Live updates: Voters narrowing fields of candidates in primary election
The KAXE News Team shares live updates from the polls across Northern Minnesota as voters cast ballots for Senate, governor, sheriff and other races.
Minnesotans are choosing candidates for governor and U.S. Senate in the first election without an incumbent in years.
Northern Minnesotans are also narrowing the field for some county offices, city races in Bemidji, Hibbing, Chisholm and Cloquet, and Red Lake School Board.
We're ending our election coverage for now. Here's what comes next.
Election nights are always extra long, and KAXE is ending its coverage at 2 a.m. Wednesday.
But that doesn't mean our coverage of the election stops.
News Director Chelsey Perkins and Director of Content and Public Affairs Heidi Holtan will be on the KAXE Morning Show later this morning to talk about the election results.
Then, our news team will pick back up, albeit a little later than normal. We'll be breaking down election results, talking with candidates and explaining what comes next — in addition to our normal news coverage.
Have questions you want us to answer? Email us!
Soon, we'll start shifting our focus to the November election. That includes putting together another edition of our Election Guide, planning our coverage and trying to determine what stories will serve our audience best. We welcome feedback on that, too!
Jensen advances in state auditor primary; state secretary and attorney general races called
Scott Jensen has won the Republican primary state auditor race, defeating party-endorsed candidate Nate George by over 40 points.
Jensen, who last ran for governor against Tim Walz in 2022, earned 66.73% of the vote as of 2 a.m. Wednesday. George secured 26.19%, while third-place candidate Will Finn earned 7.08%.
The Republican state auditor race was one of three party primaries for statewide office. Republicans also faced off for secretary of state, which Tad Jude won with 60.43% of the vote.
Tad Jude has won the Republican nomination for secretary of state for the 2026 midterm primary election on Aug. 11, 2026.
On the DFL side, incumbent Attorney General Keith Ellison secured 84.66% of the vote to defeat David J.S. Madgett.
All three primary winners will now face previously unchallenged opponents in the general election. Jensen will face DFL candidate Zack Filipovich, and Jude will be up against DFL incumbent Steve Simon. Ellison will defend his office against Republican challenger Ronald J. Schutz.
The midterm general election is Nov. 3.
Expected to be close, Democratic Senate race is dominated by Flanagan
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has defeated Rep. Angie Craig and other candidates in the primary race to become the DFL's candidate for senator.
Anticipated to be a close race, progressive Flanagan beat centrist Craig by nearly 10 points.
Flanagan will now face Republican primary winner Michele Tafoya in the general election on Nov. 3.
Savaloja, Scott advance in Wadena County Sheriff primary election
Bryan Savaloja earned 1,333 votes in the Wadena County Sheriff primary election. Milo Scott came in a distant second with 560 votes.
Savaloja is a sergeant with the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office. Scott is a police officer with the Wadena Police Department.
As the two top candidates in the nonpartisan race, the pair will advance to the November ballot.
Klobuchar, Demuth set for gubernatorial showdown
Republican state House Speaker Lisa Demuth and DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar are set to advance to the general election for governor of Minnesota.
As of 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, Demuth cinched 43.43% of the Republican vote. Second place in the primary fell to Mike Lindell, a President Donald Trump-backed candidate, who claimed 32.45% of the vote, with party-endorsed Kendall Qualls in third with 21.38%.
The DFL side of the race told a more decisive story. Klobuchar and her running mate Ben Schierer won 89.64% of the vote, leaving all other candidates in the single digits.
The midterm primary election is Nov. 3.
Witkofsky set to challenge incumbent Smith in Itasca County Board race
DEER RIVER — Lonny Witkofsky will advance alongside incumbent Cory Smith to the general election for Itasca County Commissioner in District 1.
Witkofsky cinched 839 votes, the most of any candidate. In second place, Smith trailed by over a hundred votes, finishing with 715. Chris Reed, the race's third-place candidate, received 471 votes and will not advance.
The general election is set for Nov. 3.
Endorsed Striemer advances to general for open House District 10A seat
Republican Mark Striemer and DFL candidate Melissa Maertens will face off in the State Representative District 10A general election in November.
The endorsed Striemer won the Republican primary election over Brian Lindquist. He earned 3,619 votes.
Lindquist received 2,710 votes.
Current Rep. Ron Kresha is retiring. Kresha had backed Lindquist, along with state Senate primary challenger Deb Holthaus, who lost by a wide margin to incumbent Sen. Nathan Wesenberg.
Wiener narrowly defeats incumbent Utke in SD5
House Rep. Mike Wiener narrowly defeated State Sen. Paul Utke to move on to the general election in Senate District 5.
State Senate District 5 includes all of Wadena and Todd counties and parts of Cass, Hubbard, Becker and Morrison counties.
Utke is the incumbent, but did not receive the Republican Party endorsement.
Wiener received 5,803 votes, and Utke received 5,611.
Wiener advances to face DFLer Skylar Fynboh in the general election.
