Vote breakdown 2024: Races, candidates and questions

On November 2, 2024By Littum

(KNSI) – The presidential race gets all the attention this year, but voters have several other decisions to make on Election Day.

At the federal level, there is a statewide U.S. Senate race between three-term Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican candidate Royce White. There are two congressional races in the region. Incumbent District Six Congressman Republican Tom Emmer is seeking a sixth term against Democratic candidate Jeanne Hendricks. In District Seven, Republican Michelle Fischbach is asking voters for a third term over Democrat AJ (John) Peters.

While the Minnesota State Senate is not up for election this year, all members are in the House of Representatives. There are four key races to watch in central Minnesota. In District 13A, Minority Leader Lisa Demuth is running for her fourth term against Democrat Cindy Aho. The 13B House race features seven-term Republican Tim O’Driscoll against Democrat Dusty Bolstad. In District 14A, Republican Bernie Perryman is seeking a second term. She is being challenged by the democrat Abdi Daisane. In District 14B, Democrat Dan Wolgamott hopes voters will return him to St. Paul for a third term against Republican challenger Sue Ek.

At the county level, Stearns County residents must decide whether to use a 3/8 cent sales tax to cover the cost of a $325 million criminal justice center. The county has outgrown its old facility. If the VAT is not approved, the property tax will be used to cover the costs. Commissioner Joe Perske is seeking to retain his seat against Jerry Theisen in Stearns County’s District Two. The area includes Brockway, Wendel and Le Sauk Townships and the cities of St. Joseph and Sartell.

Several cities have important elections, including St. Cloud, which will elect its first new mayor in 20 years. Councilors Jake Anderson and Mike Conway face each other on the ballot. They are seeking to replace Mayor Dave Kleis, who announced earlier this year that he would not seek a sixth term. There are also three large city council seats up for grabs. Running for a seat are incumbent George Hontos and newcomers Omar Abdullahi Podi, Scott Brodeen, Mark Johnson, Hudda Ibrahim and Tami Calhoun.

Sartell has two council seats to fill between Rustin Deters, Marshall Grams and Pat Lynch. Sauk Rapids is looking to replace Mayor Kurt Hunstiger after he announced he is stepping down after 30 years with the city. Councilmen Jason Ellering and Nick Sauer are looking to fill his shoes. In the Waite Park mayoral race, council members Mike Lindquist and Ken Schmitt are hoping to replace longtime Mayor Rick Miller, who decided not to serve another term. In St. Joseph is running three people for mayor. It’s Jon Hazen, Robert Loso and Adam Scepaniak. St. Joseph city council race has three candidates seeking to fill two seats. They are Kelly Beniek, Troy Goracke and Adam Schnettler.

St. Cloud Area School District 742 has seven candidates running for four open seats. They are incumbent Scott Andreasen, Yoanna Ayala-Zaldana, incumbent Al Dahlgren, Diana Fenton, incumbent Shannon Haws, Bruce Hentges and incumbent Monica Segura-Schwartz. Sartell-St. Stephen Schools will select three candidates from a pool of six. They are Aaron Alexander, Michael Gruber, incumbent Tricia Meling, incumbent Matthew Moehrle, Michael Ringstad and Chelsea Thielen. Sauk Rapids-Rice has five candidates running for four open seats. They are NiCole JH Broman, Ryan Butkowski, Samantha Dwyer, Mark Hauck and Tracy Morse.

St. Cloud voters must decide on two ballot questions. One is seeking approval to use property taxes to build a sixth fire station in the underserved neighborhood around Tech High School. The building will cost $43.5 million and be paid for over 20 years. That would cost the average homeowner $9 a month. Voters also have the opportunity to switch when city elections are held. A ballot question asks if voters want to move St. Cloud’s odd-year local elections instead of the current even-year schedule. Outgoing Mayor Kleis made the proposal during his State of the City address, believing it would bring more attention to the local races.

A statewide ballot question asks voters to continue a constitutional amendment that uses 40% of proceeds from the lottery to support the outdoors, such as lands for parks, recreation areas and habitat, water resources and environmental education. Since it was first approved in 1991, more than $1 billion has been used to fund more than 1,600 projects

The general election is on November 5, and absentee voting is already underway.

Check what’s on your ballot by clicking here.

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