August 11 primary result: J. Mark Wedel (36.76 percent) and Timothy Catlin (35.78 percent) advanced to the November 3 ballot; Christopher S. Dotzler (27.45 percent) was eliminated, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's certified results.
Timothy Catlin▾
In KAXE's questionnaire he names economic development, essential services and fiscal responsibility as his focus. No occupation detail was verifiable from an official or campaign source within this review. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026.
Priorities: Economic development · Maintaining essential county services · Fiscal responsibility (per the KAXE)
J. Mark Wedel▾
KAXE identifies him as the sitting District 1 commissioner, but incumbency could not be confirmed against an official county roster within this review, so it is recorded as false. He told KAXE his focus is unfunded state and federal mandates and holding the tax levy low. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026.
Priorities: Addressing unfunded state and federal mandates · Affordable healthcare access · Maintaining a low tax levy (per the KAXE)
2 candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Aitkin County Commissioner District 3, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings.
Travis J. LeiviskaIncumbent▾
Travis Leiviska is the incumbent Aitkin County Commissioner for District 3 and Vice Chair of the county board, seeking reelection in 2026, per the Aitkin Age. He represents the county on state and national county-government committees and chairs the regional Local Elected Official Board, per the county's website. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 6, 2026.
Patrick Murphy▾
Retired vice president of operations at Raveill Trucking Inc. in McGregor, per messagemedia.co, with 23 years in airline operations and 25 years in transportation, logistics and distribution. He serves as president of the Aitkin County Lakes and Rivers Association, the Mille Lacs Watershed Board and the Long Lake Conservation Foundation Board, and was elected to the Glen Township Board of Supervisors in 2024, per messagemedia.co. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 6, 2026.
Priorities: County budget management · Economic development and housing initiatives
Michael L. Kearney is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Aitkin County Commissioner District 5, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings (Minnesota prints unopposed county races).
Michael L. Kearney▾
Michael Kearney owns and operates Gabby's Eats & Treats in Palisade and has lived in Aitkin County since retiring from active military duty in 2004, per messagemedia.co. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 6, 2026.
Lori A. Grams is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Aitkin County Treasurer, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings (Minnesota prints unopposed county races).
Lori A. GramsIncumbent▾
Lori A. Grams appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Aitkin County Treasurer, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 6, 2026; the Secretary of State's candidate filing is the only verifiable source for Lori A. Grams.
Tara L. Snyder is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Aitkin County Recorder, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings (Minnesota prints unopposed county races).
Tara L. SnyderIncumbent▾
Tara L. Snyder appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Aitkin County Recorder, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 6, 2026; the Secretary of State's candidate filing is the only verifiable source for Tara L. Snyder.
Daniel Guida is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Aitkin County Sheriff, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings (Minnesota prints unopposed county races).
Daniel GuidaIncumbent▾
Daniel Guida appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Aitkin County Sheriff, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 6, 2026; the Secretary of State's candidate filing is the only verifiable source for Daniel Guida.
James (Jim) Ratz is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Aitkin County Attorney, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings (Minnesota prints unopposed county races).
James (Jim) RatzIncumbent▾
Jim Ratz has served as Aitkin County Attorney since January 2007, per Message Media. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota in 1991 and a Juris Doctor from Hamline University in 1994, and began his Aitkin County career as a law clerk in 1994 before being hired as an assistant county attorney in 1996, per Message Media. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 6, 2026.
Thomas Fasteland is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Aitkin County Soil and Water Supervisor District 1, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings (Minnesota prints unopposed county races).
Thomas Fasteland▾
Thomas Fasteland appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Aitkin County Soil and Water Supervisor District 1, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 6, 2026; the Secretary of State's candidate filing is the only verifiable source for Thomas Fasteland.
Francis Dierickx is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Aitkin County Soil and Water Supervisor District 2, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings (Minnesota prints unopposed county races).
Francis Dierickx▾
Francis Dierickx appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Aitkin County Soil and Water Supervisor District 2, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 6, 2026; the Secretary of State's candidate filing is the only verifiable source for Francis Dierickx.
Kim (Kotonias) McLaughlin (Democratic-Farmer-Labor), Robert Farnsworth (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Minnesota Senate District 7; Robert Farnsworth is the sitting member, per the Minnesota Senate's official member directory (senate.mn). Nominees were chosen at the August 11, 2026 primary (where contested) or qualified directly for the general ballot. The field is the Secretary of State's certified candidate table; Minnesota prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Kim (Kotonias) McLaughlin · Democratic-Farmer-Labor▾
Kim (Kotonias) McLaughlin is the Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate for Minnesota Senate District 7 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate table. This name has not yet been researched.
Robert Farnsworth · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Robert Farnsworth is the Republican candidate for Minnesota Senate District 7 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate table. Robert Farnsworth is a sitting member for the district, per the Minnesota Senate's official member directory (senate.mn). This name has not yet been researched.
Nathan Wesenberg (Republican), Tara Killen (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) are on the November 3 ballot for Minnesota Senate District 10; Nathan Wesenberg is the sitting member, per the Minnesota Senate's official member directory (senate.mn). Nominees were chosen at the August 11, 2026 primary (where contested) or qualified directly for the general ballot. The field is the Secretary of State's certified candidate table; Minnesota prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Nathan Wesenberg · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Nathan Wesenberg is the Republican candidate for Minnesota Senate District 10 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate table. Nathan Wesenberg is a sitting member for the district, per the Minnesota Senate's official member directory (senate.mn). This name has not yet been researched.
Tara Killen · Democratic-Farmer-Labor▾
Tara Killen is the Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate for Minnesota Senate District 10 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate table. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 11, 2026.
Spencer Igo (Republican), Erin McCabe Ningen (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) are on the November 3 ballot for Minnesota House District 7A; Spencer Igo is the sitting member, per the Minnesota House of Representatives's official member directory (house.mn.gov). Nominees were chosen at the August 11, 2026 primary (where contested) or qualified directly for the general ballot. The field is the Secretary of State's certified candidate table; Minnesota prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Spencer Igo · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Spencer Igo represents District 7A in the Minnesota House and works as a consultant. He holds a B.S. in public administration from the University of North Dakota, according to the Minnesota House of Representatives. First elected in 2020, he is now in his third term and co-chairs the Housing Finance and Policy committee, also serving on Ways and Means and Energy Finance and Policy. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 11, 2026.
Erin McCabe Ningen · Democratic-Farmer-Labor▾
Erin McCabe Ningen is the Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate for Minnesota House District 7A on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate table. This name has not yet been researched.
Melissa Maertens (Democratic-Farmer-Labor), Mark Striemer (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Minnesota House District 10A. Not on the November ballot: Ron Kresha, the sitting member per the roster. Nominees were chosen at the August 11, 2026 primary (where contested) or qualified directly for the general ballot. The field is the Secretary of State's certified candidate table; Minnesota prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Melissa Maertens · Democratic-Farmer-Labor▾
Melissa Maertens is the Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate for Minnesota House District 10A on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate table. This name has not yet been researched.
Mark Striemer · Republican▾
Mark Striemer is the Republican candidate for Minnesota House District 10A on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate table. This name has not yet been researched.
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