Nicole Mitchell (politician)

Nicole Mitchell
Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 47th district
In office January 3, 2023 – July 25, 2025
Preceded by	Susan Kent (redistricted)
Succeeded by	Vacant
Personal details
Born	Nicole Lynn Mitchell (1974-10-10) October 10, 1974 Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (DFL)
Education	Air University University of Minnesota (BA) Georgia State University (JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	Minnesota Air National Guard United States Air Force Reserve Wisconsin Air National Guard
Years of service	1992–present
Rank	Lieutenant colonel
Commands	126th Weather Flight
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Master Officers' Aircrew Badge Master Meteorologist Badge Meritorious Service Medal (w/ 2 bronze OLCs) Aerial Achievement Medal (w/ 1 silver OLC) Air and Space Commendation Medal Combat Readiness Medal (w/ 1 bronze OLC) Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal (w/ 2 bronze OLCs)

Nicole Lynn Mitchell (born October 10, 1974) is an American former politician, military officer, and meteorologist. She represented the cities of Woodbury and Maplewood in the Minnesota Senate as a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. Mitchell is also a lieutenant colonel in the Wisconsin Air National Guard, commanding the 126th Weather Flight, and previously served in the United States Air Force Reserve and the Minnesota Air National Guard.

Before entering politics, Mitchell was a news media meteorologist. She worked at the Weather Channel from 2004 to 2011 and with Al Jazeera America from 2013 to 2016. After some time as a freelance meteorologist at CBS News (working at WCBS-TV in New York City and WFOR-TV in Miami), she returned to her home state of Minnesota in 2017 to become a meteorologist for KSTP-TV in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul media market. She also appeared on Minnesota Public Radio.

In 2022, Mitchell was elected as a state senator for District 47.^[1] In 2025, she resigned from the Minnesota Legislature after she was convicted of felony burglary charges for breaking into her stepmother's home.^[2]

Mitchell was born in Fargo, North Dakota. Her family later moved to Woodbury, Minnesota, where she graduated from Woodbury High School in 1992. She studied meteorology at the Community College of the Air Force of Air University and earned a BA in communications from the University of Minnesota.^[3]

Mitchell served in the United States Air Force Reserve (USAFR) and Air National Guard (ANG). She enlisted in the Minnesota ANG in 1992 and reached the rank of technical sergeant before commissioning into the USAFR in 2002. She was assigned to the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron—commonly known as the "Hurricane Hunters"—at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, as an aerial reconnaissance weather officer, attaining over 1,700 aircrew hours in the WC-130. Mitchell remained in the USAFR until 2019, attaining the rank of major. She then joined the Wisconsin ANG, assuming command of the 126th Weather Flight at Volk Field Air National Guard Base and being promoted to lieutenant colonel in 2020.

Mitchell earned, among other awards, the Meritorious Service Medal (with two bronze oak leaf clusters denoting three awards), Aerial Achievement Medal (with one silver oak leaf cluster denoting six awards), and Air and Space Commendation Medal.^[4]

Mitchell began working with The Weather Channel in 2004. She co-anchored the channel's morning show, Your Weather Today, from 2004 to 2008. She then moved to co-host of Evening Edition alongside Paul Goodloe from 2008 to 2010.

The Weather Channel terminated Mitchell in 2011. She filed a lawsuit against the channel in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in 2011, alleging that she had been terminated because the new owners disapproved of the time required by her simultaneous duties as a captain in the Air Force Reserve Command as part of the "Hurricane Hunters" team.^[5]

In 2013, Mitchell began work on the weather team at Al Jazeera America. Mitchell delivered the weather segments in the morning from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time and during large weather events. She was the chief meteorologist of the channel until it ceased operation on April 12, 2016.

Beginning Spring 2016, Mitchell freelanced with CBS News, appearing on WCBS-TV in New York City, along with contributions to the national network CBS This Morning show. She also traveled south to Miami, filling in for Lissette Gonzalez at WFOR-TV while she was on maternity leave.

Mitchell returned to her home state of Minnesota to join the Minneapolis-Saint Paul station KSTP-TV in 2017. She appeared on a variety of KSTP newscasts as a freelance meteorologist.^[6]

Mitchell appeared on the Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) show Morning Edition from November 2019 to January 2022, in the role of meteorologist alongside anchor Cathy Wurzer.^[7] On January 7, 2022, she announced on Twitter that she was leaving MPR to explore a candidacy for the Minnesota Senate.^[8]

Mitchell ran as the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party candidate for District 47 in the 2022 Minnesota Senate election. She defeated Republican candidate Dwight Dorau by winning 58.1 percent of the vote to 41.2 percent. She served a portion of her four-year term from 2023 until resignation in 2025.^[9] Mitchell represented the cities of Woodbury and Maplewood.^[1][10][11]

On April 22, 2024, Mitchell was arrested at 4:45 a.m. in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, by police who were responding to a burglary call.^[12] The following day she was charged with first-degree burglary. According to the charging documents, Mitchell allegedly entered her stepmother's home in an attempt to retrieve several items.^[13] Mitchell stated that she was only interested in things that were of "sentimental value" to her, which included the ashes of her late father.^[14] Mitchell's stepmother disputed Mitchell's statement and said that she was fearful of Mitchell.^[15]

Senate Democrats stripped Mitchell of committee assignments but have not expressed support for her resignation. State DFL chairman Ken Martin stated that he would like for Mitchell to resign by June 8, allowing her seat to be filled in a special election. Mitchell stated that she would not resign and continued to vote in the 2024 legislative session.^[16][17]

Mitchell was subjected to a Senate ethics inquiry on May 7.^[15][18] The committee declined to take any actions until after Mitchell's court appearance on June 10.^[19] The following week, Republicans in the Minnesota State Senate introduced a motion to expel Mitchell, but the motion failed with Mitchell providing the tie-breaking vote.^[20]

In July 2025, Mitchell stood trial in Becker County where she was found guilty on charges of first-degree burglary and felony possession of burglary tools.^[2] After her conviction, she resigned from the Minnesota Senate effective July 25.^[9]

In mid-2024, the Minnesotan news website Alpha News sued the Detroit Lakes Police Department to compel the release of the body-worn camera footage of Mitchell's arrest. Becker County District Court Judge Gretchen D. Thilmony initially denied the request, citing the potential for the footage to prejudice the jury against Mitchell. In April 2025, the Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed Thilmony's decision and remanded the case, ordering the lower court to "apply a different balancing test".^[21] The prosecution then used the footage in its case against Mitchell, rendering it a de facto public record, and it was released publicly shortly thereafter. The recording shows an "intruder dressed all in black beside [the victim's] bed" who was "[the victim's] stepdaughter, Nicole". When confronted by law enforcement officers, Mitchell surrendered peacefully and said she had done "something bad".^[22]

Mitchell has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children. She is a licensed foster care provider. She received her Juris Doctor degree from the Georgia State University College of Law in 2010.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nicole Mitchell (meteorologist).

• Minnesota National Guard
• Politics of Minnesota