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. Candidates were prohibited from using AI to generate responses.
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
The city council is responsible for governing the city, including overseeing administrators, approving a budget and passing city ordinances. Individual councilors do not have any authority independent of the council.
The mayor has no more voting power than a city councilor. Additional duties include presiding over city council meetings and acting as the ceremonial head of the city, often representing the city before the Legislature and in other official capacities.
The at-large councilor represents the entire city.
The current mayor is Peter Hyduke, who is running for reelection. The current at-large councilor up for election this year is Justin Fosso, who is running for reelection.
The top two candidates in each race in the Aug. 11 primary will advance to the November ballot.
Click the tabs below to learn more about the candidates
Incumbent: No
Age on Election Day: 44
Community: St. Louis
Employment: CEO of Changing Lanes
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
I am knowledgeable about what it takes for this position and believe if given the opportunity o would not let the citizens down.
Why are you running?
I care about our community.
Why should voters choose you to advance to the general election?
I am a female who cares deeply for our community. I care about the past, present time , and future opportunities to make Hibbing a healthy thriving community to live.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
My responsibilities as major would generally include overseeing municipal departments, proposing local budgets, signing legislation into law, and acting as the official community representative during civic events and crisis.
Name a public leader you admire and explain why.
I have many . Those who are bold and for our people as a whole who aren’t afraid to take a stance in what is right.
What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?
Money deficit and community entertainment for families year around.
Which of those three issues is most important to you, and how would you address it if elected?
Families, small businesses and economic stability
What steps, if any, would you take to support or oppose data centers, if elected?
Oppose to data centers- not necessary. I could think of countless other items our money could partake in to be utilized so the community as a whole find benefits,
Many Northern Minnesota cities are experiencing tightening budgets. Where would you propose making cuts, if needed?
I would need to see and discover analytics evidence before responding to that statement.
This candidate declined KAXE’s invitations to participate in the Primary Election Guide.
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Incumbent: Yes
Age on Election Day: 46
Community: Hibbing, MN
Employment: Delta Air lines - Team Lead and Learning Designer
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
My experience in working to better the community. I am currently in my eighth year of as a Hibbing City Councilor I’ve also been on many boards and services groups like Rotarty International, Hibbing Public Access TV board, Age to Age board, as well as I’m a board member representing the city of Hibbing on Range Association of Municipalities and School.
Why are you running?
My goal is always to make Hibbing a thriving and safe community, but continued growth does not come from focusing on one area. My continued focus is to work on several areas at the same time. Improving safety by creating consolidated safety center and modernizing severe weather alerts, then focusing on housing improvements through supporting HRA projects, apartment developments and increasing buildable lots. Strengthening our community identity by having annual clean up days, updating welcome signs and banners, investing in our City Hall clock tower and supporting downtown arts and culture like the Barn Quilt walk. Continuing to focus on supporting existing businesses and attracting new businesses through the creation of a full time economic developer position to act as a single point of contact.
Why should voters choose you to advance to the general election?
I believe that my continued focus to improve our community is moving our city in the right direction. I truly appreciate my time serving in the council and the opportunity to work on issues that matter to our community. During my time in office my focus has spread to all parts of our community from infrastructure and partnering with the HPU to building community events like Hibbing on Howard to creating opportunities for recreation like bird watching and RC car racing. Looking to the future I am positioning Carey Lake Recreation Area to be the best family campground and a destination for our city. Beyond that I work to support Hibbing regionally and lobby at the state capitol for our needs. Please support my campaign by voting for me in the primary.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
The role of city councilor is to listen to the community and make decisions for what is best for the city. The list of responsibilities is long and includes budgeting, paving road schedules, negotiating contracts, approving hiring, setting the direction of the city, lobbying for Hibbing at a regional and state level, partnering with neighboring city’s, all well making sure that the residents are informed.
Name a public leader you admire and explain why.
President John F Kennedy would be a leader that I admire. I feel that his vision to move our country forward was inspiring. My favorite quote from JFK is “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” That is my continued goal, to make a difference in our city.
What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?
