Pawlenty calls special election to fill Day's seat

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has called a special election next month to fill a soon-to-be vacant seat in the Minnesota Senate.

The special election on January 26th will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Republican state Sen. Dick Day of Owatonna.

Day announced last week that he was giving up his seat after 19 years to lobby full time for a gambling expansion proposal to allow slot machines at two Minnesota horse racing tracks. He'll head an organization called Racino Now.

A special election primary, if needed, would be January 12th. The candidate filing period runs from December 23rd through December 29th.

Senate District 26 includes Steele County and parts of Rice and Waseca counties.

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