NISSWA — Republican candidate Keri Heinzteman has raised the most money by far in the special Senate District 6 race.
According to the latest campaign finance reports, Heintzeman has received $55,000, most of it through individual contributions. She is the wife of state Rep. Josh Heintzeman, R-Nisswa, and has garnered financial support from some of the same donors who have donated to her husband in his runs for office.
She’s also the only candidate in the race to have donations from lobbyists. At least seven have donated a total of over $7,000 to Heintzeman. They represent a wide variety of interests from health care to Northern Minnesota cities and schools to various businesses and trade groups.
The number of individual contributors to her campaign — 34 — also far outpaces her opponents. The next closest, Josh Gazelka, has 14.
Her war chest has come together in a matter of weeks ahead of the Tuesday, April 15, special primary among eight possible Republican candidates. The local party unit opted not to endorse a candidate for the race, instead leaving it up to the voters.
Former Minnesota GOP Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan has raised the third most, just over $15,000. Josh Gazelka, son of former Republican senate majority leader Paul Gazelka, is in fourth with $13,000 raised.
Local businessman and veteran Steve Cotariu is in second with just under $18,000 raised, but just $2,500 comes from individual contributions. The rest is self-funded.
Those four candidates have spent around $10,000 on their campaigns.
Just three candidates have had the majority of their itemized contributions come from within the district: former Breezy Point mayor Angel Zierden (four of five), DFL candidate Denise Slipy (nine of 11) and John Howe, the only candidate outside Crow Wing County (four of four).
None of Gazelka's contributors live in Senate District 6; the closest are his parents in nearby East Gull Lake.
All five of Cotariu's contributors not only live outside the district but outside the state, though at least two appear to be family.
Two other candidates received support from outside Minnesota.
Former Florida Congressional candidate James Judge donated to Carnahan. Judge lost in the 15th Congressional District Republican primary in 2024.
Heintzeman received a donation from an individual in Stamford, Connecticut.
DFLer Slipy sits in fourth in the funding race. With a few exceptions — including a donation from former Eighth Congressional District candidate Jennifer Schultz — Slipy's support so far has been local, though half her individual contributions aren't itemized in her campaign reports. Around 25% to 40% of other candidates' contributions are also not itemized.
Candidates Doug Kern and Matthew Zinda have not submitted any campaign finance reports. According to the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board, committees must be registered within 14 days of raising or spending more than $750 (other than a candidate's personal funds), or by the end of the next business day after receiving a contribution or loan in excess of $500.
Under state law, campaign contributions need not be itemized if they are less than $200, assuming candidates meet the other criteria requiring a report.
