Overview

• Nicole Mitchell was convicted on July 17 of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools for breaking into her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes home
• She will remain in office through August 4 to finalize projects, conclude constituent services, transition her staff and secure health insurance for her son
• Her departure will leave the Minnesota Senate deadlocked at 33 Democrats and 33 Republicans until Gov. Tim Walz calls a special election
• Mitchell plans to appeal her conviction and awaits a sentencing date that is expected to be below the statutory maximum because she has no prior criminal record
• Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson criticized her two-week resignation notice as improper for a convicted felon, while DFL leaders had tied her pledge to step down to the conviction outcome