagues to pass a responsible and balanced budget.'
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