Lorie Shaull

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KAXE

Hundreds of local races were decided Tuesday, Nov. 5, by Northern Minnesota voters.

Incumbents were toppled, first-time candidates emerged as victors, ballot questions passed and failed, and Minnesotans turned out in large numbers to have their voices heard.

View our comprehensive results of contested races here.

Contributed

DULUTH — Attorney Shawn Reed bested Attorney Gunnar B. Johnson to earn a judgeship in the Sixth Judicial District.

The unusual judicial race with no incumbent judge began with five candidates ahead of the August primary, and the field narrowed to Reed and Johnson. The surprise retirement of Judge Dale Harris this summer led to the faceoff.

With 239 of 240 precincts reporting as of 4:40 a.m. Wednesday, Reed earned 63,023 votes (54.18%) to Johnson's 52,730 (45.34%).

Reed, 53, is an attorney with Reed Law Ltd. and has been a trial attorney for 27 years. Johnson, 56, is the attorney for the city of Hermantown, Cloquet Fire Department, numerous townships, University of Minnesota-Duluth and Overom Law.

The Sixth Judicial District includes the Arrowhead region. Reed will be seated in Duluth.

Contributed

State Rep. Jeff Dotseth earned enough votes to return to the Minnesota Legislature to represent District 11A.

Dotseth bested DFL opponent Pete Radosevich by 651 votes, earning 12,220 (51.16%) to Radosevich's 11,569 (48.44%).

District 11A includes Carlton County, a small portion of St. Louis County and northern Pine County.

Dotseth earlier this year faced public scrutiny after the Minnesota Star Tribune and Minnesota Reformer reported details of serial domestic abuse that led to his 2008 arrest.

Contributed

Republican candidate Cal Warwas will fill the seat last held by retiring Rep. Dave Lislegard, who was one of the few DFLers remaining seated on the Iron Range.

Warwas earned 56.34% of the vote, or 13,781 votes, to earn the District 7B seat. His DFL opponent Lorrie Janatopolous received 10,655 votes, or 43.56%.

District 7B includes south-central St. Louis County and the East Range, including Virginia and Chisholm.

Contributed

Republican Spencer Igo wins reelection to continue representing House District 7A.

Igo earned 14,196 votes, or 60.15%. DFL challenger Aron Schnaser received 9,366 votes, or 39.75%.

This will be Igo's third term in the Minnesota Legislature. The 28-year-old recently participated in a young candidates roundtable hosted by KAXE, sharing his experiences running for office and serving as an elected official.

House District 7A includes southeastern Itasca County, western St. Louis County and northern Aitkin County.

Contributed

State Rep. Krista Knudsen, R-Lake Shore, earned a resounding victory to return to the state Legislature.

Knudsen received 18,855 votes, or 71.34%. Brian Hobson, DFL, received 7,551 votes, or 28.57%.

This was a rematch between the candidates, who faced off for the seat in 2022. District 5A includes much of southern Cass County, northern Wadena County, southern Hubbard County and southern Becker County.

Contributed

Natalie Zeleznikar, Republican incumbent in House District 3B, will retain her seat, according to unofficial results.

The margin of victory over DFL opponent Mark Munger was slim, however. Zeleznikar earned 13,481 votes, or 50.25%. Munger received 13,321 votes — 160 fewer than the incumbent.

House District 3B includes rural St. Louis County outside of Duluth.

Contributed

Incumbent Republican Roger Skraba will return to the Legislature to represent House District 3A, which includes Cook, Lake, Koochiching and portions of Itasca and St. Louis counties.

Skraba earned 55.64% of the vote, or 14,443 votes. DFLer Harley Droba received 10,779 votes, amounting to 41.45%. Forward Party Independent candidate Rich Tru received 712 votes, or 2.74%.

This is a much larger margin than Skraba's last election in 2022, when he scraped by with a 15-vote victory over Rep. Rob Ecklund, DFL-International Falls.

