2026 Central Minnesota Voter Guide: Key Races, Candidates, and Polling Info

(KNSI) — Voters head to the polls Tuesday, with several hotly contested races for open seats.

In the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Peggy Flanagan faces Republican Michele Tafoya, Libertarian Rebecca Whiting and Independent Marisa Simonetti. The seat is currently held by Senator Tina Smith, who is retiring.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, for Minnesota’s Sixth District, Democrat Doug Chapin is running against Republican Tom Emmer. In the Seventh District, Democrat Erik Osberg is running against Republican Michelle Fischbach.

In the governor’s race, Democrat Amy Klobuchar and running mate Ben Schierer are taking on Republican Lisa Demuth and running mate Ryan Wilson. Governor Tim Walz chose not to run for a third term. Whoever wins will become the state’s first female governor. Demuth would also be the state’s first Black governor.

In Minnesota Senate District 13, Democrat Trent Dilks faces Republican Jared Gapinski. In District 14, Democrat Aric Putnam is taking on Republican Bernie Perryman.

In the Minnesota House, District 13A pits Democrat Arlis Sayler against Republican Tanja Goering. The seat is currently held by Demuth, who is running for governor. In District 13B, Democrat Justin Doyle faces Republican Dawn Loberg. The seat is currently held by Representative Tim O’Driscoll, who is retiring.

In House District 14A, Democrat Abdi Daisane is running against Republican Mike Conway. The seat is open because Perryman is running for the Senate. In District 14B, Democrat Zachary Dorholt is up against Republican Sue Ek. The seat is currently held by Representative Dan Wolgamott, who ran for state auditor but lost in the August primary.

In the state auditor’s race, voters will choose among Democrat Zack Filipovich, Republican Scott Jensen and Forward Minnesota Party candidate Jay Reeves.

In the attorney general’s race, Democrat Keith Ellison is running against Republican Ron Schutz.

In the secretary of state race, Democrat Steve Simon is being challenged by Republican Tad Jude, Green Party candidate Seth Kuhl-Stennes and Libertarian Chip Tangen.

In St. Cloud City Council races, Charlie Hobbs is taking on Dave Masters in Ward 1. Karen Larson is running unopposed in Ward 2. In Ward 3, Luke Christian faces Hudda Ibrahim, and in Ward 4, Joe Barrata is taking on Craig Heurung.

In the St. Cloud Area School District, six candidates are running for three School Board seats: Al Dahlgren, Sonia Eizenhoefer, Robert Galler Jr., Vincent Miles, Steven Schiller and Heather Weems.

In St. Joseph, Mayor Adam Scepaniak is running unopposed. Three candidates are running for two City Council seats: Tayla DeMarce, Jon Hazen and Andrew Mooney.

Sartell Mayor Ryan Fitzthum is running unopposed. Two candidates, Colin Anderson and Matt Dankers, are running for two City Council seats.

In the Sartell-St. Stephen School District, five candidates are competing for three seats: Chris Chamberlain, Nate Crowe, Randy Kight, Emily Larson and Jen Smith.

In Sauk Rapids, three candidates are running for two at-large City Council seats: Joe Kampa, Christian Kirmeier and Nick Sauer.

In the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District, the seats held by Robyn Holthaus, Dan Johnson and Lisa Loidolt are up for election, and those three are the only candidates on the ballot.

Waite Park Mayor Ken Schmitt is running unopposed. Three candidates are running for two City Council seats: Shawn Blackburn, Mike Lindquist and Frank Theisen. The city also has a ballot question on whether to abolish the Personnel Board. A yes vote would move its duties to the City Council.

In Benton County, voters will choose a new sheriff in an open race between Jay Dingmann and Joel Schmidt. The auditor-treasurer’s race pits Christine Scherbing against Mary Lewandowski.

In Sherburne County, three candidates are on the ballot for the District 3 commissioner seat: Matt Bischoff, Gregg Felber and Mark Swanson. The county auditor’s race is between Brenda Davis and Michael Tonsager, and the county attorney’s race is between Hans Larson and Dawn Nyhus.

In Stearns County, the commissioner, sheriff, attorney and auditor-treasurer races are all uncontested. The only contests on the ballot are for two soil and water conservation district supervisor seats: Kyle McClure faces Chad Van Beck, and Thomas Gregory faces Sarah Schulze.

Voters will also decide a constitutional amendment on the Permanent School Fund. It would raise the fund’s annual payout to 4.5% of its three-year average value, with no increase in income or property taxes, starting July 1st, 2027. A blank vote counts as a “no.”

Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Anyone in line at 8:00 p.m. will still be able to vote.

See a sample ballot and find your polling place here.

https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/

___