Minnesota State Senate District 54
Minnesota State Senate District 54 is represented by Eric Pratt (R).
As of the 2020 Census, Minnesota state senators represented an average of 85,220 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 79,327 residents.
About the chamber
Members of the Minnesota State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Minnesota legislators assume office on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January after the election. When the first Monday in January falls on January 1, legislators assume office on the first Wednesday after the first Monday.[1][2]
Qualifications
To be eligible to run for the Minnesota State Senate, a candidate must:[3][4]
- Be eligible to vote in Minnesota
- Be 21 years of age or more upon assuming office
- Be a resident of Minnesota for at least one year before the general election
- Be a resident of the legislative district for at least six months before the general election
- Have not filed for another office at the upcoming primary or general election
- Participated in the party's most recent precinct caucuses, or intend to vote for a majority of the party's candidates at the next general election (if major party candidate)
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[5] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $51,750/year | For senators: $86/day. For representatives: $66/day. |
Vacancies
Vacancies in the Minnesota State Legislature are filled through election. If there are more than 150 days before the next state general election, and the legislature will not be in session before the results are canvassed, then any vacancy is filled at the next state general election.[6][7]
If the vacancy happens during the legislative session, the governor has five days to issue a writ calling for a special election. The election must take place no more than 35 days after the issuance of the writ. If the legislature is out of session and there are fewer than 150 days before the next state general election, the governor must call for a special election so the winner of the election can take office when the legislature reconvenes.[7][8]
See sources: Minnesota Cons. Art. 4, § 4 and Minnesota Stat. § 204D.19
District map
Redistricting
2020-2022
Minnesota enacted new legislative district boundaries on February 15, 2022, when a special judicial redistricting panel issued an order adopting final maps. Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea established the five-judge special redistricting panel in June 2021 to hear legal challenges regarding redistricting and adopt maps should the legislature not agree on them. The panel consisted of two state court of appeals justices and three state district court judges. Republican governors originally appointed two of the five justices, Democratic governors originally appointed two, and former Gov. Jesse Ventura (Reform) originally appointed one justice.
How does redistricting in Minnesota work? In Minnesota, congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the Minnesota State Legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[9]
The Minnesota Constitution requires "that state Senate districts be contiguous, and that Representative districts be nested within Senate districts." State statutes apply contiguity requirements to all congressional and state legislative districts. Furthermore, state statutes stipulate that political subdivisions should not be divided "more than necessary."[9]
Minnesota State Senate District 54
until January 2, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Minnesota State Senate District 54
starting January 3, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2022
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Minnesota State Senate District 54
Incumbent Eric Pratt defeated Alicia Donahue in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 54 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Eric Pratt (R) | 56.6 | 20,632 |
 | Alicia Donahue (D)  | 43.2 | 15,753 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 75 | ||
| Total votes: 36,460 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 54
Alicia Donahue advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 54 on August 9, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Alicia Donahue | 100.0 | 2,556 |
| Total votes: 2,556 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 54
Incumbent Eric Pratt defeated Natalie Barnes in the Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 54 on August 9, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Eric Pratt | 53.7 | 3,447 |
 | Natalie Barnes | 46.3 | 2,972 | |
| Total votes: 6,419 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Minnesota State Senate District 54
Incumbent Karla Bigham defeated Leilani Holmstadt in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 54 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Karla Bigham (D) | 52.9 | 25,530 |
 | Leilani Holmstadt (R) | 47.0 | 22,712 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 60 | ||
| Total votes: 48,302 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Karla Bigham advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 54.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Leilani Holmstadt advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 54.
2018
A special election for the position of Minnesota State Senate District 54 was called for February 12, 2018. A special primary election was called for January 29, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was January 11, 2018.[10]
The seat became vacant on December 15, 2017, following the resignation of Dan Schoen (D). On November 21, 2017, Schoen announced that he would resign from office due to sexual misconduct allegations levied against him by state Rep. Erin Maye Quade (D), former Democratic state House candidate Lindsey Port, and a Minnesota state Senate staffer.[11]
Denny McNamara (R) defeated James Brunsgaard III (R) in the primary election. McNamara faced off against Karla Bigham (DFL) and Emily Mellingen (L) in the general election.[12][13]
Bigham defeated McNamara and Mellingen in the general election, receiving 50.7 percent of the vote to McNamara's 47.1 percent and Mellingen's 2.2 percent.