Contributed

Republican Matt Bliss will continue to represent House District 2B in the Minnesota Legislature.

District 2B includes Manohmen, northern Becker, southern Clearwater, northern Hubbard, southeastern Beltrami, northwestern Cass and southwestern Itasca counties.

Bliss earned 14,398 votes, or 63.53%. DFLer Michael Reyes received 8,190 votes, or 36.14%.

Contributed

In one of the closer legislative races in the region, Republican Bidal Duran Jr. defeated DFLer Reed Olson to represent House District 2A.

The open seat was left vacant when Rep. Matt Grossell retired. District 2A includes all of Lake of the Woods County, most of Beltrami County and the northern portion of Clearwater County.

Duran Jr. earned 11,528 votes, or 51.79% of the vote. Olson earned 10,678 votes, or 47.97%.

Contributed

Republican Steve Gander will represent District 1B in the Minnesota Legislature after earning 67.2% of the vote.

Gander earned 13,939 votes in the district. District 1B includes Red Lake, Polk and Norman counties.

DFLer Mike Christopherson earned 32.74% of the vote, or 6,791 votes.

Contributed

Republican Rep. John Burkel handily won reelection in House District 1A, which includes Kittson, Roseau, Marshall and Pennington counties.

Burkel earned 17,420 votes, or 76.07% of the vote. DFLer James Sceville earned 5,466 votes.

Contributed

Republican Rep. Ron Kresha of Little Falls wins reelection in House District 10A, earning 17,958 votes, or 71.12%.

DFLer Julie Samsal Hipp earned 7,159, or 28.35% of the vote.

District 10A includes southern Crow Wing County, northern Morrison County and southern Aitkin County, including Aitkin. It also includes portions of Mille Lacs and Kanabec counties.

Contributed

Incumbent state Rep. Josh Heintzeman, R-Nisswa, won reelection to represent House District 6B, according to unofficial results.

The district represents western Crow Wing County, including Nisswa, Baxter and most of Brainerd.

Heintzeman earned 63.4%, or 15,744 votes. DFLer Emily LeClaire earned 8,209 votes, or 33.06%. And independent Americans First candidate Troy Scheffler placed a distant third with 848 votes, or 3.41%.

Contributed

Incumbent Rep. Ben Davis, R-Mission Township, won reelection to Minnesota House District 6A.

Davis earned 17,765 votes, or 66.04%. DFLer Earl Butenhoff received 9,116 votes, or 33.89%.

Mayor Jorge Prince and council members Gwenia Fiskevold Gould and Lynn Eaton will keep their seats on the Bemidji City Council after the 2024 election.

Current Ward 3 council member Ron Johnson was moved to Ward 1 during the 2022 redistricting and has tried to keep a place on the council since, running for the at-large seat in 2022 and for the Ward 1 seat in a special 2023 election.

Johnson will serve out the remainder of his Ward 3 term this year, but a new face joining the council in 2025 is local realtor Mark Dickinson.

Bemidji Mayor

• Daniel Jourdain, 2,009, 30.88%
• Jorge Prince (incumbent), 4,455, 68.48%
• Write-in, 42, 0.65%

Council Ward 1

• Gwenia Fiskevold Gould (incumbent), 509, 56.74%
• Ron Johnson, 381, 42.47%
• Write-in, 7, 0.78%

Council Ward 3

• Katie Carter, 566, 41.13%
• Mark Dickinson, 806, 58.58%
• Write-in, 4, 0.29%

Council Ward 5

• Bill Batchelder, 604, 38.77%
• Lynn Eaton (incumbent), 945, 60.65%
• Write-in, 9, 0.58%
  

Two incumbents were victorious in their re-election bids for their respective roles on the Becker County Board.

Contributed

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Becker County

In District 5, Barry Nelson defeated challenger Jack Heisler with about two-thirds of votes cast.

In District 4, Richard Vareberg defeated challenger Donald Skarie by a much slimmer margin, with unofficial results showing Vareberg winning by 7 votes.

