A special election was held for District 11 on February 5, 2019, as a result of the resignation of incumbent DFL Senator Tony Lourey after he was selected to be the next commissioner of human services by Governor-elect Tim Walz in early January 2019.

[2] In October 2020, The Washington Post identified this state election as one of eight whose outcomes could affect partisan balance during post-census redistricting.

Contested nominations of recognized major parties (DFL, Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis, Legal Marijuana Now, and Republican) for each district were determined by an open primary election.

Write-in candidates must have filed a request with the secretary of state's office for votes for them to be counted.

[18] Majority Leader Paul Gazelka welcomed the move and promised to give both senators chairmanships on "prominent committees".