NISSWA — Keri Heintzeman ran away with the Senate District 6 Republican primary, garnering 47% of the vote and leading 80% of precincts.
She was the favorite heading into the Tuesday, April 15, election, with Heintzeman campaign signs stretching far beyond her hometown of Nisswa. She’s also fundraised nearly four times as much as the next closest Republican.
In a news release shared on social media, Heintzeman said her campaign resonated with voters through her advocacy with groups like Minnesota Concerned Citizens for Life and the National Rifle Association and her role in the 2024 Trump campaign.
"Throughout the primary, I listened closely to the concerns of District 6 residents, who made it clear they expect me to curb excessive spending, lower taxes, and safeguard their children from the imposition of a radical agenda in our schools by St. Paul liberals," Heintzeman said in the release.
"If elected, I pledge to serve Senate District 6 with integrity, defending the values and way of life cherished by our community."
Heintzeman won all but three cities in the district, despite Nisswa Mayor Jennifer Carnahan and former Breezy Point Mayor Angel Zierden being among the other candidates.
Josh Gazelka took half of the 10 voters in the tiny city of Trommald, and John Howe won Ironton and Cohasset.
John Howe was the runner-up in the primary with 15% of the vote. He was the only candidate from outside the Brainerd lakes area, which appears to have pushed him to the second-place finish.
Howe was just behind Heintzeman in Grand Rapids, La Prairie and Harris Township. He won every other Itasca County precinct and Smoky Hollow Township in Cass County.
Voter turnout for the primary was about 14%, based on registered voter estimates from the Secretary of State's Office.
Fifty Lakes Mayor Gary Staples voted Tuesday. He said we need to get our state in the right situation.
“Unfortunately, the person that we had elected didn't turn out so well," Staples said, referencing Justin Eichorn, whose resignation after his arrest for soliciting a minor for prostitution triggered the special election.
"I'm certainly hoping that the person we now elect will have the best interests of our state at heart.”
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— Gary Staples, the mayor of Fifty Lakes, signs in to vote at Fifty Lakes City Hall on April 15, 2025.jpg
Gary Staples, the mayor of Fifty Lakes, signs in to vote at Fifty Lakes City Hall on April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Patty Nelson votes inside The Brainerd Center on April 15, 2025.jpg
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Tony Fitzer votes inside the Crow Wing County Historic Courthouse on April 15, 2025.jpg
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A Vote Here sign outside Irondale Township Hall on April 15, 2025.jpg
A "Vote Here" sign outside Irondale Township Hall on April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Dennis Gonczy puts his ballot in the ballot-counter machine inside the Cole Memorial Building on April 15, 2025.jpg
Dennis Gonczy puts his ballot in the ballot-counter machine inside the Cole Memorial Building in Pequot Lakes on April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Bob Gastecki and Bonnie Gastecki pick up I Voted stickers after voting at Breezy Point Police Department on April 15, 2025.jpg
Bob and Bonnie Gastecki pick up "I Voted" stickers after voting at the Breezy Point Police Department on April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Kathy and Dennis Gonczy sign in to vote at the Cole Memorial Building on April 15, 2025.jpg
Kathy and Dennis Gonczy sign in to vote at the Cole Memorial Building in Pequot Lakes on April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Joseph McGuire votes inside Nisswa City Hall on April 15, 2025.jpg
Joseph McGuire votes inside Nisswa City Hall on April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A Vote Here sign outside Breezy Point Police Department on April 15, 2025.jpg
A "Vote Here" sign outside the Breezy Point Police Department on April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Becca Cool checks in to vote at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.jpg
Becca Cool checks in to vote at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Voting booths at the Breezy Point Police Department on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.jpg
Voting booths at the Breezy Point Police Department on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— An I Voted sticker worn on a sweater at voting location Breezy Point Police Department in Breezy Point on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.jpg
An "I Voted" sticker worn on a sweater at the Breezy Point Police Department on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A Register to Vote Here sign at the voting location inside Breezy Point Police Department on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.jpg
A "Register to Vote Here" sign at the voting location in the Breezy Point Police Department on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A Voting sign inside Breezy Point Police Department on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.jpg
A "Voting" sign inside the Breezy Point Police Department on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— The Cole Memorial Building in Pequot Lakes on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.jpg
The Cole Memorial Building in Pequot Lakes on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Voters at polling place Breezy Point Police Department on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.jpg
Voters at polling place Breezy Point Police Department in Breezy Point on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Voting booths at the Cole Memorial Building in Pequot Lakes on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.jpg
Voting booths at the Cole Memorial Building in Pequot Lakes on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— An election worker holds a roll of I Voted stickers at Cole Memorial Building in Pequot Lakes on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.jpg
An election worker holds a roll of "I Voted" stickers at Cole Memorial Building in Pequot Lakes on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— An Election Day Parking sign outside Nisswa City Hall on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.jpg
An "Election Day Parking" sign outside Nisswa City Hall on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Joshua Marcum votes at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.jpg
Joshua Marcum votes at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
Robert in Breezy Point, who declined to share his last name, said one of his biggest issues is education.
“Supporting the future youth of our state and the education based on that," he said. "The other areas of importance or reflection is experience, career-wise and both — just not political, but their personal experience — played a factor in my vote today.”
Heintzeman will face DFLer Denise Slipy in the April 29 general election. The DFL will retain a majority in the Senate, regardless of the results.
Chastity Brown returns to Northern Minnesota for Get Downtown with KBXE on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
