Sen. Mitchell Resigns
State Sen. Nicole Mitchell resigned her Senate seat last Friday, a week after being convicted of felony burglary following an April 22, 2024 arrest at her stepmother’s home in Becker County. Sen. Michell’s resignation came slightly earlier than expected after her attorney previously announced that she would resign sometime prior to August 4, 2025, citing the need to wrap up some constituent projects and support her staff in transitioning to new employment. Michell currently awaits sentencing and faces between 6 months and 20 years in jail.
Sen. Anderson Passes Away Unexpectedly
A second vacancy occurred in the Minnesota Senate last week after the unexpected passing of Sen. Bruce Anderson (R-Buffalo) at the age of 75. Sen. Anderson served in the Minnesota Senate since 2012, having previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1995-2012. A military veteran, Sen. Anderson’s legislative service focused on issues impacting veterans and rural communities.
With the passing of Sen. Anderson and Sen. Mitchell’s resignation, the Senate Democrats currently hold a 33-32 majority in the chamber. Gov. Walz has yet to formally call special election for the two vacant seats.
Security an Issue
The discussion surrounding lawmaker security and the security of those at the Capitol has long been a debate in Minnesota. However, the assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark have beefed up this debate. There will be further discussions going into the 2026 legislative session as to how the Capitol will be further protected. The panel charged with this managing security at the Capitol will meet on August 20th.
In light of the security breach that happened over the weekend where Capitol security found a man in the Senate chamber and arrested him, while later determining he required a mental health evaluation, a more in depth look into security issues has been requested. The man returned to the Capitol grounds twice more over the weekend before he was arrested and is now being detained at the Ramsey County jail.
Legislative leaders stated that they are disappointed in the security breach, as Capitol Security is unsure as to how he got into the Senate chamber. Everything from security check points at the Capitol to an investigation by the Office of the Legislative auditor to review security and rapid response protocols have been suggested.
It was announced last week that current Minnesota lawmakers will have access to each chamber’s operation fund to access up to $4,500 per member to cover the cost of home security systems, deadbolt locks, and other safety enhancements to their homes.
While the House is on its August recess, the Senate remains in session this week. President Trump is currently in Scotland for a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Despite the recess for one chamber, this will be a significant week for federal policy activity, particularly on appropriations, nominations, and economic data.
Appropriations – MilCon-VA Begins Senate Floor Debate
The Senate has begun debate on the FY2026 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA) appropriations bill, which passed out of committee with bipartisan support. The bill includes a 4% increase in spending over FY2025, driven by an agreement between Senate Appropriations leaders. It also contains a substantial number of earmarks.
Efforts to bundle MilCon-VA with other bills—specifically Agriculture and Commerce-Justice-Science—into a broader minibus have been rejected by a group of Senate Republicans. With few legislative days left before the fiscal year ends on September 30, GOP leadership is weighing procedural strategies to advance more spending bills, including possible promises of amendment votes or rare motions to suspend Senate rules, which would require a 67-vote threshold.
There is increasing concern about potential White House action before the end of the fiscal year, including “pocket rescissions” of unspent funds or a broader rescissions package that could target education funding. Either scenario could undercut ongoing negotiations and increase the likelihood of a continuing resolution or government shutdown this fall.
Nominations – Senate Pushes Ahead, but Gridlock Remains
The Senate is expected to vote on several executive nominations this week. Republican leadership is also considering offering Democrats a package of additional nominations to expedite confirmations ahead of the August recess. However, the prospects for such a deal remain low, and GOP senators have been advised to prepare for weekend votes.
There are currently 144 executive nominations pending on the Senate calendar, with particular attention on ambassadorial and diplomatic nominees. The Foreign Relations Committee has cleared a large number of these for floor action, but additional movement depends on the level of cooperation between the parties.
Economy – Anticipated Q2 GDP and Fed Rate Decision
This week will bring two major developments on the economic front:
In related developments, a new round of tariffs is set to take effect on August 1, and a U.S.–EU trade agreement was announced over the weekend.
