(KNSI) – The 2026 election season officially gets underway as central Minnesotans join the rest of the state to pick their favorite candidates for office.
According to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office, all caucuses in the state get underway Tuesday, February 3rd, at 7:00 p.m. Key races for both parties include picking their preferences for governor, senator, and a number of seats for the Minnesota House and Senate.
It’s a time when local residents from the state’s two major political parties gather to do three things to get the wheel of democracy rolling.
They choose volunteers to help with local political work, like keeping contact lists up to date and organizing campaign activities in the neighborhood.
They propose ideas. Members suggest issues or policies they want the party to support. If enough people at the meeting agree with an idea, it moves up to bigger meetings and might become part of the party’s official platform.
And they select delegates who represent their precinct at future conventions. These delegates help decide which candidates the party will endorse.
Supporters of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in St. Cloud, St. Augusta, and Waite Park will meet at Tech High School, 4200 33rd Street South.
Republicans living in St. Cloud in Stearns or Sherburne County, Waite Park, and St. Augusta will meet at the Jubilee Worship Center, 3125 County Road 74. St. Cloud residents in Benton County, along with Sauk Rapids residents, will go to Sauk Rapids-Rice High School, 1835 Osauka Road Northeast.
DFL voters in Sauk Rapids will caucus at Sauk Rapids Middle School, 901 1st Street South.
In Sartell, the Republican Party is gathering at Sartell Middle School, 748 7th Street North, and the DFL at Riverview Intermediate School, 627 3rd Avenue North.
In St. Joseph, Democrats will convene at Kennedy Community School while Republicans will meet at Avon Elementary.
Minor political parties are not required to hold caucuses on the established caucus date or provide location information to the state.
To find your caucus location, click here.
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