BAXTER — A candidate forum for the Republicans running in the special election for Senate District 6 will take place Tuesday, April 8, in Baxter.
The forum will be 7-8:30 p.m. in the cafetorium at Forestview Middle School. It will also be streamed live on the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce's Facebook page.
All eight Republican candidates running have been invited. They are:
- Jennifer Carnahan, Crow Wing County
- Steve Cotariu, Crow Wing County
- Josh Gazelka, Crow Wing County
- Keri Heintzeman, Crow Wing County
- John A. Howe, Itasca County
- Doug Kern, Crow Wing County
- Angel Zierden, Crow Wing County
- Matthew Zinda, Crow Wing County
The Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event in partnership with the Brainerd Dispatch and the League of Women Voters, with support from the Rosenmeier Center for State & Local Government at Central Lakes College.
A primary election to narrow the field to one Republican will be April 15.
The chamber stated it will host a debate between the winning Republican and the sole DFLer later, ahead of the April 29 special general election.
Senate District 6 covers northern Crow Wing, east-central Cass and southwestern Itasca counties. It includes the cities of Brainerd, Baxter, Garrison, Crosby, Crosslake, Pequot Lakes, Remer, Grand Rapids and Cohasset.
Grand Rapids Republican Justin Eichorn resigned from the Senate on March 20. He had been arrested in Bloomington three days earlier for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
Eichorn allegedly sought paid sex from an undercover officer posing as a 17-year-old multiple times over the course of nearly a week, according to charges. He faces one felony federal charge of agreeing to hire a person under 18 years old for prostitution, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years.
-
Contributed/Denise SlipyAccording to a news release, Keri Heintzeman said she plans to prioritize face-to-face conversations with voters through door-knocking efforts before the election. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEPrecinct-level results from the April 15 special primary for Republicans reveal Keri Heintzeman's dominance in a crowded field. -
Contributed/Travis Morrison/Carlos Hernandez Bois Forte Chairman CandidateTravis Morrison and Carlos A. Hernandez were the top vote-getters of the six band members running in the special election to finish the term of former Chair Cathy Chavers. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEAccording to unofficial results, Keri Heintzeman earned 46.77% of the vote among the eight candidates and will move on to the general election, facing DFLer Denise Slipy. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe field of eight GOP candidates will be narrowed to one after Northern Minnesota voters weigh in April 15, 2025. The winner will face DFLer Denise Slipy in the general election. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEShe’s also the only candidate in the race to have donations from lobbyists. At least seven have donated a total of over $7,000 to Keri Heintzeman. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXECandidates include Steve Cotariu, Josh Gazelka, Keri Heintzeman, John Howe, Doug Kern, Angel Zierden and Matthew Zinda. An eighth candidate, Jennifer Carnahan, did not attend, saying she was sick. -
Republican Keri Heintzeman and DFLer Denise Slipy are running to represent the Brainerd lakes area, southeastern Cass County, and Grand Rapids and southwestern Itasca County. -
Contributed/Nevis School DistrictOver three-quarters of Nevis residents rejected the district's ask to expand and renovate its aging school, which is too small for its current enrollment. -
Contributed/Pequot Lakes High SchoolThe district succeeded in its second attempt to pass building bonds and a capital project levy to renovate and expand its schools and pay for textbooks and technology.
