Minnesota's state capitol

Two of the lawmakers I mentioned in my roundup of recently surfaced accounts of sexual harassment in state legislatures have announced that they will resign: Republican Rep. Tony Cornish and Democratic Sen. Dan Schoen, both of Minnesota. (Good riddance to bad rubbish, as the kids say.)

Cornish’s broad pattern of sexual misconduct came to light when a lobbyist revealed he had propositioned her multiple times and related multiple occasions of physical harassment, including an instance in which he forced her against a wall to attempt to kiss her. At the same time, multiple women, including a fellow legislator, accused Schoen of conduct ranging from unwanted sexual advances to squeezing the butt of a candidate.

Once their resignations become official, Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton will call special elections to replace both men. (Most Minnesota politicos believe the specials will be held on Feb. 13, 2018.) Cornish’s seat is solidly Republican, but Schoen is vacating a swing seat that Democrats will have to work hard to keep: His 54th District went for Trump 46-45 in 2016, but Barack Obama carried it 53-45 four years earlier.

The statehouse sexual harassment that led to these resignations is Exhibit A in The Case For More Women In Elected Office, and these special elections—especially the one for Schoen’s seat—provide Democrats with opportunities to send more women to the Minnesota state capitol. Women aren’t just stepping forward with accounts of sexual harassment in historic numbers; we’re also stepping forward to run for office at a record-setting rate. Let’s hope one of those women is interested in representing Minnesota’s 54th Senate District.