The election season officially kicks off in Minnesota on Tuesday, May 19, with candidates beginning to file for office.
The first filing period is for offices eligible for the primary election on Aug. 11. Candidates running for state office, U.S. Senate or House, the state Legislature, county office and in some cities and school districts have until June 2 to file.
In partisan races, more than one candidate per party triggers a primary. In nonpartisan races, the number of candidates must be more than double the number of seats for a primary to occur; the primary will narrow the number of candidates to two per seat.
Primaries are possible in all federal, state and county offices. Only some cities and school districts have primaries. In Northern Minnesota, primaries are possibly only in the Red Lake School District and the cities of Bemidji, Brainerd, Buhl, Chisholm, Cloquet, Ely, Eveleth, Gilbert, Hermantown, Hibbing, Iron Junction, McKinley, Mountain Iron, Two Harbors and Virginia.
Filings for municipalities and school districts without primaries open July 14.
The following are searchable lists of candidates who have filed to run in Northern Minnesota compiled by KAXE News, per the Secretary of State's 2026 candidate filings database.
Not sure which districts you're in? Visit the Minnesota Legislature's Who Represents Me? tool or your local county elections office.
Report an error or omission by emailing news@kaxe.org.
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