Minnesota state senator convicted of felony burglary, will be ousted, causing state democrats to lose their 1 seat majority.
Mitchell’s arrest set off a firestorm in the Minnesota Capitol, particularly in the Senate where Democrats hold a one-seat, 34-33 majority. Mitchell’s own vote has been the tie-breaker for multiple Democratic-Farmer-Labor-backed bills, especially last year. Senate Republicans have tried to oust her and prevent her from casting her crucial vote multiple times since her arrest.
The first-term senator has resisted calls to resign from her own party, including then Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair Ken Martin and Gov. Tim Walz. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy expelled Mitchell from caucus meetings and stripped her of her committee assignments.
https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/sen-nicole-mitchells-felony-burglary-trial-begins-monday-heres-what-you-need-know
Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls, said in a statement Friday that it's "embarrassing" legislation was passed with Mitchell's vote the past two legislative sessions.
“The convictions in the burglary trial of Nicole Mitchell prove that her actions were illegal and wrong," Rasmusson said. "Felony burglary and traumatizing an elderly relative are severe violations of the Senate’s ethical standards. It is an embarrassment that so many pieces of legislation were passed in the last two sessions with Sen. Mitchell as the deciding vote. Sen. Mitchell should immediately resign, and if she fails to do so, Senate Democrats should join Republicans in voting to expel Sen. Mitchell at the earliest opportunity.”
Should Mitchell resign or be expelled from the Senate, her seat would be left empty and the Senate would revert to a 33-33 tie. Gov. Tim Walz would then call a special election to fill her seat.
Mitchell, the first-term Senator, won district 47 in Woodbury with 58% of the vote in 2022, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/minnesota/minnesota-lawmakers-react-to-sen-nicole-mitchells-verdict