Court: MN Second District Election To Be Held Nov. 3

EAGAN, MN — For now, voters in Minnesota's Second Congressional District can expect the date of their U.S. House election to remain Nov. 3, and the winner of the election will join the 117th Congress in February.

On Friday, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals denied a motion by Republican House candidate Tyler Kistner to delay the election int0 2021.

The date of the election was thrown into question when Adam Weeks, who was running as the Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate, died in September.

Per state law, a special election would be held in February, Secretary of State Steve Simon confirmed following Weeks' death. However, the campaign to reelect Rep. Angie Craig filed a lawsuit Sept. 28 in order to prevent a delay.

Craig's campaign argued that Minnesota's law on special elections conflicts with federal law. On Oct. 9, a federal judge ruled in Craig's favor, granting an injunction and forcing the election back to the original date of Nov. 3.

The campaign for Kistner, Craig's Republican challenger, has tried appealing that decision and argues that residents have already mailed in their ballots while thinking the election would be delayed.

However, those attempts at appeal have so far failed in federal court.

"My opponent’s effort to delay the upcoming election would have left the hardworking families of Minnesota’s Second Congressional District without a voice in Washington at a time when critical legislation affecting our communities was being debated in Congress," Craig said in a statement Friday.

"I am grateful for the court’s ruling this morning, which ensures that will not be the case. Since the day I was sworn in, I’ve worked tirelessly to represent the values and interests of my constituents in Congress – and I look forward to continuing to do so next January. The courts have spoken – now it is time for the people of Minnesota’s Second Congressional District to decide."

In her own statement, Republican Party of Minnesota Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan said that "Democrat Angie Craig has disrespected the life and efforts of Adam Weeks and the people who supported him and the voters will remember that. Ultimately the US Supreme Court will decide and in the meantime we encourage voters to participate in the election on November 3."