Minnesota's fifty-first state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Jim Carlson.

Minnesota state senators represent an average of 79,163 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 73,425 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 the first day of biennial (2-year) session.

Qualifications

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

• Eligible to vote in Minnesota
• Have not filed for more than one office for the upcoming primary or general election
• At least 21 years old
• A resident of Minnesota for a least one year
• A resident of the legislative district for at least 6 months before the general election date

Salaries

Vacancies

In Minnesota, all vacancies in the senate must be filled by a special election. It is up to the appropriate elections authorities to schedule an election as soon as possible. The election must be held during the next general election if there is more than 150 days left in the term. If the senate is in session, a special election must be called by the governor no later than 35 days after the vacancy happened. If a vacancy happens when the senate is out of session and less than 150 days are left in the term, a special election must called by the Governor as soon as possible. This is to allow the winner of the election to be sworn in when the senate reconvenes.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Minnesota State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for August 11, 2020. The filing deadline is June 2, 2020.

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 Jim Carlson defeated Victor Lake in the Minnesota State Senate District 51 general election.

Minnesota State Senate, District 51 General Election, 2016

Incumbent Jim Carlson ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 51 Democratic primary.
Victor Lake ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 51 Republican primary.

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. Jim Carlson (D) defeated Ted Daley (R) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.

Minnesota State Senate, District 51, General Election, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Minnesota State Senate District 51 raised a total of $641,828. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $45,845 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Minnesota State Senate District 51