| Election Name: | District 35 special election, 2016 |
| Country: | Minnesota |
| Flag Year: | 1983 |
| Type: | by-election |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | Minnesota Senate election, 2012 |
| Previous Year: | 2012 |
| Next Election: | Minnesota Senate election, 2016 |
| Next Year: | November 2016 |
| Seats For Election: | The District 35 seat in the Minnesota Senate |
| Image1: | 100px |
| Nominee1: | Jim Abeler |
| Party1: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| Popular Vote1: | 3,237 |
| Percentage1: | 73.69% |
| Party2: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| Popular Vote2: | 947 |
| Percentage2: | 21.56% |
| Map Size: | 200px |
| Senator | |
| Before Election: | Branden Petersen |
| Before Party: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| After Election: | Jim Abeler |
| After Party: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
A special election was held in the U.S. state of Minnesota on February 9, 2016, to elect a new senator for District 35 in the Minnesota Senate, caused by the resignation of Senator Branden Petersen, effective on October 31, 2015. A primary election was held on January 12, 2016, to nominate a Republican Party of Minnesota candidate. Former state representative Jim Abeler, the Republican nominee, won the special election.
The Senate District 35 Republican Party held a convention to endorse a candidate on November 14.[1] Andy Aplikowski won the endorsement after four rounds of balloting. Former state representative Jim Abeler said he would continue to seek the Republican nomination.[2] Don Huizenga was undecided on whether he would continue to seek the nomination, but ultimately did not file a candidacy. Brad Sunderland said he would abide by the endorsement.[3]
The Senate District 35 Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party endorsed Roger Johnson on December 16, 2015.
| District 35 special primary election, 2016[11] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
| Republican Party of Minnesota | Jim Abeler | 2,818 | 60.93 | ||
| Andy Aplikowski | 1,807 | 39.07 | |||
| Subtotal | 4,625 | 100.00 | |||
| Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | Roger Johnson | 282 | 100.00 | ||
| Total | 4,907 | 100.00 | |||
| Minnesota Senate District 35 special election, 2016[12] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆ | ||
| Republican Party of Minnesota | Jim Abeler | 3,237 | 73.69 | +19.48 | ||
| Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | Roger Johnson | 947 | 21.56 | −24.07 | ||
| Legal Marijuana Now Party | Zach Phelps | 180 | 4.10 | +4.10 | ||
| Write-in | N/A | 29 | 0.66 | +0.50 | ||
| Total | 4,393 | 100.00 | ±0.00 | |||
| Minnesota Senate election, 2012 District 35[13] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆ | ||
| Republican Party of Minnesota | Branden Petersen | 22,874 | 54.21 | −6.38 | ||
| Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | Peter Perovich | 19,253 | 45.63 | +6.33 | ||
| Write-in | N/A | 69 | 0.16 | +0.05 | ||
| Total | 42,196 | 100.00 | ±0.00 | |||