Editor's note: KAXE initially reported that Utke won the race. The result changed after results were updated. KAXE regrets the error.
Incumbent Nathan Wesenberg advances in State Senate District 10 primary
Incumbent Nathan Wesenberg received 9,070 votes to beat opponent Deb Holthaus in the Republican primary for State Senator District 10.
Holthaus received 3,152 votes.
Wesenberg will face DFL candidate Tara Killen in the general election in November.
Danielson clear frontrunner in Carlton County sheriff race; Walsh also advances
Three-quarters of Carlton County primary voters cast ballots for Chief Deputy Dan Danielson in the three-way primary for county sheriff.
Longtime Sheriff Kelly Lake is retiring and endorsed Danielson.
"I am running to combine my executive readiness with my lifetime of community roots to protect our taxpayers, support our staff, and ensure a safe, secure future for the county I have always called home," Danielson said.
Chad Walsh, who has positioned himself as an outsider in the race, received 14.31% of the vote and will face Danielson in the general election.
Rosing, Frederick advance to replace retiring Becker County auditor-treasurer
Amy Rosing and Kim Frederick rose to the top of a crowded field to advance to the general election to replace retiring Becker County Auditor-Treasurer Mary E. Hendrickson.
Rosing is the office manager for Ace Electric and Lighting, and Frederick works in the auditor-treasurer's office.
Heintzeman advances in House of Representatives District 6B primary election
State Rep. Josh Heintzeman will advance to face DFL candidate Nicky Hardy in the general election in November.
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.
Matthew Eric Zinda received 478.
Vake, Frazier move on in Chisholm mayor primary with no incumbent
CHISHOLM — Travis Vake and Joy Frazier will move on to ballots in November after earning the most votes in the primary.
Current Chisholm Mayor Adam Lantz opted not to seek another term in office.
The candidates were seven votes apart according to unofficial results: Vake earned 297 and Frazier earned 290.
Not advancing are Marty Halverson and Brandan L. Fiedler.
Knutson, Vonasek top 2 in Polk County Board race
Curtis Knutson of rural Fisher and Leonard Vonasek of Huntsville Township will face off to represent western Polk County on the County Board.
Hintz, Opheim to advance in Norman County District 4
Just 1 of 3 incumbents running for reelection advances in Red Lake School Board primary
RED LAKE — In a crowded primary for four positions on the Red Lake School Board, eight candidates will move on to ballots in November.
Of the three incumbents who vied to keep their seats, only one will advance to the next election: Tina Stately, who earned 176 votes.
Sharon Kingbird earned the most votes at 360. Also advancing are Vestanna Cook, Dustin Thunder-Harris, Jennifer Schoenborn, Deanna Pemberton, Robert Pemberton Sr. and Ryan Holthusen.
Young, Bouchonville to advance in Cass County special election
Rancher Aaron Young and retired nonprofit leader Leslie Bouchonville are the top two finishers in the Cass County Commissioner District 3 special election.
The two will advance to the November election to replace Rusty Lilyquist, who died in February.
Young has worn many hats and currently operates Y Knot Ranch, raising beef cattle using regenerative agriculture practices.
Bouchonville spent decades leading the Pine River-Backus Family Center.
Borland, Fosso advance for Hibbing at-large seat
HIBBING — Incumbent Justin Fosso will face off with Mark Borland in November for his at large seat on the Hibbing City Council.
Borland earned 851 votes and Fosso earned 733.
Tiffany Schleppegrell and Angela Jivery will not advance from the primary, having earned 628 votes and 291 votes, respectively.
Hyduke, Allen advance in Hibbing mayoral primary
HIBBING — Current Hibbing Mayor Peter Hyduke led the primary contest for his seat Tuesday, Aug. 11.
With 1,754 votes cast in his favor, Hyduke took more than two-thirds of the ballots in the contest.
Also advancing to the general election is Marisa Allen, who earned 414 votes.
Gunderson, LaCroix to face off for Clearwater sheriff
Bagley Police Chief Adam Gunderson and sheriff's Deputy Clarence LaCroix will advance to the general election for Clearwater County sheriff.
Gunderson said the biggest challenge facing the sheriff's office is retaining experienced officers, saying higher wages and better training opportunities are needed.
LaCroix pointed more generally to a lack of resources as the biggest challenge.
The two will have to convince undecided voters that they're the best option to address the county's challenges before November.
Hibbing precincts see steady voter turnout
HIBBING — Throughout the city of Hibbing, election judges had one word on their minds to describe the state of voter turnout in the city — steady.
Hibbing City Clerk Candie Seppala served as head election judge for the city's Precinct 1. She said unlike a typical year, her poll workers didn't experience any lulls or downtime while volunteering at the National Guard armory.
"I will tell you this," she said. "After doing this for 33 years, normally the primary is very slow and we are very steady today."
