Minnesota State Senate District 6 special election, 2025

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Minnesota 2025 elections

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Keri Heintzeman (R) defeated Denise Slipy (D) in the special election for District 6 of the Minnesota Senate on April 29, 2025, winning 60% of the vote to Slipy's 40%.^[1] The previous incumbent, Justin Eichorn (R), resigned on March 20, 2025, after his arrest for allegedly attempting to solicit a minor for sex.^[2]

In the 2022 Senate elections, the chamber changed from a one-seat Republican majority to a one-seat Democratic majority. The District 6 vacancy created a temporary 34-32 Democratic majority. Heintzeman's victory returned the chamber to a 34-33 Democratic majority.

The district switched to Republican control in 2022, when Eichorn, who previously represented District 5, won the seat following redistricting and long-time incumbent David Tomassoni's (D) death.^[3] Tomassoni represented the district from 2001 to 2022. In the 2022 general election, Eichorn defeated Steve Samuelson (D) 63.5%-36.4%. In 2020, Tomassoni defeated John Moren (R) 57%- 42.8%.

Heintzeman was the director of President Donald Trump's (R) 2024 campaign in Minnesota's 8th Congressional District.^[4] Her husband Josh Heintzeman (R) represented District 6B. Together, they ran a small business called Up Country Log and operated rental properties.^[5] Keri Heintzeman said, "I believe this district is blood red and loves President Trump and deserves a senator that will represent those values."^[4]

Heintzeman said, "I am running for the Minnesota Senate to champion the values we hold dear — fiscal responsibility, personal freedom and government transparency. Together, we can create an environment where families thrive, businesses grow, and our children have a bright and safe future."^[5] Her campaign website also stated, "As a pro-life advocate, she will defend the rights of the unborn and work to promote a culture that respects life at all stages."^[6]

Slipy was an environmental health and safety professional, OSHA instructor, and first responder at the time of the election.^[7] Slipy said she considered running for District 6B of the Minnesota House in 2026, but the Senate vacancy changed her path: "Who knew that this was going to happen, right? So it kind of expedited my run."^[8]

Slipy said, "I just want fair labor equity, equity for pay and to build our community back. Brainerd used to be the place to go for jobs. We had Potlatch, we had the railroad, and a lot of those good jobs left here, and now we're resort country, which is fantastic because we do have the most beautiful area, in my opinion, but, yeah, you can't afford to work in the county that you live."^[8] Her campaign website listed the environment, the economy, healthcare, education, and mining as key issues.^[9]

Heading into the special election, Minnesota had a divided government due to the 67-67 tie formed in the state House by the 2024 elections. Democrats gained control of the Senate in 2022 for the first time since 2012, and the governor of Minnesota was Tim Walz (D).

Candidates and election results

General election

Special general election for Minnesota State Senate District 6

Keri Heintzeman defeated Denise Slipy in the special general election for Minnesota State Senate District 6 on April 29, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Keri Heintzeman (R)	60.3	12,752
	Submit photo	Denise Slipy (D)	39.6	8,376
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	30

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 21,158
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Democratic primary election

Special Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 6

Denise Slipy advanced from the special Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 6 on April 15, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Denise Slipy	100.0	1,195

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,195
= 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.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Special Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 6

The following candidates ran in the special Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 6 on April 15, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Keri Heintzeman	46.8	3,404
	Submit photo	John Howe	15.5	1,127
	Submit photo	Jennifer Carnahan	11.2	812
	Submit photo	Josh Gazelka	9.3	679
	Submit photo	Steve Cotariu	6.3	458
	Submit photo	Angela Zierden	5.6	407
	Submit photo	Doug Kern	5.0	363
	Submit photo	Matthew Zinda	0.4	28

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,278
= 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.
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Comparison to previous election

The total turnout in 2025 was 51% of the turnout in the 2022 election. The number of Democratic votes was 56% of the number received in 2022. The number of Republican votes was 49% of the number received in 2022. The margin of victory (MOV) in the special election was 4,375 votes, which was closer than the 2022 MOV (11,173).

The following chart compares the results and total votes between the November 8, 2022, regular election for this seat and the 2025 special election.