Contributed

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Becker County

Becker District 3: 5/5 precincts reporting, 100%

• Phil Hansen, 2,191; 55.01%
• Terry L. Mackner, 1,782, 44.74%

Becker District 4: 5/5 precincts reporting, 100%

• Donald Skarie, 1,749, 49.79%
• Richard Vareberg (incumbent), 1,756, 49.99%
• Write-in, 8, 0.23%

Becker District 5: 15/15 precincts reporting, 100%

• Jack Heisler, 1,126, 31.79%
• Barry Nelson (incumbent), 2,396, 67.65%

WRENSHALL — It's 143 votes each for mayor candidates Jeff Bloom and Gary Butala in the city of Wrenshall, in Carlton County.

Butala is the incumbent mayor.

One voter cast a write-in vote, which could have made the difference in the close race, according to unofficial results.

If a recount occurs and results remain the same, a tie-breaker will be in order. Examples of tie-breakers include drawing a card from a deck or flipping a coin.

Contributed

Incumbent Republican Jim Joy has won reelection to House District 4B, which includes most of Clay County and part of Becker County, including Detroit Lakes.

Joy earned 15,276 votes, or 66.41%. Thaddeus Laugisch, DFL, earned 7,709 votes, or 33.52%, based on unofficial results.

Burl Ives has won reelection to the Itasca County Board posthumously, based on unofficial results. Ives earned 3,927 votes, or 72.65%. Brian Oftelie earned 1,294 votes, and there were 184 write-ins.

The Itasca County Board must once again declare Ives' seat vacant, setting up a special election sometime early next year.

In a crowded field, David Cowan, Ashley Goodman and Thomas Gustafson eked out wins to claim seats on the Grand Rapids School Board.

No incumbents ran in the race, and nine candidates were campaigning for the three seats.

Just under a thousand votes, 1.2%, separated the top four candidates, with Brian Vroman falling just 215 votes short.

• Thomas Gustafson, 6,411, 18.01%
• Ashley Goodman, 5,884, 16.53%
• David Cowan, 5,670, 15.93%
• Brian Vroman, 5,455, 15.33%
• Stephanie Lipscy, 3,861, 10.85%
• Glenn J. Pearson, 3,733, 10.49%
• Janet Awesome Miller, 2,203, 6.19%
• Ethan Browning, 1,196, 3.36%
• Larlin Neumann, 909, 2.55%
• Write-in, 272, .6%

Rick Blake will return to the Grand Rapids City Council, earning 2,884 votes, or 38.34%. Second place goes to newcomer Dan Mertes, earning 2,556 votes, or 33.98%.

Joe Burns earned 2,003 votes, or 26.63%, according to the unofficial results. Mayor Tasha Connelly, running unopposed, earned 4,357 votes, 97.49%.

Editor's note: Earlier results from Koochiching County were updated, resulting in new vote totals.

With 100% of precincts reporting, the first two school board races in Northern Minnesota have unofficial results.

In South Koochiching, three newcomers have unseated the two incumbents. Vickie Hasbargen led the pack with 366 votes, 17.81%. Jake Hasbargen and Brian Dreher, followed with 360 (17.52%) and 358 (17.42%) votes, respectively.

In International Falls, all four incumbents will remain on the school board: Bruce Raboin (3,277, 24.29%), Dale Johnson (3,078, 22.81%), JoAnn Smith (2,470, 18.31%) and Roxanne T. Kogstad (2,413, 17.88%). Newcomer Karen Salo still garnered a significant portion of ballots, receiving 2,163 votes (16.03%).

Some of the first results are coming in across the state.

Races in the cities of Kennedy in Kittson County and Backus in Cass County are complete.

In Backus, it appears a tie-breaker will be needed for City Council. Troy A. Risk was the top vote-getter, earning 12 votes. Nancy Foley and incumbent Karl Flier each earned six votes for second place.

Tie-breakers can sometimes include drawing cards from a deck or flipping a coin.

Follow here as results come in.