Josie Sevillano used the same word to describe the consistent voter turnout she saw at the polling location at Range Regional Airport. She said in other years, she'd seen afternoon turnout around the 200-person mark. At 3:45 p.m., the count at Sevillano's precinct was at 415.
Kelly Grinsteinner spent her day at the polling location at Irongate Plaza, where she noted the "steady flow of avid voters" she saw throughout the day. At about 5 p.m., her precinct reported 513 ballots cast.
Grinsteinner said the consistent voter turnout points to a desire to get involved.
"It shows me," she said, "that people are paying attention to politics more."
Lamb, Hallback advance in incumbentless Cloquet mayor primary
CLOQUET — Sheila Lamb and Dave Hallback will advance to the ballots in November as they vie to be the next mayor of Cloquet.
Current Cloquet Mayor Roger Maki is retiring at the end of his term.
Lamb garnered the most votes with 1,010 cast in her favor. Hallback was a distant second with 691.
Peter J Erickson will not advance to the next election after earning 449 votes.
Minnesota’s most unifying platform missing from ballots
DEER RIVER — Lucile Sobolik and John Sobolik Jr.’s platforms might earn more bipartisan support than any candidate, but their names weren’t on any ballots.
That’s because Lucile is 7 and John is 8.
The siblings spent Primary Election Day afternoon playing outside as voters walked into Deer River City Hall next door to cast their ballots.
Their mom, Stephanie Sobolik, said Lucile and John practiced casting ballots when they learned about voting in school.
“You have to vote for one person, but not another one,” John said.
They even have some ideas about laws they’d enact if they were elected governor.
“You can’t put garbage in the lakes and rivers,” John said.
“Eat popcorn every single day,” Lucile said. “Everybody has to eat ice cream every single day.”
If they’ve earned your vote for governor, make sure to head to the polls in 2046.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct a misspelling of a name. KAXE regrets the error.
White, Kelm to advance in Cook County District 1 race
District 1 Commissioner Debra K. White and Matt Kelm, both of Hovland, will advance in Minnesota's northeastern-most county board race.
"I care about those who call Cook County their home, really care. I am committed to this county, to my home," said White in KAXE's Election Guide. "With the continued pressures of rising property values, county spending must be thoughtful and deliberate. I have the energy to try to make life affordable for our residents."
Kelm said he is running to be the change he wants to see.
"To be the change I want to see. I have always tried to stay politically engaged in my life. In recent years I have felt it more important to be involved locally and as I have seen the importance of the County Board's work- I want to bring a younger eye, more positive and engaged energy, and collaborative spirit to the seat in District 1."
Crow Wing: Franzen earns 59% of votes, Espe to join on November ballot
Incumbent Crow Wing County District 4 Commissioner Rosemary Franzen received a commanding 58.85% of the primary vote.
The Sowing Room Executive Director Dawn Espe finished second with 23.54% of the vote and will advance with Franzen to the November election.
Troy Kenneth Scheffler finished third with 17.64%.
Siefert of Remer, incumbent Bruns top 2 in Cass County District 4
Tyler Siefert and Scott D. Bruns emerged as the top two candidates in a relatively even race in Cass County Commissioner District 4.
Siefert of Remer edged the incumbent Bruns by 12 votes and less than 1 percentage point.
Third-place finisher Scott Thompson finished 101 votes behind Bruns.
Siefert and Bruns will face off again in November.
Anderson and Olson, Swiers and Starkey advance in Mahnomen County
Tyler Anderson and Larry Olson will advance in the Mahnomen County Board District 3 race.
Joe Swiers and Tina Starkey will advance in the District 4 race.
Aitkin County: Incumbent Wedel, challenger Catlin move on
AITKIN — Current Aitkin County District 1 Commissioner J. Mark Wedel and retired law enforcement officer Timothy Catlin will continue in the race to represent the city of Aitkin on the County Board.
Wedel led Catlin by just six votes: 225 (36.76%) to 219 (35.78%). Aitkin City Councilor Christopher S. Dotzler trailed with 168 or 27.45%.
Wedel said he is running to put his experience to work and maintain fiscal integrity and responsible spending for taxpayers.
Catlin has spent his life in Aitkin County and said he cares deeply about the people who call it home.
"Having lived here my whole life, I understand the challenges residents face — from rising costs to limited access to services — and I believe our county deserves strong, steady leadership that listens and responds," he said.
Bemidji voters select Johnson, Thayer to advance to November
BEMIDJI — Voters within the city of Bemidji selected the experienced candidates to advance from the primary.
Former city council member Ron Johnson served for more than 20 years as the Ward 3 representative until he lost an election bid for the at-large seat in 2022. Four years later, he will return to the ballot in November, alongside the incumbent, Audrey Thayer.
Johnson topped the field with 780 votes, or 38.94% of the vote. Thayer was a close second with 712 votes, or 35.55%.
Thayer, of the White Earth Nation, has served in the at-large role since 2022, after being elected to the Ward 1 seat in 2018. She is the first Indigenous woman to be elected on the Bemidji City Council.
