Decision Day 2024: The Ballot Breakdown

(KNSI) – The presidential race is getting all the attention this year, but voters have several other decisions to make on Election Day.

At the federal level, there is a statewide U.S. Senate race between three-term Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican nominee Royce White. All eight of our U.S. House of Representatives are up for re-election, and there are two congressional races in our region. Incumbent District Six Congressman Republican Tom Emmer is seeking a sixth term against Democratic candidate Jeanne Hendricks. In District Seven, Republican Michelle Fischbach is asking voters for a third term over Democrat AJ (John) Peters.

While the Minnesota state Senate isn’t up for election this year, every member in the House of Representatives is. There are four key races to keep an eye on in central Minnesota. In District 13A, House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth is running for her fourth term against Democrat Cindy Aho. The 13B House race features seven-term Republican Tim O’Driscoll against Democrat Dusty Bolstad. In District 14A, Republican Bernie Perryman is seeking a second term. She is being challenged by Democrat Abdi Daisane. In District 14B, Democrat Dan Wolgamott is hoping voters send him back to St. Paul for a third term against Republican challenger Sue Ek.

At the county level, Stearns County residents will need to decide whether to use a 3/8th cent sales tax to cover the cost of a $325 million criminal justice center and jail as the Department of Corrections says the county has outgrown its old facility. If the sales tax isn’t approved, property taxes will be used to cover the cost. District 2 Commissioner Joe Perske is looking to keep his seat over challenger Jerry Theisen.

Several cities have important elections, including St. Cloud, which is set to elect its first new mayor in 20 years. City Councilmen Jake Anderson and Mike Conway are facing each other on the ballot. They’re looking to replace Mayor Dave Kleis, who announced earlier this year that he wouldn’t seek a sixth term. There are also three at large city council seats up for grabs. Running for a spot are incumbent George Hontos and newcomers Omar Abdullahi Podi, Scott Brodeen, Mark Johnson, Hudda Ibrahim and Tami Calhoun.

Sartell has two council seats to fill between Rustin Deters, Marshall Grams and Pat Lynch. Sauk Rapids is looking to replace Mayor Kurt Hunstiger after he announced he was stepping down after 30 years with the city. Looking to fill his shoes are Councilman Jason Ellering and Nick Sauer. In Waite Park’s Mayoral race, councilmen Mike Lindquist and Ken Schmitt hope to replace longtime Mayor Rick Miller, who decided not to serve another term. In St. Joseph, three people are running for mayor. They are Jon Hazen, Robert Loso, and Adam Scepaniak. The St. Joseph city council race has three candidates looking to fill two seats. They are Kelly Beniek, Troy Goracke, and Adam Schnettler.

St. Cloud Area School District 742 has seven candidates running for four open seats. They are incumbent Scott Andreasen, Yoanna Ayala-Zaldana, incumbent Al Dahlgren, Diana Fenton, incumbent Shannon Haws, Bruce Hentges, and incumbent Monica Segura-Schwartz. Sartell-St. Stephen Schools will pick three candidates from a pool of six. They are Aaron Alexander, Michael Gruber, incumbent Tricia Meling, incumbent Matthew Moehrle, Michael Ringstad and Chelsea Thielen. Sauk Rapids-Rice has five candidates running for four open seats. They are NiCole JH Broman, Ryan Butkowski, Samantha Dwyer, Mark Hauck, and Tracy Morse.

St. Cloud voters must decide on two ballot questions. One is seeking approval to use property taxes to build a sixth fire station in the underserved neighborhood around Tech High School. The building will cost $43.5 million and be paid for over 20 years. It would cost the average homeowner $9 a month. Voters also have the option to change when city elections are held. A ballot question asks if voters want to move St. Cloud’s local elections to odd years instead of the current even-year schedule. Outgoing Mayor Kleis made the proposal during his State of the City address, believing that it would bring more attention to the local races.

A statewide ballot question asks voters to continue a constitutional amendment that uses 40% of profits from the lottery to support the outdoors, such as lands for parks, recreation areas and habitat, water resources, and environmental education. Since it was first approved in 1991, more than $1 billion has been used to fund more than 1,600 projects

Check out what’s on your ballot by clicking here.

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