The Minnesota Supreme Court on Friday cancelled the special election for a metro House race later this month, finding Gov. Tim Walz set the date before state law requires.

ST. PAUL, Minn. ( Minnesota Reformer) – The Minnesota Supreme Court canceled a special election in House District 40B that had been called by Gov. Tim Walz for Jan. 28, ruling that Walz wrongly called for the election on Dec. 27 even though the law required him to wait until until after the beginning of the legislative session on Tuesday.

In a late Friday afternoon decision, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Governor Tim Walz prematurely issued a special election for House District 40B.

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The writ of special election Walz issued on Dec. 27 is now quashed and the election must be canceled, the court ruled. Any ballots specifically for the now-cancelled Jan. 28 election, whether already cast or mailed or delivered to Ramsey County,

The Minnesota Supreme Court voided Gov. Tim Walz’s decision to hold a special election Jan. 28 for a Roseville-area seat in the state House, saying he called it prematurely. In a five-page order issued late Friday afternoon,