1- economic development
2- Infrastructure reinvestment (roads, utilities, storm water/sewer, public buildings, deferred maintenance)
3- reducing budget pressure and levy stability
Which of those three issues is most important to you, and how would you address it if elected?
We are in a position to grow by leveraging our location and attract manufacturing/industrial jobs that either rely on helium to produce products, add to that attracting manufacture products that are basic every day use that there will always be demand for, like building products. Then ensure that we put the same efforts to support our existing businesses as well. To be successful we need to work on marketing our city to potential companies, utilizing our city economic developer to act as a singe point of contact for sites and support.
What steps, if any, would you take to support or oppose data centers, if elected?
I don’t see any long term benefits to our communities to build data centers. They put stress on our utilities, add little to the existing job market and would take funds from the city and local partners to help build. In the end the life cycle of a data center can end in the city left with an empty building that needs maintenance in the future.
Many Northern Minnesota cities are experiencing tightening budgets. Where would you propose making cuts, if needed?
It’s always tough deciding where to cut without effecting service. First, reviews large purchases ( vehicles, mowers, ect) over the next few years and make a plan to spread purchases over time reducing yearly costs, Then freeze any hiring of open positions that can be. Next focus on limiting levy increases.
Incumbent: No
Age on Election Day: 51
Community: Hibbing
Employment: Not currently employed
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
My education is in Mining & Civil Engineering Technology, both of which qualifies me as I can see the big picture yet read and understand the small picture.
Why are you running?
I’m running for Hibbing City Council Member At Large as I feel as a community Hibbing needs to move forward instead of doing the same things that the same councilors have been doing for years. This is the only path forward for our community.
Why should voters choose you to advance to the general election?
I am the change the current Council needs.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
To look out for the communities best interests by researching, listening, and voting on subjects and items within the counsil’s realm.
Name a public leader you admire and explain why.
At this time, I don’t really admire any public leaders as a great amount of bad decisions have been made at the city, county, state, and national levels.
What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?
Affordable housing, lack of new businesses, and lack of a city that college students want to come back to and visit or stay and work.
Which of those three issues is most important to you, and how would you address it if elected?
Lack of new businesses. To achieve this I would advocate for different policies and bid procedures to make the playing field even for all potential businesses.
What steps, if any, would you take to support or oppose data centers, if elected?
I would oppose data centers and try to take steps, within my reach, to prevent a center locally.
Many Northern Minnesota cities are experiencing tightening budgets. Where would you propose making cuts, if needed?
I’m not certain there is a way to make more cuts than the community is already experiencing.
Incumbent: No
Age on Election Day: 46
Community: Hibbing
Employment: Executive Director Project Care Free Clinic
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
I have a degree from St. Scholastica in Organizational Behavior. I have worked for small businessness, co owned a small business and manage Project Care for people who are under insured or have no insurance. I like to see people succeed.
Why are you running?
I love Hibbing and want to be a part of making this town a place where our children can stay and have healthy, productive successful lives.
Why should voters choose you to advance to the general election?
I am enthusiastically optimistic about the future.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
Listening to city employees and members of the community and voting to take actions in the best interest of the City of Hibbing.
Name a public leader you admire and explain why.
Anytime I see someone teaching, lending a hand to a neighbor or organizing any community event it makes me proud to live in Hibbing.
What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?
Protecting the historic beauty of Hibbing while welcoming change and economic growth. Small business development. Community connection and involvement.
Which of those three issues is most important to you, and how would you address it if elected?
Communtiy connection could address all of these issues. Hibbing is known for having talented, hard working people with creative ideas and solutions. Continuing to find new ways to bring people together will make Hibbing a stronger community.
What steps, if any, would you take to support or oppose data centers, if elected?
We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Protecting our environment is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. Any decisions about data centers should be made with that idea in the forefront.
Many Northern Minnesota cities are experiencing tightening budgets. Where would you propose making cuts, if needed?
It’s been my experience that asking the people doing the work how things could be more efficient is the best way to make effective change. I would listen to workers who have dedicated their lives to serving the residents of Hibbing on areas where cuts could be made.
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.
