Who will carry the Republican flag? is the question on many voters’ minds as they head to polls tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 12 to cast ballots in the Minnesota Statewide Primary elections.
With many DFL candidates carrying out bids for re-election, from Gov. Mark Dayton over to Sen. Al Franken, down through many statewide offices, it’s the Republican challengers hoping to earn the victory from conservative or Tea Party constituents in order to move over into November’s election.
In Congressional District 6, former State Rep. Tom Emmer, a gubernatorial candidate just four short years ago himself, is now hoping to carry the torch being passed on by Rep. Michele Bachmann, who will retire from her stint in the United States House later this year. Bachmann, who has hinted at another presidential run in 2016 (she fell short of the GOP nomination in 2012), has endorsed Emmer over fellow female Rhonda Sivarajah, an Anoka County Commissioner who lost to Emmer in the endorsement process but followed through with a primary bid.
Three men are 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 two foes familiar to him – former House Minority Leader Marty Seifert and former House Majority Leader Kurt Zellers are both in the mix. Scott Honour, a business guru who grew up in Fridley and now lives in the western suburbs, is also in the hunt to take on Gov. Mark Dayton in the fall.
Closer to home, the GOP has a tight race for the State House of Representatives on its hands. Eric Lucero, a council member from Dayton, is taking on St. Michael’s Kevin Kasel, who entered the race after the GOP endorsement convention in Monticello. Kasel is also a city council member.
Related links: Meet the Candidates: Kevin Kasel Vies for Seat in House
Meet the Candidates: Eric Lucero Seeks Spot in House
Also in the Tuesday primary, current Wright County Sheriff Joe Hagerty is being challenged by a pair of current deputies. However, Hagerty’s bigger challenge might be from a group that is urging local voters to “say no” to the incumbent and pick anyone but the former St. Michael City Council member and longtime employee of the Wright County Sheriff’s Department. The group dispersed flyers through print materials last week in preparation for this week’s vote. Straw polling conducted last month by North Wright County Today shows solid support for the current sheriff, however.
Where to Vote
Polling places have change, somewhat, since the 2012 election thanks to a new location put in place by the City of Albertville.
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, for the first time this year after several elections at Albertville City Hall. 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 Precinct 1A will vote at city hall, while those in Precinct 2A can vote at Otsego Elementary School on River Road. Not sure of your precinct, check out the My Precinct Finder link on the Minnesota Secretary of State Website.