Newcomer Grace Wilder fell behind Johnson and Thayer with 511 votes, or 25.51%.
Red Lake voters cast ballots in crowded School Board primary
RED LAKE — Red Lake's independent school district is one of a handful of school districts in the state that host a primary.
Fourteen candidates filed for four positions on the School Board.
Voters in Red Lake and Redby cast ballots at the Red Lake Government Center in the room typically reserved for Tribal Council meetings.
"I think the School Board needs a little bit of a change, so changing it up a bit," said voter AnnMarie English-Defoe. "Changing it up and it's going to be different, hopefully."
Current School Board members up for election this year are Nicole Desjarlait, Christopher Jourdain, Tina Stately and Thomas Barrett. Desjarlait, Jourdain and Stately are running for reelection.
Fawn Beaulieu, Vestanna Cook, Ryan Holthusen, Sharon Kingbird, Deanna K Lasley, Ron Lussier, Deanna Pemberton, Robert Pemberton Sr., Linda S. Perkins, Jennifer Schoenborn and Dustin Thunder-Harris also join the three incumbents in the race.
The top eight candidates in the Aug. 11 primary will advance to the November ballot.
"There were a lot of good choices," voter Richard Defoe said.
Fabian Cook said he has participated in just about every primary since the 1960s.
"Not too many issues there," he said. "I just voted on a Democrat."
Marlys Grafal was assisting with transportation to and from polling sites on the Red Lake Nation.
She reported about 82 voters at Little Rock around 4 p.m. She noted that most tribal employees received administrative leave at 3 p.m. to participate in the primary.
Younggren, Larson advancing in Kittson County Board race
HALLOCK — Kittson County Board Chair Loren Younggren and challenger Naomi Larson topped the field of four candidates to represent District 3 in the Tuesday, Aug. 11, primary election.
Younggren of Hallock has served two terms on the County Board. Larson is a member of the Hallock City Council, where she has served for a decade. Younggren earned 143 votes, or 56.97% of the vote. Larson received 55 votes, or 21.91%.
Also running were Jennifer Peterson (29 votes, 11.55%) and Michael J. Docken (24 votes, 9.56%).
Younggren and Larson advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
Only 251 of the 2,895 voters registered as of Tuesday morning voted in the race.
A first-time voter's take on the polls
CHISHOLM — As voters headed to the polls throughout Minnesota today, some casted their ballots for the very first time.
Nineteen-year-old Dylan Brickett was among them.
"I panicked," he said about the moment he stepped in the booth.
As for the moment he left the booth, Brickett said, "I felt relieved."
Brickett — and his mom — said they look forward to voting again in the general election Nov. 3.
Wadena County voters break down their ballots
NIMROD — The first ballot of the day jammed in the machine, but after that, it was smooth sailing at the Nimrod Community Center.
Three townships — Lyons, Huntersville and Orton — use the building as a polling location.
A total of 81 voters had cast ballots as of 4:37 p.m., including 12 of the 89 registered voters in Huntersville Township.
The Huntersville election judges estimate they typically have 25%-30% turnout for primaries. One noted that in 2024, they had 50% turnout, and she was pretty proud of their rural township for that.
One voter, Thor Johnson, 47, said he didn't vote much when he was younger, but "with things going on the way they are ... it's important to vote."
He and his wife Alycia, 42, said affordability and fraud were on their minds when they voted. Alycia is a teacher, so she said anything related to schools is also important.
Thor voted for Michele Tafoya for U.S. Senate. He said he liked her the best of the candidates and followed her whole career as an NFL sideline reporter.
"She seems pretty, if you want to call it, even-keel, I guess. I like that," Thor said. "She seems smart and new blood, too."
He said choosing a candidate for governor was close, but he voted for Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth. He doesn't like MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.
Alycia voted for party-endorsed Kendall Qualls.
"Everything that I've seen about him, it just really aligns with what I feel is important," she said. "I haven't seen one thing that he stood up there and talked about that I was like, 'No. I don't agree with that.'"
Thor said he didn't know much about the Senate District 5 race, but he voted for current Rep. Mike Wiener, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Paul Utke. He said his friends talked up Wiener quite a bit.
And both Johnsons voted for Bryan Savaloja, based on the advice of family and after seeing him at area parades.
Polls closed, time for results
It's past 8 p.m., which means polls have closed in Minnesota for Primary Election Day.
Results will begin to be posted as they come in from across the region.
We'll be keeping you up to date with results as we get them. In the meantime, we have more tidbits to share from Northern Minnesota voters, election officials and even some kids with gubernatorial aspirations.
Stay tuned!
Cousin of polling place namesake among those casting ballots in Clearbrook
CLEARBROOK — Voter Robert Westrum said he has a favorite candidate for Clearwater County sheriff — but he didn't say who.
