The Minnesota Legislature starts its 2025 session on Jan. 14. At that time, Republicans will have a 67-66 majority in the House and the Senate will be tied at 33-33. But the outcomes of the special elections may change who controls each chamber.

Two special elections that will decide control of the Minnesota Legislature began to take shape on Tuesday, as more than a dozen candidates filed to run for vacant seats in the state House and Senate.

A special election has been set for late January to fill the Minnesota Senate seat of former Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic who died last week.

A January special election to fill a vacant seat in the Minnesota Senate will determine control of the chamber. Gov. Tim Walz on Monday ordered the special election in response to the passing of longtime Sen. Kari Dziedzic, 62, who died Friday.

Minnesota state legislative session will be underway before special elections are held later in January to sort out vacant seats -- one in each chamber.

Following the death of Sen. Kari Dziedzic, some Minnesotans will again go to the polls later this month to decide who should fill her Senate seat that for now remans vacant. FOX 9’s Soyoung Kim explains.