Choices on the direction of both parties await Minnesota primary voters
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Skirmishes within Minnesota’s political parties reach decisive moments Tuesday with primaries that will determine the November ballot choices for governor, U.S. Senate and other downballot offices.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and are open until 8 p.m. or as long as voters in line by the time polls are supposed to close.
Minnesota has an open primary, which means voters don’t have to be a strict partisan to participate. But for a ballot to count, only vote in one party’s primaries on a single ballot.
Here are some of the races primary voters will decide:
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Governor
Amy Klobuchar, a household name in Minnesota politics, is the clear favorite on the DFL side.
While she has some primary opposition — Kobey Layne, Ole Savior, Mohammed Wazwaz, Bill Gates Jr. and Thomas Evenstad are on the ballot — those candidates haven't made the four-term senator sweat much.
Klobuchar has raked in money and, throughout the primary, focused on the Republicans who she might face in November.
On the GOP side, there's a bit of a crowd of contenders.
Businessman Kendall Qualls has GOP endorsement, which is usually the gold standard in a Republican primary. But he's trailed in fundraising and polling.
Lisa Demuth is the lone candidate with public office experience. The Minnesota House speaker has deep connections and the most money.
There’s also Mike Lindell. The MyPillow founder rose to prominence by vocally and financially backing conspiracy theories that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election. That loyalty earned Lindell a Trump endorsement. He’s led in several recent KSTP polls. But the state Republican Party has been on the attack against Lindell, questioning his ability to win in November.
Also listed on the GOP ballot are Loner Blue, John Krhin and Ross Nova.
U.S. Senate
This is for the seat of retiring DFL U.S. Sen. Tina Smith.
Two DFLers are in a knockdown contest: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and U.S. Rep. Angie Craig.
Their race echoes themes in Democratic primaries elsewhere — a progressive versus moderate showdown.
Flanagan is aligned with the Bernie Sanders-Elizabeth Warren movement. Craig has the backing of more moderate Democrats like Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Craig has had more money spent on her behalf. That, in itself, has been a prominent campaign issue. It’s expected to be a close race.
Four other DFLers are on the ballot: Billy Nord, Peter Murgic, George Kalberer and Kurt Anderson.
Like the race for governor, Republicans have three prominent candidates vying for the seat and some lesser-known ones.
Adam Schwarze, a former Navy Seal, has the GOP endorsement but is an underdog and has lagged in polling.
Schwarze has struggled to keep pace with former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya, a favorite of the national party establishment and the clear money leader.
There's also former pro basketball player Royce White, the party's Senate nominee two years ago. He's leaned into hard-right rhetoric and is known for his confrontational style.
The other options for voters are: Bob Carney Jr., Cynthia Gail, Ahmad Hassan, Joyce Lacey, Patrick Munro and Tom Weiler.
State Auditor
This is another statewide office race that has competition on the GOP side. The two leading candidates are Braham Mayor Nate George, who won the party endorsement, and Scott Jensen, a family doctor who was the Republican nominee for governor last time.
Will Finn is on the ballot as well.
The winner will face DFLer Zack Filipovich and the Forward Independence Party’s Jay Reeves in November.
Secretary of State
Republicans are the only party with a nomination contest.
Former lawmaker and ex-judge Tad Jude has the GOP’s endorsement in a race against Wendy Phillips.
They are vying to take on three-term DFL Secretary of State Steve Simon, the Green Party’s Seth Kuhl-Stennes and Libertarian George Tangen in the fall.
Attorney General
Two-term DFL Attorney General Keith Ellison is after another four years. He faces Minneapolis lawyer David Madgett in the Democratic primary.
Minneapolis attorney Ron Schutz is the Republican candidate for November.
Congress
DFL U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar has DFL challengers in the 5th District again, but unlike past years her primary has been relatively sleepy. There are four challengers: Julie Le, Abena McKenzie, Latonya Reeves and Nate Schluter.
One of the more closely watched races is in the suburban-exurban 2nd District. Three current and former state legislators are after the Democratic nomination: state Rep. Kaela Berg, state Sen. Matt Klein and former state Sen. Matt Little. The winner will face another lawmaker, Republican state Sen. Eric Pratt for the open seat in November.
Up north in the 8th District, former federal worker Trina Swanson and reality TV personality Luke Gulbranson want the Democratic spot in a fall race against GOP U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber. A third candidate, John Munter, is also on the ballot.
An uphill fight awaits the winner. Stauber is the heavy favorite against Anthony Hamilton in a GOP primary.
And in the southern 1st District, either high school teacher Jake Johnson or small business owner Alex Eaton will have a crack at the GOP incumbent U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad in a race Democrats feel they could make into a competitive one. Finstad isn’t likely to be derailed for his party nod in a primary challenge from Gregory Goetzman and Oliver Morlan.
Minnesota Legislature
Eleven incumbents in the Minnesota Legislature are facing challengers within their party this primary.
In the Senate:
GOP state Sen. Paul Utke vs. state Rep. Mike Wiener in District 5
GOP state Sen. Nathan Wesenberg vs. Deb Holthaus in District 10
GOP state Sen. John Jasinski vs. Crystal Alan in District 19
DFL state Sen. Susan Pha vs. Nehemiah Garley in District 38
DFL state Sen. Ron Latz vs. Lynette Dumalag in District 46
DFL state Sen. Omar Fateh vs. Jeanelle Austin and Brenda Short in District 62
GOP state Rep. Josh Heintzeman vs. Matthew Eric Zinda in District 6B
GOP state Rep. Tom Murphy vs. Craig Horlocker in District 9B
GOP state Rep. Dawn Gillman vs. Wayne Olson in District 17A
DFL state Rep. Hulda Momanyi-Hiltsley vs. Richard Klatte and Wynfred Russell in District 38A
DFL state Rep. Mohamed Noor vs. Abdurrahman Mahmud in District 60B
There are open seats, too, where primary voters will have choices to make.
