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Brian Bakst
St. Paul

2 special elections to fall on a Monday in February

DFL state Sen. Dan Schoen and Republican Rep. Tony Cornish.
DFL state Sen. Dan Schoen and Republican Rep. Tony Cornish.
Elizabeth Flores, Star Tribune via AP 2016 | Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune via AP 2013

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Updated: 4:31 p.m. | Posted: 2:53 p.m.

Special elections to replace two Minnesota lawmakers resigning amid sexual misconduct claims will be held on Feb. 12, notable for the fact it falls on a Monday.

Gov. Mark Dayton said he chose the date because it won't conflict with precinct caucuses the Tuesday before nor will it interfere with a previously scheduled school board election in one of the districts the day after.

Voters near Mankato will pick a House replacement to seven-term Republican state Rep. Tony Cornish. His resignation was effective last week.

People in a suburban district south of St. Paul will replace first-term DFL Sen. Dan Schoen. He has delivered a letter saying he will resign as of Dec. 15.

Both men are stepping down after multiple women alleged mistreatment by the legislators. Cornish has apologized for his conduct while disputing some claims against him; Schoen has said the allegations against him were the result of misunderstandings but he said he would no longer be effective if he remained in the Legislature.

Cornish's successor will serve out the term that expires after the 2018 election. The Schoen replacement has three years remaining.

Monday elections are rare, but Dayton says the short turnaround left him with few good options because setting it earlier would have pushed some of the proceedings into the holiday season. He was required to call the election within a certain window, and the next session begins on Feb. 20.

The candidate filing period will run from Jan. 8-11.

Multiple candidates from both parties could run for the two seats. Any primary election to pick nominees will be held on Jan. 29.