On the final day of filing for the Minneapolis Senate seat being vacated by Larry Pogemiller, five more challengers climbed into the race. The field stands at eight candidates, including seven DFLers who will square off in a December 6 primary.

At least three strong DFL challengers — Jacob Frey, Cordelia Pierson and Peter Wagenius — are seeking the Minneapolis Senate seek vacated by Larry Pogemiller. The three-decade veteran legislator announced last week that he was resigning to serve as director of the state’s Office of Higher Education.

Gov. Mark Dayton has issued a writ of special election for the open House District 61B seat that was previously held by Rep. Jeff Hayden. Hayden was elected to the Senate in a special election to replace Sen. Linda Berglin.

The changing demographics and DFL-friendly voting record of Senate District 46 signaled an easy win for DFL Sen.-elect Chris Eaton in Tuesday’s special election.

Current DFL Rep. Jeff Hayden won a special election in Minneapolis' Senate District 61 with more than 68 percent of the vote, while DFL newcomer Chris Eaton, a registered nurse from Brooklyn Center, took home the Senate District 46 race with more than 60 percent of the vote.

Two new state senators will be elected tomorrow in Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center, filling spots in the chamber that haven’t been open in decades.

Nelson Inz has been making calls to DFL delegates in Minneapolis for the last four weeks. “I can’t even tell you how many people I’ve called,” Inz said.

DFLers Chris Eaton and Rep. Jeff Hayden handily won primaries Tuesday ahead of an Oct. 18 contest to fill two open seats in the state Senate.

In a Democratic safe haven like Minneapolis, it’s no surprise that the political drama in electing a replacement for retiring Sen. Linda Berglin is among DFLers.

The endorsements will likely be key in the Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center districts -- both DFL strongholds -- as candidates line up for an upcoming Sept. 13 primary. Hayden will face five other DFLers in the Minneapolis primary battle in September, while Eaton is up against one other DFLer in the primary and a Democrat-turned Independence Party candidate in the October general election for the district, which also includes part of Brooklyn Park.