Voting information

What was the voter registration deadline?

In-person: April 29, 2025
By mail: Received by April 8, 2025
Online: April 8, 2025

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

In-person: April 28, 2025
By mail: Received by April 28, 2025
Online: April 28, 2025

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

In-person: April 29, 2025
By mail: Received by April 29, 2025

Was early voting available to all voters? Yes

What were the early voting start and end dates? April 23-April 28, 2025

Were all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required? No

When were polls open on Election Day? 7:00AM - 8:00PM

Candidate comparison

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Denise Slipy

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Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography: Slipy worked as an environmental health and safety professional, OSHA instructor, reserve police officer, and volunteer firefighter.

Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Slipy's campaign website stated, "It is imperative that we take immediate and sustained action to protect and preserve the state's environment for current and future generations."

Slipy said, "I am an activist. ... I want to be for the whole community, not just a party. I'm a people person, not a party, person."

Slipy's campaign website stated, "By investing in infrastructure, fostering innovation, and supporting sustainable practices we can build a vibrant, resilient economy in rural Minnesota that benefits all residents."

Show sources

Sources: Denise Slipy 2025 campaign website, "What I'll Fight For," accessed April 17, 2025; Brainerd Dispatch, "DFLer Slipy joins race for Senate District 6 seat," March 28, 2025; Denise Slipy 2025 campaign website, "Meet Denise," accessed April 17, 2025

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Minnesota State Senate District 6 in 2025.

Keri Heintzeman

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography: Heintzeman worked as a Republican political organizer, business owner, and district director of Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.

Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Heintzeman said, "I am running for the Minnesota Senate to champion the values we hold dear — fiscal responsibility, personal freedom and government transparency."

Heintzeman's campaign website stated, "Keri will fight against radical gun control proposals and ensure your Second Amendment rights are never up for negotiation."

Heintzeman's campaign website stated, "Keri is a fierce advocate for parental rights, believing that families should have a decisive voice in their children's education, health, and well-being."

Show sources

Sources: KAXE, "Keri Heintzeman, wife of MN House rep, will run for vacant Eichorn seat," March 21, 2025; Keri Heintzeman 2025 campaign website, "Home," accessed April 17, 2025; KAXE, "Keri Heintzeman, wife of MN House rep, will run for vacant Eichorn seat," March 21, 2025

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Minnesota State Senate District 6 in 2025.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

No candidate in this race completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign ads

This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements per candidate released in this race, as well as links to candidates' YouTube, Vimeo, and/or Facebook video pages. If you are aware of other links that should be included, please email us.

Denise Slipy

Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for Denise Slipy while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, please email us.

Keri Heintzeman

Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for Keri Heintzeman while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, please email us.

Election competitiveness

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

We provide results for polls from a wide variety of sources, including media outlets, social media, campaigns, and aggregation websites, when available. No polls were available for this election. To notify us of polls published in this election, please email us.

Endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

Click the links below to see official endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites for any candidates that make that information available. If you are aware of a website that should be included, please email us.

Denise Slipy

Election spending

Campaign finance

The tables below contain data from financial reports submitted to state agencies. The data is gathered and made available by Transparency USA. Transparency USA tracks loans separately from total contributions. View each candidate’s loan totals, if any, by clicking "View More" in the table below and learn more about this data here.

Satellite spending

Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.^[10]^[11]^[12]

If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.

District analysis

District map

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2022, candidates for Minnesota State Senate District 6 raised a total of $865,389. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $45,547 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Minnesota State Senate District 6
Year	Amount	Candidates	Average
2022	$77,575	2	$38,788
2020	$153,224	2	$76,612
2016	$162,039	2	$81,020
2012	$69,386	2	$34,693
2010	$65,531	2	$32,766
2008	$39,648	1	$39,648
2006	$77,531	2	$38,766
2004	$38,213	1	$38,213
2002	$115,785	3	$38,595
2000	$66,457	2	$33,229
Total	$865,389	19	$45,547

Historical party control

Democrats won a 34-33 majority in the Minnesota State Senate in 2022, gaining control of the chamber for the first time since 2012.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Minnesota Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Minnesota State Senate election results: 1992-2022

