Senate District 60 candidate Mohamed Jama’s residency is being challenged. Campaign photo.
Minnesota Democrats are already embroiled in an ugly battle for control of the state House after a judge ruled one of their newly elected members was ineligible to hold office for not living in the district he won.
Now, another Democratic candidate faces a residency challenge, but this time in the race for the Senate District 60 seat to replace former Majority Leader Kari Dzeidzic, who died of cancer last month, leaving the Senate tied 33-33.
Mohamed Jama, a potential top contender in a crowded special election to represent the safely Democratic district in northeast Minneapolis and Cedar-Riverside, likely does not meet the residency requirements according to state voter data.
Sonia Neculescu, a former DFL House candidate and resident of the district, filed a challenge to his candidacy with the state Supreme Court on Monday alleging Jama registered to vote on Election Day in neighboring Senate District 63 in November.