Paula Overby, 68, a candidate with the Legal Marijuana Now Party for the Second District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in Minnesota, has died, according to reports.
Overby's son confirmed that his mother passed on Wednesday due to heart complications.
Her opponents for the upcoming Nov. 8 election in Minnesota's Second Congressional District, incumbent Angie Craig (D) and Tyler Kistner (R), shared their condolences after hearing the news.
"Cheryl and I were saddened to hear of Paula Overby's passing this morning, and we are sending our deepest condolences to Paula's family and friends at this difficult time," Craig said. "Minnesota is better for her involvement in our community and she will be missed."
"This is a very sad day for Minnesota's Second District. Paula Overby cared deeply about our state, and the principles she believed in," Kistner said. "It was an honor to have gotten to know Paula. My thoughts and prayers go out to Paula's family and friends during this difficult time."
The Office of the Secretary of State shared that the ballots for the November election will go unchanged, per Minnesota statute.
However, statutes say, "the county and state canvassing boards must not certify the vote totals for that office from the general election, and the office must be filled at a special election held in accordance with this section."
The Star-Tribune reported that her passing throws the race for the most competitive seat in the state into chaos as the party probably doesn't have enough time to replace her on the ballot. "We probably won't have a candidate. It's too short a time period at this junction; there's only three and a half weeks to go. It would be very difficult for us to have a candidate," Legal Marijuana Now Party Chairman Tim Davis said.
For her part, Overby was transgender but did not focus on that aspect of her life in the race. Her website says she was the author of "The Transgender Myth" and was a mental health counselor, and domestic violence advocate.
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