Will Minnesota have another round of Tim Pawlenty for Governor? Who will vie for Al Franken’s seat in the U.S. Senate? And, closer to home, which two candidates will battle for the position of Wright County Sheriff.
These are the questions on many voters’ minds as they head to polls tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 14 to cast ballots in the Minnesota Statewide Primary elections.
With many so many statewide offices wide open, both the DFL and GOP are looking to this year’s primary to narrow the field in order to move over into November’s election.
Sample Ballot:
https://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/ShowImage.aspx?i=83CA88B4-C841-4292-B461-5C1A0843C236
In Congressional District 6, former State Rep. Tom Emmer, a gubernatorial candidate just eight short years ago himself, is now hoping to continue his run in the United States House later this year. Emmer has the endorsement, but he is being challenged by two other Republicans in this year’s primary.
Pawlenty is the most notable GOP candidate battling endorsed candidate Jeff Johnson for the right to take the Republican gubernatorial bid. Johnson, a Hennepin County Commissioner who also served as a representative from Detroit Lakes, is squaring off with the former governor to take on the DFL’s successor to Gov. Mark Dayton in the fall.
Minnesota primaries ARE partisan, so voters are asked to stick to one side of the ballot.
Also in the Tuesday primary, five candidates are racing toward the Aug. 14 Minnesota Primary, hoping to be the two men in November to square off over the position of Wright County Sheriff. Four of the men are already currently officers in the Wright County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), while the other has served nearby Hennepin County for more than two decades. Stacy Bruan is the outsider, while Mike Kaczmarek, Drew Scherber, Chad Torkelson and Sean Deringer are all longtime members of the WCSO.
Where to Vote
Albertville: Voters from that Wright County community will head to the St. Michael-Albertville Middle School West building on 50th Street Northeast, just east of County 19. The polls at West will be located in the gym.
St. Michael: Voters from Precinct 1A will vote at STMA Middle School East, while voters from Precinct 1B (all west of County 19) will vote at STMA High School, located on County Road 18 west of the Cedar Creek Golf Course.
Monticello: Those in Monticello will vote at the Community Center.
Hanover: Polls, per usual, will be at Hanover City Hall on Fifth Street.
Otsego: Voters in Precincts 1A will vote at city hall. Precincts 2A and 3 vote at Otsego Elementary School.