Hobbs Tops Incumbent Masters In St. Cloud Ward 1 Primary; Heurung, Baratta Advance In Ward 4

(KNSI) – Challenger Charlie Hobbs finished first in the St. Cloud City Council Ward 1 primary Tuesday, outpolling incumbent Dave Masters by more than 300 votes.

Hobbs took 766 votes, or 51.90%. Masters was second with 454 votes, or 30.76%. Dreyton Nichols was eliminated with 256 votes, or 17.34%. All seven precincts in the ward reported. Hobbs and Masters advance to the November 3rd general election.

In Ward 4, Craig Heurung led a four-candidate field with 1,284 votes, or 40.05%. Joe Baratta was second with 1,087 votes, or 33.91%, and also moves on to November. Amaan Abdi finished third with 734 votes, or 22.89%, and Zak X received 101 votes, or 3.15%. All seven precincts reported.

Ward 4 is an open seat. Council President Mike Conway did not seek reelection, instead running for the open Minnesota House seat in District 14A.

Turnout in the two contests differed sharply. Ward 4 drew 3,206 votes, more than double the 1,476 cast in Ward 1.

The city’s other two ward seats did not appear on the primary ballot. Ward 3 incumbent Hudda Ibrahim and challenger Luke Christian go straight to the general election, and Ward 2 incumbent Karen Larson is unopposed.

Under the city’s charter change moving municipal elections to odd-numbered years, council members elected this fall will serve three-year terms rather than four. The winners will be sworn in at the first council meeting of 2027.

Results are unofficial until canvassed.

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