Latest news with #NicoleMitchell
CBS News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Balance of power on the line in Minnesota Senate with planned resignation of Nicole Mitchell
A guilty verdict for one state senator and the sudden death of another could reshape who's in charge in the Minnesota Senate. On Monday, 75-year-old GOP Sen. Bruce Anderson died unexpectedly on the same day DFL Sen. Nicole Mitchell announced, through her attorney, that she would resign from office following a burglary conviction last week. Democrats only have a one-seat majority in the chamber right now and losing Mitchell means that power is on the line. Special elections for those seats — the dates for which have not been set — come as there is another contest planned for September for the late Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman's House district, after she was killed last month in a politically motivated attack. Gov. Tim Walz told reporters Monday, before the news broke about Anderson's death, that the goal is to have special elections wrapped up before the next legislative session. "The goal would be to do that as timely as possible, give people time to get a campaign together, run, and then have all of that done by February when we come back into session," Walz said. Anderson's Wright County district leans heavily Republican. Mitchell won her race handily in 2022, defeating a Republican challenger by more than 17 percentage points. Her district covers Woodbury and parts of Maplewood. But special elections have lower turnout than general elections. Amy Koch, the former GOP Senate majority leader who herself won a special election, said Mitchell's race in particular will likely have outsized importance — and draw a lot of campaign spending — because of both the reason she resigned and how she represents the key vote for Democrats in the closely divided Senate. "The spotlight that will be on Woodbury and how important Sen. Mitchell [is] and what she did is going to play into this election," Koch said. "All bets are off in a special. Unusual people can win specials. There can be upsets as a result of just sort of the nature of — it's fast, it's furious, and it's low turnout." With Anderson's passing and Mitchell's resignation, the chamber will be at least temporarily at 33-32 in favor of Democrats. Most bills need 34 votes to pass. Senate DFL Majority Leader Erin Murphy said in a statement following Mitchell's announcement that she would resign that "with the clarity brought by the resolution of this case, the Senate DFL Caucus will continue to focus on issues that improve the lives of Minnesota families and communities." Two House Democrats — Rep. Ethan Cha and Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger — whose districts are part of Mitchell's Senate district, announced that they intend to run for her seat. If they prevail, there would be yet another special election for their House district. All told, there will be at least six special elections this year alone. There were three others during the legislative session, including for the districts of the late DFL Sen. Kari Dziedzic, who died of cancer, and former GOP Senator Justin Eichorn. He was arrested and criminally charged for allegedly soliciting a minor for prostitution.
Fox News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Blue state Democratic lawmaker set to resign after felony burglary conviction: report
NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! A state senator in Minnesota plans to resign after she was convicted Friday of felony burglary stemming from a 2024 break-in at her stepmother's home. State Sen. Nicole Mitchell, 51, will vacate her position by early Aug. 4, the Associated Press confirmed, citing her attorney. She represents State Senate District 47, in the suburbs east of St. Cloud, and is part of the Democratic Farm-to-Labor Party (DFL). She was also found guilty of a second felony, possession of burglary tools. DEM STATE SENATOR CAUGHT ON BODYCAM ADMITS 'I'M NOT GOOD AT THIS' DURING ALLEGED HOME BREAK-IN In the next week-and-a-half, she will reportedly "wrap up her legislative duties" before officially ending her service. Mitchell was arrested on April 22, 2024, and claimed that she had entered her stepmother Carol Mitchell's Detroit Lakes home to retrieve her late father's ashes and other belongings, which she said Carol would not hand over. Police bodycam footage from her arrest shows her sitting in the back of the police cruiser and telling an officer she was "just trying to get some of my dad's things." "Clearly, I'm not good at this," she said during her arrest. During her trial, she reportedly testified that she did trespass at the home, but did not intend to steal anything. Rather, she said she was checking in on Carol, who had Alzheimer's disease. MURDERED DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER'S HOME BROKEN INTO JUST DAYS AFTER FATAL SHOOTING Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, herself a member of the DFL, called for Mitchell's resignation upon her conviction. "Senator Mitchell has been afforded due process, a trial by a jury of her peers, and that jury has delivered a verdict. I am relieved to see the end of Senator Mitchell's trial. The case's resolution brings clarity to the situation," Murphy said. "Senator Mitchell has told colleagues that she intended to resign if found guilty of this crime, and I expect her to follow through on that pledge. Our caucus remains focused on the issues that matter to Minnesotan families and communities." State Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson is pushing for Mitchell's immediate resignation, instead of waiting until Aug. 4. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Senator Mitchell was convicted of two felonies; she doesn't get to give the Senate two weeks' notice," he reportedly said. "The only reason Mitchell is still in office is because Democrats needed her vote to pass their agenda and refused to hold her accountable during session." Mitchell did not immediately return a comment request.
