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Roundup: Northern Minnesota candidate forums for the 2024 election

Virginia City Council candidates Ricky Angellar, Annie Bachschneider, Dave Hansen, Steven B. Johnson,
Virginia City Council candidates Ricky Angellar, Annie Bachschneider, Dave Hansen, Steven B. Johnson, Rodney Salo and Jared Siebert at a candidate forum at the Lyric Center for the Arts on Aug. 7, 2024. Candidate Julieanne Paulsen did not attend.

Candidate forums for the Legislature, city council, mayor, school board and other local offices are taking place in communities around Northern Minnesota.

With Election Day quickly approaching on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and early voting already underway, voters are looking for information on local candidates.

KAXE rounded up a list of candidate forums happening in Northern Minnesota. Don't see an event you know about? Let us know!

Aitkin Mayor

  • Tuesday, Oct. 15, 5-6 p.m. at The Beanery Cafe & Roastery, 223 Minnesota Ave. N.

The event was shared on Facebook by the City of Aitkin.

Babbitt City Council and Mayor

  • Council: Monday, Oct. 7, 6 p.m. at the Municipal Center Council Chambers
  • Mayor: Monday, Oct. 14, 6 p.m. at the Municipal Center Council Chambers

The Babbitt Weekly is hosting the candidate forums for all residents to get to know their candidates for the upcoming election.

Beltrami County Board, Bemidji City Council, Bemidji Area School Board

  • Tuesday, Oct. 22, 5-6 p.m. at The Red Stu, 217 Minnesota Ave. NW, Suite 109

Meet the candidates for all these local governments at this free social event.

  • Thursday, Oct. 24, 7-8 p.m. at the Bemidji High School Media Center

Students from Bemidji High School will host this Bemidji Area Schools candidate forum. It will be produced and organized by students from the AP Government class. The students will serve as moderators, timekeepers and greeters.

Those in attendance will also have the opportunity to submit questions to the student moderators. The public is invited to attend the forum.

A previous forum for the Beltrami County Board hosted by Beltrami County Farm Bureau took place Sept. 18 and can be viewed on Facebook. A forum for Bemidji Area School Board candidates took place Sept. 25 and can be viewed on Facebook.

Brainerd School Board

This League of Women Voters Brainerd Lakes Area event took place Monday, Sept. 30, and can be viewed on YouTube.

Chisholm City Council

  • Monday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m. at the Chisholm Senior Citizens Center 

The event was shared on Facebook by candidate Brandan Fiedler.

Cohasset City Council

  • Wednesday, Oct. 16, 6:30-9 p.m. at the Cohasset Community Center 

Coffee and cookies will be provided. The forum will be streamed live on ICTV.

Crosslake

  • Thursday, Oct. 3, 6:30-8 p.m. at the Gathering Event Center, 34212 County Road 3, Crosslake 

The Crosslake Chamber of Commerce partnered with the League of Women Voters to host the 2024 Crosslake Candidate Forum. Registration is not required but is requested as a consideration for the venue to plan for seating. Visit the chamber’s website for more information.

Crosby City Council

  • Thursday, Oct. 10, 6 p.m. at Mayberry Auditorium in Crosby-Ironton High School.

This event is hosted by the League of Women Voters Brainerd Lakes Area and the Cuyuna Lakes Chamber of Commerce.

Crosby-Ironton School Board, Crow Wing County Board District 5

  • Tuesday, Oct. 8, 6 p.m. at Mayberry Auditorium in Crosby-Ironton High School

This event is hosted by the League of Women Voters Brainerd Lakes Area and the Cuyuna Lakes Chamber of Commerce.

Detroit Lakes City Council, Becker County Board

  • Thursday, Oct. 10, 5:30 p.m. at M State College in Detroit Lakes

The League of Women Voters and the Detroit Lakes Chamber of Commerce will host the forum, according to Lakes Area Radio. The evet will begin with the Council candidates, followed by County Board candidates.

Detroit Lakes School Board

  • Monday, Oct. 7, 5:30 p.m. at M State College in Detroit Lakes

The League of Women Voters and the Detroit Lakes Chamber of Commerce will host the forum, according to Lakes Area Radio.

Grand Rapids School Board

  • Wednesday, Oct. 9, 6:30 p.m. meet and greet, 7 p.m. forum at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids

KAXE and ICTV, with support from Grand Rapids-Bigfork Local 1314, Education Minnesota, are hosting the event. The KAXE News team will select the questions to be asked, and we want to hear from you. What questions do you have for candidates? Submit them through our form. The deadline to submit questions is 5 p.m. Oct. 7.

MN House District 2A

  • Monday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m. on Lakeland Public Television

Candidates are Bidal Duran, Republican, and Reed Olson, DFL.

Watch Debate Night 2024 by tuning in to the Lakeland Prime Channel, utilizing the Lakeland PBS Livestream via the PBS App or lptv.org, or watch on demand the following day on the PBS App, lptv.org, or the Lakeland PBS YouTube Channel.

A member of the KAXE News team will sit on the panel.

For more information about how to watch or access Lakeland PBS, visit lptv.org or call 800-292-0922.