Two Hibbing voters highlight the varied political opinions of the Iron Range, but also how much local matters.

After voting at the Ward 3 polling place, Dillon Tomassini, 31, said the economy, expanding locally, mining and immigration are the biggest issues for him.

Tiffany Schleppegrell, 44, alongside her daughter Eveline, 9.5 almost 10, said they wanted to vote for the first woman president. Schleppegrell also added "it's really important for people to make health care decisions about their own bodies."

Tomassini declined to comment on the House District 7A race, and Schleppegrell said she didn't have a strong opinion.

Tomassini voted against the proposed local sales tax to fund a Regional Public Safety Center, pointing to high taxes.

"My land taxes and my home after being there seven years have doubled," he said. "My pay has not doubled."

Schleppegrell voted for the sales tax and said it's a great investment in the future of the city.

For Hibbing School Board, Tomassini said board members can't make much of a difference because so much is dictated by state regulation.

"But I still voted one person in: [Michael T.] Egan," he said. "Local business owner, family friend. I think he's a good name in town. The other ones I really don't know."

Schleppegrell voted for Kim (Kotonias) McLaughlin, Cassie Liubakka and Sierra Napoli-Thein.

"Because I know they all have given a lot of time and effort to the school," she said.

Election results will start trickling in soon.

You can find our election results here, after the first numbers are posted.

As seems to be the case in many small Minnesota cities, the city clerk recruited the head election judge.

This is Donnette Kirske's first year as an election judge, let alone the head. In fact, all but one of Keewatin's judges is new.

Kirske is the bar manager at Keewatin's Legion — next door to the polls at the Community Center.

"I was walking across the street to do business with them and she had stopped me and said, 'Would you be interested in this?' and I said 'Sure,'" she recounted.

Kirske said she's not that interested in politics, but she plans to continue volunteering.

"I don't see why I would stop. It's not that much time, and it's important," she said. "It's something that I feel like I can do for the city to help out in my way."

Polls closed at 8 p.m., though voters in line will still be able to cast their ballots.

It’s very unlikely that Americans will know the outcome of this year’s presidential race on Nov. 5, Election Day.

It could take days, even weeks, after polls close before the results become clear. The same is true for control of the U.S. House and Senate and for other close contests, including some local races.

The reasons are mostly procedural. Accurate vote counting takes time, especially when it involves millions of mail ballots. Legal challenges, audits and recounts can also extend the period needed to determine the outcome.

Election officials caution Americans to be patient. They say what might look like delays are part of the normal process and not a sign of something nefarious. They warn that simply because a candidate declares victory does not make it true.

“The post-election period is going to be key,” said Steve Simon, Minnesota secretary of state, at a recent gathering of the National Association of Secretaries of States. “It will be as fraught or more so than 2020.”

Malachy Koons reports 12 people were in line at the Grand Rapids Library around 6:55 a.m., before polls even opened!

Jennifer Barr reports Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids was "very busy" at 7:15 a.m. She brought her son Zane, who voted for his first time.

Heather Johnson says she was up and at 'em this morning to stand in line outside her Bemidji polling place, but she got right in and out of there in only a few minutes. Unfortunately, she forgot her sticker.

Larissa Donovan was voter #469 in Bemidji's Ward 1. This part of Bemidji also includes the dorms at Bemidji State University and many voters needed to register.

Larissa Donovan

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KAXE

Grand Rapids voter Steve Pallin, 76, said "chas[ing] away the madness" was on his mind when he went to vote at Zion Lutheran Church early Tuesday afternoon.

"It's time for more civility, and everybody's got to be more positive," he said.

Grand Rapids fourth precinct is the only one in the city with Itasca County Commissioner District 4 on the ballot.

Incumbent Burl Ives died before Election Day but after his name could be struck from the ballot. Challenge Brian Oftelie's name is also listed.

Since Ives' death, his election signs have continued to pop up. Supporters say the special election triggered if Ives wins posthumously is a better way to get fair representation.

