The Woodbury State Senator was found guilty Friday of burglary and possession of burglary tools.

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. — Senator Nicole Mitchell (DFL-Woodbury) was found guilty on Friday of burglary and possession of burglary tools for the April 2024 break-in. Mitchell took the stand in her own defense, saying she was not planning to take anything, but drove to her stepmother’s home dressed in black in the middle of the night to check on her because her stepmother has Alzheimer’s. Prosecutors say she was there to steal, plain and simple.

Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks) said in a statement he expects Sen. Mitchell’s resignation or expulsion.

“I applaud the jury and the prosecution for their diligent work to deliver justice in this case. The verdict only confirms the fact that Sen. Mitchell’s actions the night of April 22, 2024 failed to meet the level of ethical behavior we expect from elected officials, and her continued participation in the Minnesota Senate leaves the body with a stain on its record for every time her vote was the deciding vote in passing legislation. Senate Republicans have been clear since day one that this conduct is unbecoming of a Senator and we expect her immediate resignation from the Senate. If she is unwilling to resign, she must be expelled as soon as possible to protect the integrity of the Senate.”

Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL- St. Paul) said in a press release she is relieved to see an end to the trial, and expects Mitchell to resign as well.

“Senator Mitchell has been afforded due process, a trial by a jury of her peers, and that jury has delivered a verdict. I am relieved to see the end of Senator Mitchell’s trial. The case’s resolution brings clarity to the situation. Senator Mitchell has told colleagues that she intended to resign if found guilty of this crime, and I expect her to follow through on that pledge. Our caucus remains focused on the issues that matter to Minnesotan families and communities.”

Gov. Walz’s office expects that Mitchell will resign, too.

Mitchell is not automatically expelled from the Senate due to her felony conviction, meaning she would either need to resign voluntarily or be kicked out through a vote by her colleagues. Although Democrats removed her from committees, Mitchell served as a swing vote last session in a narrow 34-33 majority for the DFL. If she leaves the Senate, the chamber will return to a 33-33 tie, pending a special election to fill her seat.