The Hill
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Minnesota state lawmaker to resign after burglary conviction
A Minnesota lawmaker is expected to resign from the state Senate after being criminally convicted of burglary on July 18. Democratic state Sen. Nicole Mitchell's departure will dissolve the party's one-seat majority in the upper chamber and comes after months of Republican criticism regarding her criminal record. 'Senator Mitchell's constituents deserve for her legislative projects to be finalized or ready to hand off to her successor before she resigns,' her attorney Dane DeKrey said in a statement to USA Today. 'Mitchell's constituents also deserve to have their outstanding issues handled before her resignation… It was the honor of her lifetime to serve her District and the State of Minnesota,' he added. She's slated to resign 'no later than Aug. 4.' Dekrey did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment on the matter. Mitchell, a former lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard and a meteorologist, was arrested last year while visiting her estranged stepmother to collect her deceased father's belongings. She used burglary tools to enter the home in the Detroit Lakes area. Minnesota Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson (R), in a statement, once again condemned Mitchell's actions, stating 'her continued participation in the Minnesota Senate leaves the body with a stain on its record for every time her vote was the deciding vote in passing legislation.' Mitchell's resignation comes weeks after two Democratic lawmakers in the Minnesota legislature were shot at their respective homes. Rep. Melissa Hoffman (D) succumbed to gunshot wounds, as did her husband and Golden Retriever.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Minnesota state senator found guilty of burglary announces resignation
A Minnesota state senator announced she will resign as early as next month after being convicted on a burglary charge last week, her defense attorney confirmed. Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell was found guilty of two criminal charges on July 18 stemming from a 2024 arrest, The Minnesota Reporter, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. Mitchell, 50, was convicted of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools in connection to a break-in at her stepmother's home in Detroit Lakes, a city in northeast Minnesota about 200 miles northwest of Minneapolis. On July 22, Mitchell's attorney Dane DeKrey told USA TODAY his client will resign "no later than Aug. 4." In the interim, DeKrey said the senator will use that time to wrap up outstanding legislative projects, train legislation staff and more. "Senator Mitchell's constituents deserve for her legislative projects to be finalized or ready to hand off to her successor before she resigns," according to a statement released by Dekray. "Mitchell's constituents also deserve to have their outstanding issues handled before her resignation... It was the honor of her lifetime to serve her District and the State of Minnesota." Who is Sen. Nicole Mitchell? Mitchell, a Democrat, represents the cities of Woodbury and Maplewood. She is a former Lt. Colonel with the U.S. Air Force and a meteorologist. More political news: 'Flood' of ICE agents is coming to cities run by Democrats, according to the White House Why was Sen. Nicole Mitchell arrested? According to trial testimony, on April 22, 2024, Mitchell broke into her stepmother's Detroit Lakes home to steal her late father's possessions. Mitchell unsuccessfully tried to convince jurors she was in the home to conduct a welfare check on her stepmother. She took the stand during trial and told the jury her stepmother "was struggling with paranoia due to Alzheimer's disease," the USA TODAY Network reported. As of July 22, sentencing for Mitchell had not been set. The lawmaker, who has no criminal history, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for burglary and three years in prison for her other charge. Mitchell's attorney said his client will appeal the burglary conviction. Contributing: Michelle Griffith with The Minnesota Reformer Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell to resign by Aug. 4, attorney says
Sen. Nicole Mitchell, a Woodbury Democrat who was found guilty of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools Friday, will resign from the Minnesota Senate by Aug. 4, her attorney said in a statement Monday. The first-term senator will resign no later than 5 p.m. Aug. 4, once she finishes four tasks: completes outstanding legislative projects, wraps up ongoing constituent services, transitions legislative staff and obtains health insurance for her son, according to the statement from Dane DeKrey, who helped defend Mitchell during the recent five-day trial. The unusual resignation announcement means Mitchell will continue to represent her constituents for up to two weeks as a convicted felon. It also means that Democrats will lose their one-seat majority in the 34-33 Minnesota Senate until Gov. Tim Walz calls a special election to replace her. Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, criticized Mitchell's decision to remain in the Senate for up to two weeks. More: Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell found guilty of felony burglary 'Sen. Mitchell was convicted of two felonies; she doesn't get to give the Senate two weeks' notice,' Johnson said in a statement. A jury convicted Mitchell of felony burglary and possession of burglary tools Friday after a grueling trial that played out like a family drama. The prosecution successfully argued that Mitchell intended to steal her late father's possessions from her stepmother when she broke into her Detroit Lakes home on April 22, 2024. The state's main evidence was that she told police as much during her arrest, and the jury saw the footage of her admissions from police officers' body-worn cameras. Mitchell unsuccessfully tried to convince the jury of nine men and three women that she was in the Detroit Lakes home to conduct a welfare check on her stepmother. Mitchell testified in her own defense, and told the jury that her stepmother was struggling with paranoia due to Alzheimer's disease. DeKrey on Friday told reporters that Mitchell will likely appeal the verdict. More: Stearns County bail, court date set for Oberg Roofing and Remodeling owner in theft case Mitchell's sentencing has not been scheduled, but because she has no criminal history her sentence will likely be far less than the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for burglary and three years for burglary tools. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, called on Mitchell to resign for the first time immediately following the announcement of the jury's verdict. Mitchell in 2022 won her race by about 17 percentage points, and the district leans heavily Democratic. Whether residents in the district — which includes Woodbury and Maplewood — want to elect another Democrat remains to be seen, given Mitchell's crimes. Democrats have performed well in special elections during the first and now second terms of President Donald Trump. Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, the nation's largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell to resign after burglary conviction Solve the daily Crossword
