Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone, his wife Sheila and daughter Marcia were among eight people killed when their small plane crashed in the northern part of the state Friday.

Three staff members and two pilots also died in the crash.

The senator, 58, was en route from St. Paul to Eveleth when the plane went down during freezing rain and light snow near the Eveleth-Virginia Municipal Airport, about 280 km north of Minneapolis.

Paul Wellstone

Wellstone was one of the most liberal Democrats in the Senate and had been campaigning for re-election for a third term. He faced a tough fight against the former mayor of St. Paul, Norm Coleman.

His campaign had chartered the plane to carry him to a funeral.

His death could have an impact on the Nov. 5 congressional election because Democrats currently control the Senate by a one-vote margin.

The Wellstones are survived by two sons, David and Mark.