Pallin didn't vote for either candidate.

"I voted for Dick Sackett," he said. "And the reason why is I know him personally. I was a union negotiator with the same union he was in — worked for a different company. And here's there for everybody."

Sackett is one of three residents who have filed to have their write-in votes counted. The other two have since suspended their campaigns.

In her 42 years as an election worker in Bovey, Cory Casio, 63, has seen it all.

She recalled one year, not long after she started volunteering, that a part broke in the sole election machine at the county courthouse where every polling place brought their ballots.

They had to call down to the Twin Cities, and someone had to drive up a single part — in a blizzard. Standard Minnesota November, I suppose.

Casio said she was at the courthouse until 4:30 in the morning, and she got home earlier than most.

She said these days there's still a wait at the Itasca County Courthouse when they go to drop off ballots, but they at least get out of Bovey much quicker.

"Lot of technologies compared to when I started — everything was counting 'til however late it took," she said. "With all the automated stuff it's not quite as difficult."

Minnesota polls close at 8 p.m. — but that doesn't mean that's when voting stops.

As long as you are in line by 8 p.m. you can still vote.

Not sure where to go? Use the polling place finder.

Larissa Donovan

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KAXE

Voters at the Red Lake and Redby precincts on the Red Lake Nation were waiting in long lines to cast their ballots.

When asked what's top of mind as they head to the polls, one Red Lake voter told me, "We're doing a gender reveal and hoping for a girl!"

Red Lake Chairman Darrell Seki authorized four hours of administrative leave for tribal employees to vote today.

Larissa Donovan

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KAXE

At the Redby Community Center, I visited with some of the folks helping the Red Lake Political Education Committee get out the vote. Some drivers have been helping get voters to the polls since 7 a.m.

I also spotted retired Bemidji City Clerk Kay Murphy serving as a Redby election judge! She and other election judges in Redby were waiting for JR's delivery of cheeseburgers and french fries from the Redby Store.

I overheard Brandon, who was helping voters enter into the Political Education Committee's drawing, tell voters, "I've never seen lines like this!"

Debra Jackson, 70, of Cohasset said local officials provide important representation — but it's not just about her being represented.

"We're here. We've lived our life here. But we want to make it so that future generations can have a good future and living life and being apart of a community," she said.

"You start looking beyond your current situation and look toward the future."

She said she looks for clarity and open-mindedness in city councilors and school board members.

He used to be on the ballot, but now former state senator Tom Saxhaug hands them out.

At Zion Lutheran Church — the polling place for Grand Rapids fourth precinct — Saxhaug, 76, said he started working the polls after his time as senator.

He said having local poll workers helps with a calmer Election Day atmosphere.

"There's a certain amount of — I won't say relaxation, but people don't feel so uptight, you know?" he said. "We watch what we're doing, you know, 'cause you don't talk politics. You talk about 'How's your grandma?'"

Lorie Shaull

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KAXE

These red, white and blue Douglas Manufacturing Corp curtains caught my eye in Bovey. Cory Casio, head election judge, said they had been there for at least 42 years — as long as she had been working the polls.

A little research places the curtains at least before 1970; the Crete, Nebraska-based company began making vinyl versions that year, instead of the canvas ones seen in Bovey.

Lorie Shaull

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KAXE

Websites selling antiques describe similar curtains being from the '40s through '60s. Whatever their age may be, they were well taken care of and a colorful addition to the basement of the Bovey City Hall.

Lorie Shaull

District 7B could decide control of the Minnesota House and define the Iron Range's identity, as the region's DFL past is confronted by a Republican future.

Co-founder of Iron Range Today Jerry Burnes wrote an in-depth analysis of the Range's political past, present and future, asking "Will House 7B go red?"

Read more of his analysis ahead of results in what's expected to be a tight race.

Election judges in multiple cities — Grand Rapids, Cohasset, Bovey, Keewatin and Hibbing — all noted the same thing: There are a lot of people voting today.

