The 2024 election resulted in a shift for the U.S. Senate to be controlled by a Republican majority. However, Minnesota elected Democrat Amy Klobuchar for her fourth term as U.S. senator. Within the Minnesota Legislature, the Minnesota Senate continues to hold a Democratic majority.
On the national level, Republicans currently hold a 53–47 majority with 4 seats being flipped from the previous Democrat majority. “As Congress returns to Washington, we must prepare the Senate to advance [Donald Trump’s] agenda legislatively and ensure that the president-elect can hit the ground running with his appointees confirmed as soon as possible,” Sen. John Thune said in an op-ed for Fox News.
Recently, the Senate Republican Conference voted 29–24 to elect Thune of South Dakota as the new majority leader. According to U.S. News, Thune was seen as the natural choice to assume this position after having a close relationship with Mitch McConnell, the Senate’s longest serving Republican majority leader of 17 years.
The Senate previously held a democratic majority since 2021, resulting in Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York losing his role as majority leader. Schumer was switched to minority leader due to the party’s loss of a chamber majority.
For Minnesota senator, the race was between incumbent Democrat Amy Klobuchar, Republican Royce White, and Independent Rebecca Whiting. Klobuchar won with 56.3% of the votes overall.
Over her three terms in D.C., Klobuchar has garnered respect as an advocate for reproductive rights, veterans, and consumer protections, as stated by The Minnesota Star Tribune. Klobuchar also has a vast reserve of funds for campaigning reaching around six million dollars.
In the Minnesota Senate, Democrats currently hold a 34–33 majority and have since 2023. The Minnesota Senate has recently been working on legislation aligning with the Democrat platform with the Protect Reproductive Options Act and an engrossed bill regarding paid family and medical leave insurance. Post election, the Minnesota Senate will continue to push through its Democratic agenda items. However, there could be pushback with the Minnesota House being tied between Democrats and Republicans (67–67).
Throughout the Minnesota Senate election, voting margins looked strong for a Democratic win and pulled through. On the national level, Minnesota has been able to maintain its status as a blue state and the re-election of Sen. Amy Klobuchar ensures the continuation of a blue agenda for Minnesota and the “delivering results for Minnesotans,” Klobuchar’s campaign spokesman Ben Hill said.
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on Dec. 19, 2024