MN House District 2B

  • Monday, Oct. 7, 8 p.m. on Lakeland Public Television

Candidates are Matt Bliss, Republican incumbent, and Michael Reyes, DFL.

Watch Debate Night 2024 by tuning in to the Lakeland Prime Channel, utilizing the Lakeland PBS Livestream via the PBS App or lptv.org, or watch on demand the following day on the PBS App, lptv.org, or the Lakeland PBS YouTube Channel.

A member of the KAXE News team will sit on the panel.

For more information about how to watch or access Lakeland PBS, visit lptv.org or call 800-292-0922.

MN House District 3B

Candidates are Mark Munger, DFL, and Natalie Zeleznikar, Republican incumbent.

This League of Women Voters of Duluth event took place Sept. 19 and can be watched on YouTube.

MN House District 4B

  • Tuesday, Oct. 22, 6 p.m. at the Moorhead Public Library 

Candidates are Jim Joy, Republican incumbent, and Thaddeus Laugisch, DFL.

The forum will be hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Red River Valley. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Submit questions for candidates in person or online at: https://forms.gle/juZXqgXGrGBLeY948.

MN House District 5A

  • Tuesday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m. on Lakeland Public Television

Candidates are Krista Knudsen, Republican incumbent, and Brian Hobson, DFL.

Watch Debate Night 2024 by tuning in to the Lakeland Prime Channel, utilizing the Lakeland PBS Livestream via the PBS App or lptv.org, or watch on demand the following day on the PBS App, lptv.org, or the Lakeland PBS YouTube Channel.

A member of the KAXE News team will sit on the panel.

For more information about how to watch or access Lakeland PBS, visit lptv.org or call 800-292-0922.

MN House District 5B

  • Thursday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. on Lakeland Public Television

Candidates are Mike Wiener, Republican incumbent, and Gregg Hendrickson, DFL.

Watch Debate Night 2024 by tuning in to the Lakeland Prime Channel, utilizing the Lakeland PBS Livestream via the PBS App or lptv.org, or watch on demand the following day on the PBS App, lptv.org, or the Lakeland PBS YouTube Channel.

A member of the KAXE News team will sit on the panel.

For more information about how to watch or access Lakeland PBS, visit lptv.org or call 800-292-0922.

MN House District 6A

  • Thursday, Oct. 10, 8 p.m. on Lakeland Public Television

Candidates are Ben Davis, Republican incumbent, and Earl Butenhoff.

Watch Debate Night 2024 by tuning in to the Lakeland Prime Channel, utilizing the Lakeland PBS Livestream via the PBS App or lptv.org, or watch on demand the following day on the PBS App, lptv.org, or the Lakeland PBS YouTube Channel.

A member of the KAXE News team will sit on the panel.

For more information about how to watch or access Lakeland PBS, visit lptv.org or call 800-292-0922.

MN House District 6B

  • Friday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m. on Lakeland Public Television

Candidates are Josh Heintzeman, Republican incumbent; Emily LeClaire, DFL; and Troy Kenneth Scheffler, Americans First Party (independent).

Watch Debate Night 2024 by tuning in to the Lakeland Prime Channel, utilizing the Lakeland PBS Livestream via the PBS App or lptv.org, or watch on demand the following day on the PBS App, lptv.org, or the Lakeland PBS YouTube Channel.

A member of the KAXE News team will sit on the panel.

For more information about how to watch or access Lakeland PBS, visit lptv.org or call 800-292-0922.

MN House District 7A

  • Tuesday, Oct. 8, 8 p.m. on Lakeland Public Television

Candidates are Spencer Igo, Republican incumbent, and Aron Schnaser, DFL

Watch Debate Night 2024 by tuning in to the Lakeland Prime Channel, utilizing the Lakeland PBS Livestream via the PBS App or lptv.org, or watch on demand the following day on the PBS App, lptv.org, or the Lakeland PBS YouTube Channel.

A member of the KAXE News team will sit on the panel.

For more information about how to watch or access Lakeland PBS, visit lptv.org or call 800-292-0922.

MN House District 10A

  • Friday, Oct. 11, 8 p.m. on Lakeland Public Television

Candidates are Ron Kresha, Republican incumbent, and Julia Samsal Hipp, DFL.

Watch Debate Night 2024 by tuning in to the Lakeland Prime Channel, utilizing the Lakeland PBS Livestream via the PBS App or lptv.org, or watch on demand the following day on the PBS App, lptv.org, or the Lakeland PBS YouTube Channel.

A member of the KAXE News team will sit on the panel.

For more information about how to watch or access Lakeland PBS, visit lptv.org or call 800-292-0922.

Laporte School Board

  • Tuesday, Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m. at the Laporte School Commons 

The forum is hosted by the Laporte teachers and educational support professionals unions. Questions will be predetermined by the unions.

Sixth Judicial District

This League of Women Voters of Duluth event took place Sept. 25 and can be viewed on YouTube.

St. Louis County Board District 3

This League of Women Voters of Duluth event took place Sept. 18 and can be viewed on YouTube.