In Keewatin, election judges each guessed what the final voter total would be, ranging from 420 to 502.

Donnette Kriske, head election judge, said the estimates were decently close at the primary.

"But I think it's going to be well over what we all guessed here," she said.

Just after 3 p.m., 317 ballots had been cast at the city's only precinct.

Mid-afternoon in Hibbing, longtime election judge Pat Green said they'd seen a steady stream of voters since 6:50 a.m.

"It's never been — that I've seen — this steady all day long," he said. "... I'd say it's going to be between 90 and 100% turnout."

Clearbrook election judges Heidi Johnson, Joy Walberg and Lucie Thompson reported a steady stream of voters since they opened at 7 a.m.

Larissa Donovan

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KAXE

Voters I spoke with there said economy and immigration were among the top of mind issues as they cast their ballots.

Larissa Donovan

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KAXE

Jennifer Barr

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KAXE

In the run-up to the election, KAXE debuted its new program “Dialed In,” an occasional, call-in civic dialogue show.

Our second episode was Friday, focusing on the 2024 election and featuring first-time voters, a roundtable discussion with Northern Minnesota candidates under 35, answers to listener questions, a live interview with Secretary of State Steve Simon and more.

You can find the show here or on the Up North Report feed wherever you listen to podcasts.

Left your voting research 'til the last minute? We've got you covered.

Check out KAXE's Election Guide, which includes submissions from candidates in contested races across Northern Minnesota, plus the ballot questions you might see.

State and federal laws require polling places and the voting process to be physically accessible.

You have the right to orally confirm who you are and to ask another person to sign for you if you cannot sign your name.

You have the right to vote if you are under guardianship, unless a judge has revoked your right to vote.

You have the right to a replacement ballot if you make a mistake before you cast it.

You have the right to take a sample ballot into the voting booth.

Polling places have an accessible ballot-marking machine that can mark a ballot for you if you cannot, or choose not, to vote using a pen.

If you cannot easily leave your vehicle, you can ask to have a ballot brought out to you. Two election judges from different major political parties will bring out a ballot to you. When you are finished, the election judges will bring your ballot inside and place it in the ballot box.

Learn more at the Secretary of State's website.

You have the right to take time off work to vote, without losing your pay, personal leave or vacation time. 

You have the right to vote if you are in line to vote anytime before 8 p.m. 

You have the right to register to vote on Election Day if you can show the required proof of residence. 

You have the right to bring your children with you to vote. 

You can vote if you are not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction, even if you are on probation or parole, or have other conditions like restitution. 

You have the right to file a written complaint at your polling place if you are unhappy with the way an election is being run. 

Learn more at the Secretary of State's website.

Did you know that a prior felony conviction doesn't exclude you from voting?

Minnesota recently passed a law that expands voting rights — so long as you are not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction.

Even if you are on felony probation or parole, or owe restitution, you are eligible to vote.

In 2024, those who applied for an instructional permit, driver’s license or state ID, were also registered to vote if they met all eligibility requirements, including citizenship.

Also, 16- and 17-year-old Minnesotans can submit a voter pre-registration form and have their registration take effect on their 18th birthday.

In-person ballots, cast on Election Day, are typically counted quickly, often by machine. 

In Minnesota, mail-in and absentee ballots begin processing 18 days before the election but are not counted until after polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. 

It is routine for election officials to discover small errors or typos, such as entering the number 48 instead of 84. 

Election results are not official until they have been reviewed and certified by a canvassing board. If necessary, the canvassing board oversees a recount. Canvassing boards are also involved in the process of randomly selecting precincts for review after every election. 

Minnesota requires counties to conduct a post-election review after every state general election to ensure they align with the machine-counted tallies. 

The review is a hand count of ballots of randomly selected precincts, where they compare results for President, U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative and Governor with the optical scan ballot counter total. 

Election results aren’t final until they’re certified, a process that varies by state. In Minnesota, results must be certified by the State Canvassing Board by Nov. 21.