Legal Marijuana Now candidate for 2nd Congressional District dies

Paula Overby, the Legal Marijuana Now candidate in the race for Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, has died at 68.

Overby’s son, Tyler, told the Reformer his mother died at M Health Fairview on Wednesday morning from heart valve complications, though her official cause of death hasn’t been determined. Tyler Overby said his mother had been hospitalized for about two weeks.

Tyler Overby said his mother was very loving and always there if anyone needed something.

In 2020, Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate Adam Weeks, who was also running in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, died shortly before the election. Weeks’ death triggered a legal battle over the timing of the 2nd Congressional election, and Democrats successfully pushed for the election to be held on Election Day.

Paula Overby’s death will likely rock an already contentious race between U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Republican Tyler Kistner. The race is projected to be one of the closest in the nation.

“This is a very sad day for Minnesota’s Second District,” Kistner said in a statement. “Paula Overby cared deeply about our state, and the principles she believed in.”

DFL Chairman Ken Martin also expressed his sympathies in a statement.

“I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Paula’s friends, family, and loved ones during this extremely difficult time,” Martin said. “My prayers are with them, and I hope memories of Paula’s passion and tenacity bring them some solace in their grief.”

According to the Secretary of State’s Office, the election for the 2nd Congressional District will proceed as scheduled.

“In the absence of any other court order, the November 8, 2022 ballots will remain as printed, and the Congressional District 2 election will proceed as scheduled on November 8, 2022,” the office said in a statement.