Westrum cast his ballot in the Wes Westrum Gymnasium inside the former school, which was converted into Clearbrook City Hall and a community center. He said he's a cousin of the baseball legend for whom the gym is named. Wes Westrum played for the New York Giants in the 1950s and then coached for the Mets.
Robert Westrum posed for a photo in front of a display dedicated to the MLB star of the past after sharing his thoughts on the election.
Other Clearwater County voters shared that it was hard for them to choose just one candidate.
"I've been able to meet all four candidates," said new Bagley resident Janet Mantei, who shared she visited with them at Bagley's Fourth of July celebration as well as the recent Clearwater County Fair. "It's going to be hard [to choose one] because they all have good experience."
Adam Gunderson, Larry D. Johnson, Clarence LaCroix and Vern Wittenberg are running for Clearwater County sheriff. Current Sheriff Darin Halverson is retiring. Three of the four candidates responded to KAXE's Primary Election Guide, and a recent forum was moderated by Bridget Moore, managing editor of the Farmers Independent in Bagley.
At Clearbrook, 156 voters had cast ballots as of 4:15 p.m. City Clerk Lucie Thompson reported turnout is about typical for a primary.
"Our elections are run kind of how we run our small towns," Thompson said.
"We want everybody to feel welcome when they come in to vote, and just know that your vote matters."
For their meal, election judges were enjoying delivery from K&K Cafe by the Clearbrook deputy clerk.
Peggy's brownies take the cake
WOODROW TOWNSHIP — We didn’t forget about the food in Woodrow Township!
Lisa Garbe, the head election judge, said it’s a potluck, and her fellow judges are great cooks.
But the standout is Peggy Newville’s baked goods. This time, it’s brownies.
Newville works the polls in a neighboring township. Her husband volunteers in Woodrow.
“We don’t get her, but we get her baked goods, so we take Tom,” Garbe said.
She’s been told to bring the leftovers up to the county, along with the ballots.
Chisholm choosing among 4 mayoral candidates
CHISHOLM — Voters in Chisholm are turning out to decide which candidates will move forward in the race for mayor, among statewide races.
Chisholm is one of two cities in the Iron Range with mayor’s races on the ballot, and it’s the only one without an incumbent. Adam Lantz, the city’s current mayor, is not running for reelection.
Instead, Brandan L. Fiedler, Joy Frazier, Marty Halverson and Travis Vake are the voters’ choices. The top two primary candidates will move on to the general Nov. 3.
For Gloria Succio, who grew up in Chisholm, the right candidate was someone who could be receptive to all ideas. Frazier, she said, would listen to all ideas because she wasn’t originally from Chisholm and didn’t have preconceived ideas about the city.
“The double-edged sword about a beautiful day like this is people can get out to vote. But people may just want to get out and enjoy the day.”Kay Waite, Chisholm election judge
“She has an open mind about anything,” Succio said.
Another voter, who spoke off record, said their choice, Travis Vake, was someone they envisioned doing the most good for the community.
“I was thinking about who would do the most to benefit Chisholm,” they said.
Voters throughout the day cited property taxes, government transparency, and trust as some of the top reasons guiding their votes on Primary Election Day.
As of 4:45 p.m, Chisholm’s precinct reported 512 votes. According to election judge Kay Waite, this is an average turnout.
“The double-edged sword about a beautiful day like this is people can get out to vote,” she said. “But people may just want to get out and enjoy the day.”
Deer River City Hall sees high primary voter turnout, enthusiasm
DEER RIVER — Clusters of Deer River residents eager to cast their votes arrived at Deer River City Hall on Primary Election Day.
Some voters arrived at the same time by chance, joining a wave of midday voters taking advantage of lunch breaks. Others arrived to the polls together.
Among the groups of voters who arrived, there was a shared sense of enthusiasm for voting.
And that enthusiasm extended through the election judges, too. Gwenn Smith has been serving as a judge since 2000. She described the turnout as "considerably more than normal" for a primary — she and fellow judge Kelly Barrett joked they haven't been able to finish their stories. Barrett is from Talmoon. She said the city of Deer River was seeking election judges, and she answered the call and trained in to work there.
“It’s been amazing how many people have come out for a primary," Smith said. "I don’t know what to attribute it to, but I’m glad people are interested to come and vote.”
Voters David and Janice and McClure have been married for 64 years and moved to Deer River in 1968.
“We wanted to vote for the right people. And we did, I think. I did,” David McClure said, turning to his wife.
“Same,” Janice McClure said.
David McClure said he was motivated to vote because he considers “just about everything” to be an important issue right now.
Then, a familiar face that appeared down the hall.
“How are you? It’s been a long time!” David McClure said, as another person joined the latest wave of voters.
"Voting is always important, and I wish people would exercise that right more than they do.”Brad Box, Deer River
These happenstance run-ins were common throughout the day. People who bumped into one another in line rejoined in groups once outside the polling location doors. But among the warm greetings, voting remained at the forefront.
