State Rep. Josh Heintzeman will advance to face DFL candidate Nicky Hardy in the general election in November after the Tuesday, Aug. 11, primary.
Heintzeman is the incumbent representing House District 6B, which includes the cities of Brainerd, Baxter, Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Breezy Point and Jenkins in Crow Wing County.
He received an overwhelming majority of votes, with 3,796 cast for him, or 88.82%.
Heintzeman has served in the Legislature since 2014. He's the co-chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy committee and serves on three other committees: Legacy Finance, Ways and Means, and Commerce Finance and Policy.
Matthew Eric Zinda received 478 votes. This is the second time Zinda has challenged Heintzeman in a primary — he also ran in 2024.
Zinda also ran in the special election primary to replace former state Sen. Justin Eichorn after he resigned following his arrest. He finished last in a field of eight candidates. Keri Heintzeman, the wife of Josh Heintzeman, ultimately won that seat and now serves alongside her husband in the Legislature representing Senate District 6.
-
Plus: Marble getes funds to install water filters for manganese and iron; ag department accepts comments on socioeconomic impacts of large dairies, and it's a prolific pinecone season. -
Contributed/Hennepin CountyThe court filing comes ahead of a Sept. 23, 2026, sentencing hearing, 18 months after Eichorn’s arrest as part of an undercover law enforcement sting operation. -
Contributed/J. Stephen Conn via FlickrThe St. Louis County Sheriff's Office responded to the report at 6:19 a.m. Sept. 3, 2026, at the Ash River Visitor Center on Kabetogama Lake. -
Plus: District judges in Crow Wing County request deputy presence at hearings, highway construction project moves forward in Bemidji
-
Emma Krab/KAXEThe Northern Research Station was among several sites slated for closure in March 2026 when the Trump administration announced a major reorganization of the service. -
The Itasca County Sheriff's Office determined the bomb threat at the mine was not credible. Now, they've turned the investigation to the threat itself, which is a felony. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXERight after the back-to-school traffic rush on Sept. 8, 2026, MnDOT crews will implement a detour while rebuilding the north side of the Highway 71 intersection. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEForest Service officials continue to reopen additional sites and recreation areas impacted by wildfire in July 2026. -
Contributed/Fairview Health ServicesThe organization states the name change reflects the relationship between Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital and Fairview Health Services. -
Contributed/Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesThe Twig Area Trail Riders’ proposed trail system would include over 500 miles of new and existing trail segments.
