Becker County, Minnesota

Minnesota House District 4B

See where Laugisch and Joy stand on public safety, schools and health care. Names follow official Becker County election filings.

About this race

Thaddeus Laugisch (Democratic-Farmer-Labor), Jim Joy (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Minnesota House District 4B; Jim Joy 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.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Jim Joy, is on the ballot.

This list comes from official election records but may be incomplete. It can miss, for example, late or petition candidates and some city, school and district races. Your official sample ballot is the final word.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

Minnesota › Becker County › Minnesota House District 4B

Thaddeus Laugisch

Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Top priorities

From the campaign site

Bring back access to health care services for our communities
Decrease emergency response times
Create and fund educational opportunities for the trades

Biography

Thaddeus Laugisch is a candidate for Minnesota House District 4B, per the campaign site. Laugisch has worked 18 years at Kava Construction Inc. as a commercial agricultural general contractor, designer and safety director, and has been a business owner for 12 years, per the campaign site. Laugisch has served as DFL Clay County Unit outreach officer and as executive director of the DFL Rural Caucus, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Jim Joy

RepublicanIncumbent

Biography

Jim Joy was first elected to the Minnesota House in 2022 and previously served as mayor of Hawley and on the Hawley City Council, according to the Detroit Lakes Tribune. He represents District 4B and faces a rematch against the same DFL challenger from 2024. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.

Next on your ballotMinnesota House District 5A

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Minnesota House District 4B in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Minnesota House District 4B on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Thaddeus Laugisch and Jim Joy. Candidate information follows official Becker County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on public safety, schools and health care.

When is the Minnesota House District 4B election in Minnesota?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Minnesota are on the Minnesota election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Becker County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Becker County and state election office filings, last verified October 24, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Minnesota election office, or see the full Becker County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Becker County ballot

28 tracked races in Becker County, Minnesota. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Judge, Minnesota 7th Judicial District Court, Seat 2 Judge, Minnesota 7th Judicial District Court, Seat 8 Judge, Minnesota 7th Judicial District Court, Seat 9 See all 28 Becker County races

Candidate profiles

Thaddeus Laugisch, full profile Jim Joy, full profile Official Minnesota election office