on december 8, 2009, day announced that he was resigning his senate seat on january 8, 2010, to lobby full-time for slots at the state's two horse-racing tracks, with the thought that some of the proceeds generated by the slots could be used for a new minnesota vikings football stadium. long an outspoken advocate of race track slots, he is now leading the newly formed non-profit racino now, which has already received substantial backing from influential horse owners in the state, and from business and political insiders. a special election to fill the seat was held on january 26, 2010, and was won by the republican mike parry of waseca.