MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Voters in two Minneapolis legislative districts are electing new state lawmakers.

In south Minneapolis, two left-leaning candidates are vying for a House seat open when then-Rep. Jeff Hayden claimed the Senate seat vacated by Linda Berglin. Susan Allen is endorsed by the DFL while Nathan Blumenshine is running as an independent candidate on what he calls a “respect” platform.

If elected, Allen, an attorney, would be the Minnesota Legislature’s first American Indian female member.

The other election is in the state Senate district on the city’s eastern side, which includes the University of Minnesota. It’s to replace former Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, who left the Senate to serve in the Dayton administration. Vying for the seat are Democrat Kari Dziedzic and Republican Ben Schwanke.

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