Ewald at the Capitol: End of Session

END OF SESSION

The legislature finished up the 2026 session Sunday night, passing bills right up to the midnight deadline. Several omnibus bills cleared both chambers in rapid succession, with the inclusion of some high-profile provisions like funding for Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), property tax relief, and a $1.2 billion capital investment package.

Despite the agreements reached, the overall process drew some bipartisan frustration, with members criticizing the closed-door negotiations by leadership that shaped the final deal. Calls for greater transparency are likely to carry over into the next biennium, even as leadership defended the session’s approach and pointed to efforts to pass more single-subject bills.

Going into this session, it was anticipated that little would get done due to the near-even partisan split in the legislature. This dynamic was often challenging, but leadership from both parties described it as an impetus for bipartisan collaboration. Despite a year of tension and tragedy in the state, legislators still found a way to overcome deep divisions and work together in what ended up being a productive session.

Although the work finished Sunday night, the session didn’t officially adjourn until Monday, May 18. The final day saw retirement speeches from 42 legislators who are not seeking reelection to their current office. The 2027 legislative session begins January 12, 2027.

RETIREMENTS

A record number of legislators are retiring this year. A total of 43 members, 20% of the legislature, have announced their retirement or plans to run for another office.

Some retirees have served in the legislature for decades. Sen. Warren Limmer (R, Maple Grove), the longest-serving Republican, announced he will retire after 38 years in office. Senators Ann Rest (DFL, New Hope) and Sandy Pappas (DFL, St. Paul) are also retiring after more than 40 years. They all leave behind a stellar record of public service and dedication to the people of Minnesota. Their wisdom and leadership will be sorely missed at the Capitol.

Retirements

·      Sen. Ann Rest (DFL, Dist 43) – 42 years

·      Sen. Sandy Pappas (DFL, Dist 65) – 41 years

·      Sen. Warren Limmer (R, Dist 37) – 38 years

·      Sen. Carla Nelson (R, Dist 24) – 18 years

·      Sen. Steve Drazkowski (R, Dist 20) – 18 years

·      Rep. Paul Torkelson (R, Dist 15B) – 18 years

·      Sen. Jim Carlson (DFL, Dist 52) – 17 years

·      Sen. Gary Dahms (R, Dist 15) – 16 years

·      Rep. Chris Swedzinski (R, Dist 15A) – 16 years

·      Rep. Tim O’Driscoll (R, Dist 13B) – 16 years

·      Sen. Jeremy Miller (R, Dist 26) – 16 years

·      Rep. Joe Schomacker (R, Dist 21A) – 16 years

·      Sen. Bill Weber (R, 21) – Dist 14 years

·      Sen. Jeff Howe (R, 13) – Dist 14 years

·      Rep. Ron Kresha (R, Dist 10A) – 14 years

·      Sen. Melissa Wiklund (DFL, Dist 51) – 14 years

·      Sen. Rich Draheim (R, Dist 22) – 10 years

·      Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (DFL, Dist 49) – 10 years

·      Rep. Erin Koegel (DFL, Dist 39A) – 10 years

·      Rep. Kristin Robbins (R, Dist 37A) – 8 years

·      Sen. Tou Xiong (DFL, Dist 44) – 8 years

·      Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL, Dist 40A) – 8 years

·      Rep. Paul Novotny (R, Dist 30B) – 8 years

·      Rep. Sandra Feist (DFL, Dist 39B) – 6 years

·      Rep. Patti Anderson (R, Dist 33A) – 4 years

Running for Other Office

·      Rep. Lisa Demuth (R, Dist 13A) – Governor

·      Rep. Peggy Bennett (R, Dist 23A) – Governor

·      Rep. Kaela Berg (DFL, Dist 55B) – CD2

·      Sen. Matt Klein (DFL, Dist 50) – CD2

·      Sen. Eric Pratt (R, Dist 54) – CD2

·      Rep. Heather Keeler (DFL, Dist 4A) – CD7

·      Rep. Tom Dippel (R, Dist 41B) – Senate

·      Rep. Ben Bakeberg (R, Dist 54B) – Senate

·      Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL, Dist 43B) – Senate

·      Rep. Steve Jacob (R, Dist 20B) – Senate

·      Rep. Bernie Perryman (R, Dist 14A) – Senate

·      Rep. Liz Reyer (DFL, Dist 52A) – Senate

·      Rep. Mike Wiener (R, Dist 5B) – Senate

·      Rep. Dan Wolgamott (DFL, Dist 14B) – State Auditor

·      Rep. Elliott Engen (R, Dist 36A) – State Auditor

·      Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL, Dist 43A) – Hennepin County Attorney

·      Rep. Maria Isa Perez-Vega (DFL, Dist 65B) – Ramsey County Commissioner, District 5

ELECTION YEAR

Now that the legislative session is over, everyone is shifting into campaign mode. Candidate filing opened on Tuesday this week. With statewide offices and all 201 legislative seats on the ballot this November, this election cycle will be incredibly consequential for the future of the state. With the House tied 67-67 and the Democrats holding a one seat majority in the Senate, even a single seat could shift control — which means that a relatively small number of races will determine the direction of state policy for the next biennium.

Democrats will run on issues that stalled out at the legislature this year, like a ban on semiautomatic firearms and restrictions to federal immigration enforcement in response to Operation Metro Surge. Affordability and health care will also be high-profile talking points.

Republicans will run on accomplishments that passed this year due to their shared control of the House, such as creation of the Office of the Inspector General, the reduction in vehicle tab fees, and a broader focus on fraud prevention.

Some Races to Watch:

• Metro Suburbs: Several races decided by 1–2 points in 2024 remain top targets for both parties.

• Winona (House District 26A): A southeastern district that flipped from Democratic to Republican last cycle.

• Iron Range:

  • House District 7B: Flipped from Democratic to Republican last cycle.

  • Senate District 3: Currently held by Democrats, but was decided by only a few hundred votes in 2024.

• South-central (House District 18A): A closely divided district in the Mankato area.

• Senate battlegrounds: Rochester, Blaine, Chaska, Stillwater and Maple Grove.

APRIL REVENUE UPDATE

The April 2026 Monthly Revenue Review shows that Minnesota collected more tax revenue than expected during the month of April. Net general fund revenues totaled about $4.27 billion, which was $230 million (or 5.7%) higher than state officials had forecasted. The stronger-than-expected revenue was mainly driven by higher collections from individual income taxes, sales taxes, and other miscellaneous revenues. They emphasized that the numbers are preliminary and may change as more data become available.

Officials said the improved outlook was partly due to stronger-than-expected revenues, though they warned there is still uncertainty because of inflation, economic conditions, and possible federal policy changes.