General election
Special general election for Minnesota State Senate District 54
Incumbent Karla Bigham defeated Denny McNamara and Emily Mellingen in the special general election for Minnesota State Senate District 54 on February 12, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Karla Bigham (D) | 50.7 | 7,343 |
 | Denny McNamara (R) | 47.1 | 6,813 | |
 | Emily Mellingen (L) | 2.2 | 313 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 7 | ||
| Total votes: 14,476 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Special Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 54
Incumbent Karla Bigham advanced from the special Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 54 on January 29, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Karla Bigham | 100.0 | 449 |
| Total votes: 449 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Special Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 54
Denny McNamara defeated James Brunsgaard III in the special Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 54 on January 29, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Denny McNamara | 84.9 | 1,324 |
 | James Brunsgaard III | 15.1 | 236 | |
| Total votes: 1,560 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Minnesota State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 31, 2016. Incumbent Katie Sieben (D) did not seek re-election.
Dan Schoen defeated Leilani Holmstadt in the Minnesota State Senate District 54 general election.[14][15]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 54 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Dan Schoen |
53.22% | 22,162 | |
| Republican | Leilani Holmstadt | 46.78% | 19,480 | |
| Total Votes | 41,642 | |||
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State | ||||
Dan Schoen ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 54 Democratic primary.[16][17]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 54 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Dan Schoen (unopposed) | |
Leilani Holmstadt ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 54 Republican primary.[16][17]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 54 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Leilani Holmstadt (unopposed) | |
2012
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2012
Elections for the Minnesota State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 14, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 5, 2012. Incumbent Katie Sieben (D) defeated Janis Quinlan (R) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.[18][19]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Katie Sieben Incumbent |
63.9% | 26,998 | |
| Republican | Janis Quinlan | 36.1% | 15,256 | |
| Total Votes | 42,254 | |||
Campaign contributions
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From 2000 to 2022, candidates for Minnesota State Senate District 54 raised a total of $916,576.
Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $41,663 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Minnesota State Senate District 54 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2022 | $163,099 | 3 | $54,366 |
| 2020 | $121,747 | 2 | $60,874 |
| 2018 | $96,174 | 2 | $48,087 |
| 2016 | $74,497 | 2 | $37,249 |
| 2012 | $68,617 | 2 | $34,309 |
| 2010 | $46,673 | 2 | $23,337 |
| 2008 | $23,189 | 1 | $23,189 |
| 2006 | $124,959 | 2 | $62,480 |
| 2004 | $4,242 | 1 | $4,242 |
| 2002 | $114,620 | 3 | $38,207 |
| 2000 | $78,759 | 2 | $39,380 |
| Total | $916,576 | 22 | $41,663 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Minnesota.gov, "Minnesota Statute 3.05," accessed February 12, 2021
- ↑ Minnesota.gov, "Minnesota Statute 3.011," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Qualifications," accessed February 10, 2023
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Register to vote," accessed June 27, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, "Constitution of the State of Minnesota," accessed February 12, 2021 (Article 4, Section 4)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, "2020 Minnesota Statutes," accessed February 12, 2021 (Statute 204D.19 (1)-(3))
- ↑ Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, "2020 Minnesota Statutes," accessed February 12, 2021 (Statute 204B.13)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 All About Redistricting, "Minnesota," accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ StarTribune, "Special elections set to replace departed Minnesota lawmakers accused of sexual harassment," accessed December 5, 2017
- ↑ The Hill, "Two Minnesota state lawmakers to resign after sexual misconduct allegations," November 22, 2017
- ↑ Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, "Senate District 54 and House District 23B Special Elections," accessed January 11, 2018
- ↑ Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, "Unofficial Results Monday, January 29, 2018," accessed January 29, 2018
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Primary: Tuesday, August 9, 2016," accessed August 9, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Official 2012 General Election Results," accessed November 12, 2013
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary Election Results," accessed November 12, 2013
