KAXE contacted every candidate up to three times using contact information submitted to the Secretary of State's Office to invite them to participate in our Election Guide.
Candidate responses have not been edited and are published as submitted.
As necessary, our news team added contextual information clearly marked with an "editor's note" and in italics. We will make every effort to make note of inaccuracies if they come to our attention.
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KAXE's Primary Election Guide only includes races where enough candidates filed to trigger a primary. Visit our full list of who's running for office in Northern Minnesota to see who else will be on the ballot in November.
About this race
Democratic Secretary of State Steve Simon is running for a fourth term.
The primary responsibilities of the secretary of state's office are overseeing statewide elections and operating the state's voter registration system and managing business and organization filings, among other duties.
The winner of this primary will face Simon and Green Party candidate Seth Kuhl-Stennes in the general election in November.
Remember: In the primaries, you can only vote for candidates from one political party. If you vote for candidates from more than one party, your vote won't be counted. You decide which party you will vote for, as Minnesota doesn't have political party registration.
Click the tabs below to learn more about the candidates
Website: tadjude.com
Age on Election Day: 74
Community: Maple Grove
Employment: Attorney, Self-Employed
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
My experience as a legislator, district court judge, attorney, and small business owner makes me uniquely qualified to serve as Minnesota's Secretary of State. Election law spans the city, county, state, and federal levels, and when disputes arise, they are often settled in court. As a legislator, I have written laws, interpreted them as an attorney, and ruled on them as a judge. My experience gives me insight into what needs to change to improve election integrity in Minnesota, and how to get these reforms enacted into law. I am also a small business owner and understand the importance of making it easy for honest businesses to register, and as a taxpayer, the need to prevent fraudulent businesses from being created. I am running because I am ready to step into this office on day one and secure the vote for every Minnesotan.
Why are you running?
Minnesotans deserve elections they can trust, tax dollars that are
protected, and a flag that reflects our heritage. These are the
reasons I am running for Secretary of State. Minnesotans care deeply
about voting, and yet we have some of the most relaxed voting laws and
regulations in the country. Steve Simon doesn't require a photo ID at
the polls to vote, he allows for "vouching" and refuses to use the
more robust federal SAVE voter database. Securing the vote for every
Minnesotan is my highest priority. I will also stop fraud tourism in
Minnesota. On day one, I will launch a dedicated task force to reform
the registration process and detect fraudulent businesses before they
ever scam a single dollar. Finally, I'm running to give Minnesotans an
up-or-down vote on bringing back the 1983 traditional Minnesota flag.
Minnesotans deserve to be heard on this issue.
Editor’s note: Minnesota does not require a photo ID to vote if someone's voter registration is current and active. Proof of residence is needed to register to vote, to update registration or if someone has not voted in four or more years. A registered voter from the same precinct can “vouch” as a form of proof of registration, signing an oath confirming another voter’s address.
Why should voters choose you to advance to the general election?
I'm asking for Minnesotans' vote because I have the passion for
securing our elections and the skills and experience to do the job.
The Secretary of State's office is not a place for on-the-job
training. There is simply too much at stake. Every law enacted is
there because of what happened at the ballot box, making secure
elections the foundation of a good government. Some reforms require
working with the legislature. I've been a legislator. Some reforms
will require challenging or defending regulations in court, and I've
been a judge and an attorney. Every Minnesotan needs to be able to
trust the vote. I am uniquely qualified to make sure they can.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
The Secretary of State's office has four primary duties: 1) overseeing elections in Minnesota; 2) managing business and non-profit registration and related filings; 3) maintaining Minnesota's official records and publications, such as the Minnesota Blue Book, State Seal, and State Flag; and 4) serving as a member of the Minnesota Executive Council, convene the Minnesota House of Representatives and other issues designated by Minnesota Law. The decisions of this office impact every voter, taxpayer, and entrepreneur in this state.
What are your top three priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.
Three specific goals I am running to accomplish as Secretary of State are to secure the vote, put an end to fraud tourism in Minnesota, and secure a vote to restore the Minnesota 1983 traditional flag. Restoring election integrity is a process that must be addressed through regulation, statutory change, and possibly through the courts. As Secretary of State, I would use the SAVE voter database, which is more comprehensive than the one Minnesota currently uses, and work with partners at every level of government to ensure the accuracy of our voter rolls. I would address fraud by deploying banking-industry technologies and methodologies to identify connections among fraudulent businesses. On day one, I will fly the 1983 Minnesota flag in my office and begin the process of securing a vote to restore the flag.
Editor’s note: While the secretary of state may advocate for legislation, changes to the state flag are made by the state Legislature.
How should the Minnesota Secretary of State respond to election-related demands from the federal government?
Some argue that we have to choose between privacy and election integrity. I don't agree. The data the federal government is seeking to review is generally data it originally issued. Before acting, I would make sure any data that must be kept private for safety reasons stays private. Once those concerns are addressed, I will cooperate with the federal government to ensure our voter rolls are accurate and up to date. I believe in transparency. Clean voter rolls have nothing to hide.
Do you support Voter ID laws? Why or why not?
I support requiring a photo ID to vote. Voting is the bedrock of our government. Every law that is passed that touches you or your family is enacted because of an election. And because of the significance of our elections, the entire process needs to be safeguarded, including the requirement of a photo ID. If you tried to open a bank account, lease an apartment, or purchase certain cold medicines, you would be asked to produce a photo ID. The idea that a photo ID isn't required to vote is hard to understand when it is commonly required for so many daily activities. The American public overwhelmingly supports requiring photo IDs to vote because it is a simple and effective way to help protect our elections.
How would you support local election offices?
Our elections are run by city, county, township, and school district offices, and they need to know the Secretary of State has their support. Whether it is clear guidance, new technologies, or robust training, partnering with the people on the frontlines will be a top priority in my administration.
What role do you think politics should play in this office?
Voting and the integrity of our elections should never be political. The truth is, Americans largely agree our elections should be secure. In fact, 80% of Americans agree we should require a photo ID. That's just one election integrity issue, but I believe we agree on more than we disagree on when it comes to voting. I'm a former judge. I understand that politics can't influence the job, and I know how to apply the law fairly and consistently to achieve the best outcomes for everyone. The function of this office is to protect the vote, not to advance a political agenda.
Editor’s note: Yes, roughly 80% of Americans support requiring a photo ID to vote.
Website: wendyforsos.com
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Still have questions for the candidates? Contact information for all those who've filed to run for office can be found at candidates.sos.state.mn.us.
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Contributed/Lorie ShaullMonths before the midterms, the Trump administration dismantled a bipartisan federal commission that serves local offices that oversee voting. -
Lorie Shaull/Special to KAXEThe library matched the anonymous matching donation for $30,000 it received in June 2026. A larger fundraising goal is aimed at increasing public hours in 2027. -
Contributed/University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering CenterDue to smoke from Boundary Waters wildfires, the MPCA issued air quality alerts for large parts of Minnesota. The alert lasts until at least Friday, July 16, 2026. -
During the Phenology Report for the week of July 14, 2026 Staff Phenologist John Latimer remarks on blooming basswoods, hawks hunting in harvested fields, and more.