Party	92	96	00	02	06	10	12	16	20	22
Democrats	45	42	39	35	44	30	39	33	31	34
Republicans	22	25	27	31	23	37	28	34	34	33
Other	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	2	0

Trifecta history

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Minnesota was under the following types of trifecta control:

Democratic trifecta: 2013-2014, 2023
Republican trifecta: None
Divided government: 1992-2012, 2015-2022

Minnesota Party Control: 1992-2024
Four years of Democratic trifectas • No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
Governor	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	I	I	I	I	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Senate	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D
House	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	R	R	D	D	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D

Election context

Ballot access requirements

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Minnesota

For major party candidates

A major party candidate seeking placement on the primary ballot must file an affidavit of candidacy. The affidavit must state the following, regardless of the office being sought:^[13]^[14]

that the candidate is an eligible voter
that the candidate has no other affidavit on file as a candidate for any other office at the same primary or next ensuing general election
that the candidate is 21 years old, or will be at the time he or she assumes office, and that the candidate will maintain a residence in the district in which he or she is seeking election for 30 days prior to the general election
that the candidate's name as written on the affidavit for ballot designation is the candidate's true name or the name by which he or she is commonly known in the community

The candidate must also include his or her address and telephone number. The candidate must indicate on the affidavit that he or she has either participated in the party's most recent precinct caucus or intends to vote for a majority of the party's candidates at the next ensuing general election. The affidavit includes office-specific information, as well.^[13]^[14]

In addition the affidavit of candidacy, a major party candidate must either pay a filing fee or submit a petition in lieu of paying the filing fee. Filing fees vary according to the office being sought and are as follows:^[14]^[15]^[16]

Filing fees
Office	Filing fee
Governor, attorney general, auditor, secretary of state or United States Representative	$300
United States Senator	$400
State legislature	$100

If a candidate elects to submit a petition in lieu of paying the filing fee, the petition must meet the following signature requirements:^[14]^[15]

Signature requirements for petitions in lieu of filing fees
Office	Required signatures
Governor, attorney general, auditor, secretary of state or United States Senator	2,000
United States Representative	1,000
State legislature	500

Candidates must file between the 84th day preceding the primary election and the 70th day preceding the primary. Candidates for federal office must file with the Minnesota Secretary of State. A candidate for state-level office may file with the county auditor of his or her county of residence or the Minnesota Secretary of State.^[14]^[17]

For minor party and independent candidates

A minor party or independent candidate seeking placement on the general election ballot must file an affidavit of candidacy meeting the same specifications as that filed by a major party candidate. Instead of including the name of his or her political party, an independent candidate may designate a non-recognized party or political principle, provided that the designation is made in three words or less and does not suggest similarity with an existing recognized party.^[13]^[18]

A minor party or independent candidate must also submit a nominating petition. For federal or statewide offices, signatures must equal either 1 percent of the total number of individuals who voted in the state at the last preceding state general election, or 2,000, whichever is less. For congressional office, signatures must equal either 5 percent of the total number of individuals who voted in the district at the last preceding state general election, or 1,000, whichever is less. For state legislative office, signatures must equal either 10 percent of the total number of individuals who voted in the legislative district at the last preceding state general election, or 500, whichever is less.^[18]^[19]^[20]

In addition to the affidavit of candidacy and nominating petition, a minor party or independent candidate is liable for the same filing fee as a major party candidate. A nominating petition may be used in lieu of paying the filing fee, but the petition must include a prominent statement informing signers that the petition will be used in this way.^[15]^[18]

Candidates must file between the 84th day preceding the primary election and the 70th day preceding the primary. Candidates for federal office must file with the Minnesota Secretary of State. A candidate for state-level office may file with the county auditor of his or her county of residence or the Minnesota Secretary of State.^[17]^[18]

For write-in candidates

A write-in candidate must file a written request in order to have his or her votes tallied. Such requests must be filed no later than the seventh day before the general election. Write-in candidates for federal office must submit their requests to the Minnesota Secretary of State. A write-in candidate for state-level office may submit the request to the county auditor of his or her county of residence or the Minnesota Secretary of State.^[21]^[17]