“Even though we think that some of the elections are going to be contested, we wanted to make sure we got in there. There are some that look like they’re not going to be very contested, but we still voted,” David said.
Deer River resident Brad Box shared this dedication to voting. He is just as ready for Election Day, whether it's a primary or general election.
“I’ve voted every election since I was 18 years old. It’s just part of my civic duty,” Box said. “I think voting is always important. There’s no particular race that I think is more important than another. Voting is always important, and I wish people would exercise that right more than they do.”
Longtime Bagley election judge points to numerous checks and balances
BAGLEY — At the Bagley Public Library, 115 voters had cast their ballots by 3:30 p.m.
In addition to the statewide races and the 8th Congressional District primary races, voters there were also set to narrow the field for the Clearwater County sheriff. Adam Gunderson, Larry D. Johnson, Clarence LaCroix and Vern Wittenberg are all running.
Election judge Mark Edevold was among the poll workers staffing the polling place today. He said he has been working elections on and off since the 1980s, when he was in his 20s.
He said he wants people to know that elections in Bagley have a lot of checks and balances: workers from both major political parties are located at each polling site.
"This evening, when we're all done, we'll be spending a good hour just basically doing the self-audit of, 'Is everything working out right? Do we have the right number of ballots?' Then it goes to the county and basically gets all checked all over again," Edevold said. "Our election numbers are accurate and they're secure."
As usual, we were curious what the election judges had on their menus during a long day of service to democracy. Turns out, the crew in Bagley was treated by a local business. Neighborhood grocery store Galens Fresh Food Market (which happens to be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year) provided free pulled pork sandwich meals.
'I realized grassroots is what really matters'
WOODROW TOWNSHIP — When Lisa Garbe was younger, she started working for a local government. That’s where she fell in love with democracy.
“I realized grassroots is what really matters,” she said. “I might not have a voice in a bigger arena, but here, in our township, this is where it all starts.”
Garbe has been an election judge for over 30 years.
“I just love the process. I think our elections are a beautiful thing,” she said. “It’s the foundation of our entire democracy, nation, what we wish to be. So I tell people if you don’t participate, it doesn’t work.”
She’s the head election judge in Woodrow Township, east of Hackensack.
Turnout there is much higher than it was in 2022, the last midterm. As of 2:45 p.m., 147 voters had cast ballots. In 2022, there was a total of 126 voters.
Dave Tanner, a former township supervisor, and his wife Deb said they voted because they’re passionate about doing something about what’s going on.
“There’s so much anger in politics and stuff these days and I think a lot of it is because people are not well informed. They pick a side and then they hold really firm to that side,” Deb said.
She added that they want to get all the facts and vote for someone to bring people together.
The Tanners voted Republican in the primary but declined to share who they voted for.
“They didn’t do enough advertising,” Dave said. “I know some of the candidates but not all of them, so it’s hard to make an informed decision when you don’t know.”
The Tanners did vote for Fred Hage for Cass County District 3 commissioner. Hage is one of four candidates running in the special election to replace the late Rusty Lilyquist, who died while serving in office.
“I know him, and I don’t know the rest of the candidates," Dave said. “I know him to be honest and straightforward.”
Exchanging firefighting helmets for voting booths in Kego Township
KEGO TOWNSHIP — One in 5 voters had cast ballots in Kego Township, west of Longville, by 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Carol Jordan, the head election judge, has been working the polls here for over 25 years. She said turnout is about the same, though it’s hard to judge primaries.
“But I think this is more than we had the last time,” Jordan said.
She said the hardest part is people can only vote for one party. That causes some confusion. There had been three spoiled ballots because of it, which Jordan said is typical.
The voting "booths" are tucked inside the office of the Longville Fire Department; they had to move helmets off the tables to set up the dividers.
Because they’re so close to Longville, the poll workers are able to order in food. Jordan said they like to support the local businesses: It was Turtle Town Cafe for lunch, and probably pizzas from Frosty’s for dinner.
Hibbing sees influx of first-time poll volunteers
HIBBING — Eight newcomers are among the approximately 50 volunteers staffing polls throughout Hibbing today.
Election judge and Hibbing City Clerk Candie Seppala said the city often sees new workers each election, but not nearly as many.
"We haven't had that in a long time," she said. "You kind of get the same people who to come back."
Seppala, who has worked at the polls for 33 years, says the volunteer workers in Hibbing range in age from 19 to 87 years old.
First-timer Leslie Peterson is 79. He said he became interested in poll working after attending a state caucus in February. It was curiosity, he said, that drove him to sign up.
"So far, I find it very interesting — what the background work is, getting it set up and everything, all the preparation that goes into the day of the election, what all you got to do before people get here."
As of 1 p.m., the Hibbing armory polling place where Peterson and Seppala work has seen 275 votes. Seppala called this "very steady" compared to the average Primary Election Day. She said the city often needs more workers for the busier general election on Nov. 3.
