The Ballot Brief
Houston County, Minnesota

Houston County Commissioner District 2

Johnson and Mierau are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Houston County election filings.

About this race

2 candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Houston County Commissioner District 2, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings.

What this office does

County commissioner. The county board is the county's legislative and, in most states, executive body. Commissioners adopt the county budget and property tax rate, oversee roads, the jail, public health, planning and zoning in unincorporated areas, and appoint or confirm department heads. In counties with an elected county executive or judge, the board's role is mainly the budget and ordinances.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot.

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

Minnesota › Houston County › Houston County Commissioner District 2

Eric Johnson

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

From other published sources

  • Bringing an agricultural perspective to county government as the board's only farmer, per a hometownsource.com questionnaire
  • Keeping levies low despite rising costs and reducing the Criminal Justice Center debt payment after 2029, per a hometownsource.com questionnaire
  • Maintaining the county's land use plan to keep data centers out of the agricultural district, per a hometownsource.com questionnaire
Biography

Eric Johnson is a lifelong farmer in Looney Valley who has served as Houston County Commissioner for District 2 for eight years, including a prior term as board chair, per hometownsource.com. He also sits on the Semcac board, the county Economic Development Authority board, and other regional committees. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.

Dean Mierau

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

From other published sources

  • Wants to maintain infrastructure, support local business and agriculture, and keep taxes fair, per a hometownsource.com candidate guide
  • Wants to promote tourism in the county, per a hometownsource.com candidate guide
  • Says he aims to be transparent, efficient, and accountable, per a hometownsource.com candidate guide
Biography

Dean Mierau is a retired U.S. Navy service member with 28 years of service who has lived in Houston County for two decades, per hometownsource.com. He served four years on the Rushford School Board and previously owned Nordic Lanes and The Creamery in Rushford before selling the business. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.

Next on your ballotHouston County Commissioner District 4

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Voting info and more

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Houston County Commissioner District 2 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Houston County Commissioner District 2 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Eric Johnson and Dean Mierau. Candidate information follows official Houston County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Houston County Commissioner District 2 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 Houston 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 Houston County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Houston County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Houston County Auditor/TreasurerHouston County RecorderHouston County SheriffSee all 16 Houston County races
Candidate profiles
Eric Johnson, full profileDean Mierau, full profileOfficial Minnesota election office