Everything you need to know about ranked-choice voting in one spot. Click to learn more!

Minnesota State Senate District 42

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search

Minnesota State Senate District 42
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 3, 2023

Minnesota State Senate District 42 is represented by Bonnie Westlin (D).

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

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

To be eligible to run for the Minnesota State Senate, a candidate must:[3]

  • 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[4]
SalaryPer diem
$51,750/yearFor senators: $86/day. For representatives: $66/day.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

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.[5][6]

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.[6][7]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Minnesota Cons. Art. 4, § 4 and Minnesota Stat. § 204D.19


District map

Redistricting

2020 redistricting cycle

See also: Redistricting in Minnesota after the 2020 census

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.

On June 2, 2022, Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed legislation containing adjustments to Senate Districts 15 and 16 as well as to House Districts 15, 16, and 58.[8] The changes were effective for the 2022 elections. On May 24, 2023, Walz signed a state budget bill that included modifications to Senate Districts 9, 12, 17, and 24.[9][10][11] The changes were effective for the 2024 elections.

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.[12]

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."[12]

Minnesota State Senate District 42
before 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Minnesota State Senate District 42
after 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.


Elections

2022

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Minnesota State Senate District 42

Bonnie Westlin defeated Paul Hillen in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 42 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bonnie Westlin
Bonnie Westlin (D) Candidate Connection
 
57.7
 
23,752
Image of Paul Hillen
Paul Hillen (R) Candidate Connection
 
42.3
 
17,395
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
19

Total votes: 41,166
Candidate Connection = 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. Bonnie Westlin advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 42.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Paul Hillen advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 42.

2020

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Minnesota State Senate District 42

Incumbent Jason Isaacson defeated Ben Schwanke in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 42 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jason Isaacson
Jason Isaacson (D) Candidate Connection
 
58.7
 
29,647
Image of Ben Schwanke
Ben Schwanke (R) Candidate Connection
 
41.1
 
20,771
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
78

Total votes: 50,496
Candidate Connection = 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 Jason Isaacson advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 42.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Ben Schwanke advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 42.

Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!

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 Bev Scalze (D) did not seek re-election.

Jason Isaacson defeated Candy Sina in the Minnesota State Senate District 42 general election.[13][14]

Minnesota State Senate, District 42 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Jason Isaacson 54.30% 24,962
     Republican Candy Sina 45.70% 21,008
Total Votes 45,970
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State


Jason Isaacson ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 42 Democratic primary.[15][16]

Minnesota State Senate, District 42 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Jason Isaacson  (unopposed)


Candy Sina ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 42 Republican primary.[15][16]

Minnesota State Senate, District 42 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Candy Sina  (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. Bev Scalze (D) defeated April King (R) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.[17][18]

Minnesota State Senate, District 42, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBev Scalze 55.7% 25,607
     Republican April King 44.3% 20,400
Total Votes 46,007

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2022, candidates for Minnesota State Senate District 42 raised a total of $838,190. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $39,914 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Minnesota State Senate District 42
Year Amount Candidates Average
2022 $186,015 2 $93,008
2020 $142,198 2 $71,099
2016 $35,673 2 $17,837
2012 $86,412 2 $43,206
2010 $95,366 2 $47,683
2008 $4,045 1 $4,045
2006 $102,046 2 $51,023
2004 $4,220 1 $4,220
2002 $71,799 5 $14,360
2000 $110,416 2 $55,208
Total $838,190 21 $39,914


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Minnesota.gov, "Minnesota Statute 3.05," accessed February 12, 2021
  2. Minnesota.gov, "Minnesota Statute 3.011," accessed November 1, 2021
  3. Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Qualifications," accessed May 22, 2025
  4. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  5. Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, "Constitution of the State of Minnesota," accessed February 12, 2021 (Article 4, Section 4)
  6. 6.0 6.1 Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, "2020 Minnesota Statutes," accessed February 12, 2021 (Statute 204D.19 (1)-(3))
  7. Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, "2020 Minnesota Statutes," accessed February 12, 2021 (Statute 204B.13)
  8. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 2022change
  9. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named kttc
  10. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 2023change
  11. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named change2
  12. 12.0 12.1 All About Redistricting, "Minnesota," accessed May 4, 2015
  13. Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
  14. Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
  15. 15.0 15.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
  16. 16.0 16.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Primary: Tuesday, August 9, 2016," accessed August 9, 2016
  17. Minnesota Secretary of State, "Official 2012 General Election Results," accessed November 12, 2013
  18. Minnesota Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary Election Results," accessed November 12, 2013


Current members of the Minnesota State Senate
Leadership
Senate President:Bobby Champion
Majority Leader:Erin Murphy
Minority Leader:Mark Johnson
Senators
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
Rob Kupec (D)
District 5
Paul Utke (R)
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
Jeff Howe (R)
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
Vacant
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
Susan Pha (D)
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
Ann Rest (D)
District 44
Tou Xiong (D)
District 45
District 46
Ron Latz (D)
District 47
Vacant
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
District 56
District 57
District 58
District 59
District 60
District 61
District 62
District 63
District 64
District 65
District 66
District 67
Democratic Party (33)
Republican Party (32)
Vacancies (2)