"We'll be back at it here," Seppala said. "We're always looking for new ones. We love to train new people in."
Peterson confirmed he plans to return, this time as a second-time poll worker, in November.
Local races we're watching
You might be familiar with the primary races involving those running for federal or statewide offices.
But as a local news outlet focused on Northern Minnesota, there's a whole lot of local races we're keeping an eye on, too.
Here's some primary contests that stand out and why.
Becker County Auditor-Treasurer
A contested auditor-treasurer race isn't all that common. But six people running for the single seat that oversees tax administration, election administration and accounting? That's VERY uncommon. The position is open because Mary Hendrickson, the current auditor-treasurer, is retiring.
Zac Baer, Brent Benscoter, Kim Frederick, Darin O. Halverson, Nathan Martin and Amy Rosing are running for Becker County auditor-treasurer. (The Detroit Lakes Tribune reports Benscoter will be on the ballot, but has withdrawn from the campaign.)
Carlton, Clearwater and Wadena County Sheriffs
In all three of these counties, the incumbent sheriffs are retiring, setting the stage for primary faceoffs. The sheriff is a county's chief law enforcement officer, tasked with keeping and preserving peace.
Dan Danielson, Jason Syrett and Chad Walsh are running for Carlton County sheriff.
Adam Gunderson, Larry D. Johnson, Clarence LaCroix and Vern Wittenberg are running for Clearwater County sheriff.
And five people are seeking the Wadena County sheriff position: Cory Carr, Bryan Savaloja, Aaron Schiller, Milo Scott and Troy Wangsness.
Red Lake School Board
Most school boards in Minnesota don't have primary elections. Typically, those running for a seat file in July and are on the general election ballot in November.
But the Red Lake School District No. 38 does things differently. Serving the Red Lake Nation, it's Minnesota's only school district located in a sovereign nation, within a sovereign nation. It includes a high school, middle school, an elementary school in Red Lake and a prekindergarten through eighth grade school in Ponemah.
Fourteen candidates are seeking to fill four open seats on the Board: Fawn Beaulieu, Vestanna Cook, Nicole Desjarlait, Ryan Holthusen, Christopher Jourdain, Sharon Kingbird, Deanna K Lasley, Ron Lussier, Deanna Pemberton, Robert Pemberton Sr., Linda S. Perkins, Jennifer Schoenborn, Tina Stately and Dustin Thunder-Harris. Desjarlait, Jourdain and Stately are current members running for reelection.
Hibbing Mayor, City Council At-Large
As a city on the Iron Range, Hibbing is no stranger to economic upheaval and shifting political winds.
About 600 steelworkers were laid off in March 2025 as Cleveland-Cliffs idled operations at Hibbing Taconite Co. in Hibbing and Minorca Mine in Virginia — and those jobs haven't yet returned. Layoffs also occurred in April at Triumph Twist Drill in Hibbing, and the Heliene solar panel manufacturing plant in nearby Mountain Iron announced 93 layoffs just last week.
Meanwhile, a long-planned redevelopment project is underway, changing the face of Hibbing's downtown.
Incumbents are running for mayor and the at-large council seat, but both face enough challengers to prompt a primary. Mayor Peter Hyduke is challenged by Marisa Allen and Larry Siebert. Challenging Councilor Justin Fosso are Mark Borland, Angela Jivery and Tiffany Schleppergrell.
Bemidji City Council At-Large
While some seats on the Bemidji City Council represent specific wards, the at-large councilor represents the entire city. The incumbent Audrey Thayer, 75, is being challenged by both a councilor with more than two decades of experience and a newcomer to the city political scene. All three have deep connections to the city.
Ron Johnson, 76, served on the Council for 24 years as the Ward 3 representative before he was redistricted into a different ward after the 2020 census. He aims to return to the role with his citywide bid. "I had a great run and played an important role in many significant accomplishments for Bemidji during my first stint on the council. However, there is important work yet to be done as we continue building a better Bemidji," he said.
Grace Wilder, 38, has a background in political organizing and voter engagement. She said she's running "after seeing little progress made in the past several years on numerous issues that significantly impact the quality of life of our family as well as many other residents of Bemidji."
Thayer, meanwhile, said she wants to continue her more than five years of service in city government. "There are unfinished issues with the on-going financial burdens of the Sanford Event Center, expanding transportation for 24-hour services, economic development, housing and supporting local businesses," she said.
Cass County Commissioner, District 3
The Cass County Board has operated with just four commissioners since the death of 56-year-old Rusty Lilyquist, who served as the District 3 commissioner. Lilyquist suffered a stroke in February.
District 3 includes the cities of Hackensack, Backus and Chickamaw Beach. Four candidates stepped forward to replace him in a special election: Leslie Bouchonville, Fred Hage, Jim Lundgren and Aaron Young.
