Golden Valley, MN, January 6, 2025: The Libertarian Party of Minnesota (the “LPMN”) agrees with the Republican Party of Minnesota (GOP) and the Minnesota Voters Alliance (MVA) that Governor Walz improperly issued a Writ of Special Election in House District 40B on December 27, 2024. The governor should re-issue the writ on February 5, 2025.
“The law is crystal clear,” observed LPMN Vice Chair and Political Director Chip Tangen. “In the rare cases when a vacancy arises from a “successful election contest,” MN Statute 204D.19 Subd. 4 sets forth precisely when the governor “shall” issue a writ calling for a special election: 22 days after the first day of the legislative session. It could be issued earlier, but only if the House passes a resolution after it convenes on January 14th. Governor Walz and Secretary of State Simon should follow the law as written. Full stop.”
The LPMN has other, more grievous, concerns not addressed in the GOP/MVA petition. Time and again, Gov. Walz and Sec. Simon set forth rules that require herculean efforts for minor party candidates to participate in special elections.
“This needs to stop,” said LPMN Chair Rebecca Whiting. “We needed every day of a statutorily-mandated two-week period for an army of 45 volunteers to collect signatures to qualify my candidacy for the U.S. Senate last year. When special elections arise, the governor ignores that two-week period. In House District 40B, he provided a mere four days – only to outdo himself a few days later by setting a 1-day deadline for Senate District 60!”
Tangen added, “Unlike major parties which have a primary election to determine their nominee, the LPMN endorses its nominees. That process takes time. In 2023, the governor’s writ for special election in House District 52B provided candidates a week to file. I’m not sure we would have been able to endorse our candidate in that race had there not been a previously scheduled party meeting for us to consider an endorsement.”
Going forward, the LPMN beseeches Gov. Walz to allocate two weeks for minor parties to qualify candidates in special elections and, failing that, encourages the legislature to require it by statute. The LPMN’s primary legislative goal, however, is to confer ballot access to minor parties without petitioning.
