Klobuchar's Senate exit opens Minnesota appointment fight as Democrats take majority

Senator Amy Klobuchar is set to become Minnesota's governor in January, leaving a U.S. Senate seat that state law fills by gubernatorial appointment ¹. Klobuchar defeated Republican state House Speaker Lisa Demuth with about 55 percent of the vote to Demuth's 42 percent ¹.

The timing of her resignation decides who makes the pick. Klobuchar will be sworn in as governor on January 4, and the new Senate term starts January 3 ¹. If she resigns close to her swearing-in, she could name her own successor; if she resigns earlier, outgoing Governor Tim Walz would choose ¹.

On tapeFOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul · Nov 4

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Klobuchar has suggested she could be the one to name her Senate successor after taking office as governor ¹. Hamline University professor of political science and legal studies David Schultz told Newsweek she may instead leave the appointment to Walz while privately signaling her preferred candidate, which could help avoid criticism that she was using her promotion to personally select her own replacement ¹.

Schultz said Klobuchar would likely consider candidates who share her ideology and have high chances of reelection ¹.

From Channel GOPAmy Klobuchar after her Minnesota governor winAmy Klobuchar · 137 plays · captioned, with the source named

Klobuchar is going to have to find somebody who not only meets other criteria but … can that person win in 2027?

Topping the list of potential Democratic candidates is U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison of Minnesota's District 3, who won reelection against Republican Tyler Bass with 64 percent of the vote to Bass's 35.9 percent ¹. Schultz said he's heard Morrison's name mentioned as a potential replacement ¹.

Rumor is that her and Klobuchar are very close, and that’s a name that’s been circulating off and on

Another possibility is Democrat Angie Craig, who lost the primary election to Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan in the race for Minnesota's open Senate seat; Flanagan won the nomination by 20 percentage points ¹. Schultz said Craig is ideologically much closer to Klobuchar and also has congressional experience ¹.

On tapeFOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul · Nov 4

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Democratic Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, who just won reelection against Republican Tad Jude with 54.7 percent of the vote to Jude's 41.8 percent, has also been floated ¹. Schultz said he doubted Klobuchar would choose a man as her replacement, as there are currently two women in the Senate from Minnesota — Klobuchar and Tina Smith, who is retiring at the end of her term ¹. Flanagan won the election to fill Smith's soon-to-be empty seat ¹.

Schultz said two Democrats he doesn't expect to be considered are U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar and Walz ¹. He said Klobuchar is a centrist and, especially after Flanagan got elected, is not inclined to pick someone identified with the more progressive or liberal wing of the party, which would rule out Omar, and he doubts Walz would be an option given his declined approval ratings ¹.

Since Klobuchar last won her Senate election campaign in 2024, her six-year term ends at the end of 2030 ¹. The person selected to fill her Senate seat will serve on an interim basis until the next election, which will occur in November 2027 ¹.

That matters because Democrats won Senate control in Tuesday's midterms, and the appointment will be watched as a test of how the party's centrist and progressive wings share power ². Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso said there are "clear lessons to be learned from the results," including that voters' "priorities must always come first" ².

The Record

1. Nov 3, 2026Klobuchar defeated Republican Lisa Demuth with about 55 percent to 42 percent in Minnesota's gubernatorial election ¹.
2. Nov 5, 2026David Schultz told Newsweek that Klobuchar may leave the Senate appointment to Governor Tim Walz while privately signaling her preferred candidate ¹.
3. Nov 1, 2027The person appointed to the Senate seat will serve on an interim basis until the next election in November 2027 ¹.
4. Dec 31, 2030Klobuchar's six-year Senate term, won in 2024, ends at the end of 2030 ¹.

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<h2>Klobuchar&#39;s Senate exit opens Minnesota appointment fight as Democrats take majority</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Capitol Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/klobuchar-s-senate-exit-opens-minnesota-appointment-fight-as-democrats-take-majority">The GOP Files</a> on Thursday, November 5, 2026.</em></p> <p>Senator Amy Klobuchar is set to become Minnesota&#39;s governor in January, leaving a U.S. Senate seat that state law fills by gubernatorial appointment . Klobuchar defeated Republican state House Speaker Lisa Demuth with about 55 percent of the vote to Demuth&#39;s 42 percent .</p> <p>The timing of her resignation decides who makes the pick. Klobuchar will be sworn in as governor on January 4, and the new Senate term starts January 3 . If she resigns close to her swearing-in, she could name her own successor; if she resigns earlier, outgoing Governor Tim Walz would choose .</p> <p>Klobuchar has suggested she could be the one to name her Senate successor after taking office as governor . Hamline University professor of political science and legal studies David Schultz told Newsweek she may instead leave the appointment to Walz while privately signaling her preferred candidate, which could help avoid criticism that she was using her promotion to personally select her own replacement .</p> <p>Schultz said Klobuchar would likely consider candidates who share her ideology and have high chances of reelection .</p> <blockquote><p>Klobuchar is going to have to find somebody who not only meets other criteria but … can that person win in 2027?</p><p>&mdash; David Schultz, professor of political science and legal studies, Hamline University</p></blockquote> <p>Topping the list of potential Democratic candidates is U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison of Minnesota&#39;s District 3, who won reelection against Republican Tyler Bass with 64 percent of the vote to Bass&#39;s 35.9 percent . Schultz said he&#39;s heard Morrison&#39;s name mentioned as a potential replacement .</p> <blockquote><p>Rumor is that her and Klobuchar are very close, and that’s a name that’s been circulating off and on</p><p>&mdash; David Schultz, professor of political science and legal studies, Hamline University</p></blockquote> <p>Another possibility is Democrat Angie Craig, who lost the primary election to Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan in the race for Minnesota&#39;s open Senate seat; Flanagan won the nomination by 20 percentage points . Schultz said Craig is ideologically much closer to Klobuchar and also has congressional experience .</p> <p>Democratic Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, who just won reelection against Republican Tad Jude with 54.7 percent of the vote to Jude&#39;s 41.8 percent, has also been floated . Schultz said he doubted Klobuchar would choose a man as her replacement, as there are currently two women in the Senate from Minnesota — Klobuchar and Tina Smith, who is retiring at the end of her term . Flanagan won the election to fill Smith&#39;s soon-to-be empty seat .</p> <p>Schultz said two Democrats he doesn&#39;t expect to be considered are U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar and Walz . He said Klobuchar is a centrist and, especially after Flanagan got elected, is not inclined to pick someone identified with the more progressive or liberal wing of the party, which would rule out Omar, and he doubts Walz would be an option given his declined approval ratings .</p> <p>Since Klobuchar last won her Senate election campaign in 2024, her six-year term ends at the end of 2030 . The person selected to fill her Senate seat will serve on an interim basis until the next election, which will occur in November 2027 .</p> <p>That matters because Democrats won Senate control in Tuesday&#39;s midterms, and the appointment will be watched as a test of how the party&#39;s centrist and progressive wings share power . Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso said there are &quot;clear lessons to be learned from the results,&quot; including that voters&#39; &quot;priorities must always come first&quot; .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/klobuchar-s-senate-exit-opens-minnesota-appointment-fight-as-democrats-take-majority">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/klobuchar-s-senate-exit-opens-minnesota-appointment-fight-as-democrats-take-majority.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. Newsweek, “Amy Klobuchar's Senate Exit: List of Democrats Most Likely to Replace Her” (2026-11-05). newsweek.com/amy-klobuchar-exits-senate-list-of-democrats-mo
2. CBS News, “Democrats win Senate control — live updates” (2026-11-05). cbsnews.com/live-updates/senate-election-results-2026/

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