Sandy Pappas Announces Retirement, Senate Seat Open

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After 42 years in the Minnesota legislature, Sen. Sandy Pappas announced she will retire after the 2026 session and not seek another term. With Sen. Matt Klein running for Congress, this means both of the state Senate seats representing West St. Paul will be open races in 2026.

“The legislature has been so much a part of my life that leaving is like saying farewell to my family,” Pappas said in a press release.

• Elected: Pappas first ran for the state House in 1984. She was elected to her current seat in the state Senate in 1990. Pappas began representing West St. Paul when the redistricting in 2022 redrew the legislative boundaries, putting the northern half of West St. Paul in Pappas’ district.
• Long tenure: On the list of longest-serving legislators in Minnesota history, Pappas is tied for ninth with Sen. Ann Rest, who also announced her retirement this year. Ironically, eighth on the list is James Metzen, who also represented West St. Paul.
• Roles: Pappas served as senate president from 2013 to 2016 and most recently chaired the Capital Investment Committee.
• Next: “It’s been a long run, and I had a great last of couple years,” Pappas told MPR. “I just think it’s time to go. I want to leave when I’m healthy. I can still spend time doing other things, traveling, being with my grandkids.” Pappas has three children, 31 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

What’s Next: 2026 Election

The open senate seat will likely be a tempting opportunity for candidates. The district skews heavily to the DFL—Pappas won the 2022 election with more than 80% of the vote. But she did draw two primary challengers in that election. The Senate District 65 includes West St. Paul, the West Side, downtown, and portions of the Frogtown, Midway, and North End neighborhoods.

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