Yesterday Senate Republicans brought a motion to expel Senator Nicole Mitchell (DFL-Woodbury) from the body. The motion failed on a procedural vote in which every Democrat voted to protect Sen. Mitchell and allow her to delay her trial.

“What we are seeing is a clear abuse of power by the Senate Democrats, who are failing to hold Sen. Mitchell responsible for her actions, and an abuse of status by Sen. Mitchell,” said Senator Karin Housley (R-Stillwater). “Last year when this issue first sparked, the argument was that ‘Sen. Mitchell deserves due process and her day in court.’ Well, her day in court should have been this week, yet she requested a delay, citing her position as a Senator as a reason to delay. 

“We should not be complicit in allowing her to run from the consequences of her actions. There is no reason for the Senate to protect her when she is abusing her title in a way that makes a mockery of this institution, yet every single Democrat voted to protect her. Sen. Mitchell was also once again the deciding vote on the matter. She has already been removed from her caucus and no longer sits on any committees. By her staying in the Senate with no real role, she is doing a disservice to the constituents she was elected to represent.

“The Democrats’ failure to pass this motion shows that they are more willing to support and defend an alleged felon, instead of upholding the integrity of the Senate. We need to let the courts decide this matter, and that means releasing her of her duties in the Senate.”

Mitchell was arrested in her stepmother’s home last spring and later charged with felony burglary. Her trial was scheduled to begin yesterday but she exercised her right to a delay until the legislative session adjourns.

Last year, the motion to expel Sen. Mitchell failed on a party-line vote. Sen. Mitchell retained her voting privileges on the floor and cast the deciding vote on nearly every piece of legislation during the 2024 session. After the 2024 session was concluded, Gov. Tim Walz, DFL Party Chair Ken Martin, and four Senate Democrats publicly said that Mitchell should resign.

The Senate is currently tied, 33 Republicans to 33 Democrats, but have struck a power-sharing agreement that would not be impacted should either side fall to 32 members.