Itasca County Commissioner, District 1
For the second election in a row, there's a primary race in Itasca County's District 1, home to the cities of Cohasset, Deer River and S. Lake. Incumbent Cory Smith, who topped the field of five candidates in 2022, faces a rematch from Lonny Witkofsky as well as a second challenger, Chris Reed.
KAXE partnered with ICTV to interview these candidates. Watch at ICTV's website here or listen on a special episode of KAXE News' Up North Report here.
What happens after you vote
In-person ballots, cast on Primary 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 Primary Election Day.
Following Election Day, county election officials audit and proof their work to make any corrections as necessary before they canvass their results. 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.
A county canvassing board certifies the votes cast within the county for races that go beyond the county boundaries and certifies the election results for offices up for election that are voted upon exclusively within that county (county offices and legislative districts that are entirely contained within the county). Federal offices, statewide offices and legislative districts that cross county lines must be certified by the state canvassing board.
Each municipality and school district has its own canvassing board to certify results in those races.
The county canvass report is sent to the Office of the Secretary of State where it is carefully reviewed and incorporated into a statewide canvass report that is presented to the State Canvassing Board.
The State Canvassing Board is responsible for canvassing and certifying the results of all statewide elections, including state and federal offices, state constitutional amendment ballot questions, and state legislative and judicial offices that overlap more than one county.
Election results aren’t final until they’re certified, a process that varies by state. In Minnesota, primary results must be certified by the State Canvassing Board by Aug. 18.
Stumped on who to vote for?
Have no fear, the KAXE News Team is here!
We put together a Primary Election Guide featuring more than 60 candidates, including those running for federal and statewide offices as well as local positions in Northern Minnesota.
New in 2026, we're also offering printable PDF versions for statewide candidates and several of the primary races in Northern Minnesota.
KAXE News' election guides are meant to provide information to empower and inform about voting and elections. We don’t want to tell you how to vote, but we want to play a role in empowering you to vote by providing unbiased and trustworthy reporting.
Know your voter's rights
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 have the right to ask anyone for help, except for an agent of your employer or union. A voter who requires assistance in marking a ballot, by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write, may be given assistance to do so by a person of the voter’s choice, other than the employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter’s union.
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.
Voters arrive early in Aitkin County's Shamrock Township
SHAMROCK TOWNSHIP — Shamrock Town Hall near McGregor is one of hundreds of polling sites serving voters on Primary Election Day, Tuesday, Aug. 11.
The township is home to more than 1,200 residents and several lakes, including Big Sandy Lake, Lake Minnewawa and more.
Voters there are weighing in on the statewide offices, as well as those running for the 8th Congressional District.
How do primary elections work?
Primaries are possible for federal offices (U.S. Senate and House), state offices (governor, attorney general, secretary of state and state auditor), state Legislature seats and county board and countywide offices.
So are races in some Northern Minnesota cities and school districts. This year, primaries were triggered in the cities of Bemidji, Chisholm, Cloquet and Hibbing and the Red Lake school district.
New in 2026, we're also offering printable PDF versions for statewide candidates and several of the primary races in Northern Minnesota.
KAXE News' election guides are meant to provide information to empower and inform about voting and elections. We don’t want to tell you how to vote, but we want to play a role in empowering you to vote by providing unbiased and trustworthy reporting.
In partisan races or those with political parties, only one candidate in each party moves on. For example, the winner of the Republican primary for governor will be on the ballot in the November general election. The rest of the candidates are out of the running, unless they choose to run write-in campaigns.
You can only vote for one party, but you choose which one, as Minnesota doesn’t have party registration. No one will know which party's primary you voted in. (For the Presidential Primary, the major party chair will get a list of voters who chose their party's ballot — but that isn't relevant this year.)
In nonpartisan races, the primary narrows the pool of candidates down to twice the number of available seats.
So if five candidates are running for county sheriff, the top two in the primary will be on the ballot in November. If 14 people are running for four seats on the school board, the top eight will advance.
Looking for more information on the candidates? Be sure to visit our 2026 Primary Election Guide!
Primary Election Day is here
Happy Primary Election Day, Minnesota!
Most polling places in the state open at 7 a.m. today. All are open until 8 p.m. As long as you're in line by 8 p.m., you can vote, even if you do not reach the front of the line until after 8.
(In state and federal elections, towns with less than 500 residents are not required to open until 10 a.m. but most choose to open at 7 a.m. anyway. See a list of towns here with polling places that will open later than 7 a.m.)
Aren't registered to vote yet? You can register when you vote on Election Day. You’ll need to bring one proof of residence, like your driver’s license or a photo ID paired with a bill or lease. Click here for exactly what you'll need to bring.
The Minnesota Secretary of State's Office reported more than 300,000 Minnesotans had already voted as of 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10. This is the highest number of absentee and mail ballots cast before a primary in a non-presidential election year.
Local election officials accepted 206,196 absentee and mail ballots for the primary. Of the accepted ballots, 99,053 have been returned by mail and 107,143 ballots were cast in-person. Additional absentee voting statistics are available online.