Senate District 6

She’s also the only candidate in the race to have donations from lobbyists. At least seven have donated a total of over $7,000 to Keri Heintzeman.

Candidates include Steve Cotariu, Josh Gazelka, Keri Heintzeman, John Howe, Doug Kern, Angel Zierden and Matthew Zinda. An eighth candidate, Jennifer Carnahan, did not attend, saying she was sick.

Republican Keri Heintzeman and DFLer Denise Slipy are running to represent the Brainerd lakes area, southeastern Cass County, and Grand Rapids and southwestern Itasca County.

Plus: With the entire staff that administers the Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program laid off, state advocates are concerned what that could mean for MN utility payers; and the Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Republican candidate forum April 8 ahead of the special Senate District 6 primary election.

Former State Sen. Justin Eichorn resigned from the Senate on March 20. He had been arrested in Bloomington three days earlier for soliciting a minor for prostitution.

Plus: The Minnesota DNR set a five-fish bag limit for Upper Red Lake walleye this summer; and a state watchdog says bipartisan fraud control efforts at the Minnesota Capitol appear promising.

There are now eight GOP candidates from which voters will choose in the April 15, 2025, special primary election to fill the seat left by Justin Eichorn's resignation.

The local DFL organizing unit endorsed its own chair, Denise Slipy, at its convention Sunday, March 30, 2025 — two days before the special election filing window closes.

Samuel Patrick Grigsby of Grand Rapids entered the Senate District 6 race, the fourth DFLer to do so. Two days later, the local party endorsed another candidate.

Denise Slipy joins a widening pool of candidates filing ahead of the April 15 special primary. The election comes in the wake of Justin Eichorn's arrest and resignation.