Winona County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
Who is running for County Commissioner, County Auditor/Treasurer and County Recorder and more, and where they stand on jobs, the budget and health care.
County offices
Commissioner District 1Nonpartisan race · Chris Meyer
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Chris Meyer
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Address nitrate contamination in private wells through water quality funding
- Continue financial support for the Soil and Water Conservation District
- Expand regional cooperation on workforce development, childcare and mental health crisis services
About Chris Meyer
Chris Meyer retired in 2013 after a 30 year career with General Mills in Minneapolis, where she wrote software and managed IT projects, per her campaign site. She has served as Winona County Commissioner for District 1 since 2019 and was appointed in 2025 to Governor Walz's Clean Water Council, per her campaign site.
Chris Meyer is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Commissioner District 1, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings (Minnesota prints unopposed county races).
Full race pageCommissioner District 2Nonpartisan race · Patrick Moga · Dwayne Voegeli
Patrick Moga and Dwayne Voegeli are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Commissioner District 2.
Patrick Moga
Patrick Moga is Winona County's longtime former finance director, running for County Commissioner District 2 against Dwayne Voegeli in 2026, per the Winona Post. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
Dwayne Voegeli
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Support fiscally responsible government
- Maintain safe roads and bridges
- Support small businesses and family farms
About Dwayne Voegeli
Dwayne Voegeli was a high school social studies teacher and basketball coach at Winona Senior High School for more than 30 years, per his campaign site. He served on the Winona County Board of Commissioners from 2002 to 2010 and again from 2022 to the present, and is president of the Winona Shelter Network, per his campaign site.
2 candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Commissioner District 2, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings.
Full race pageCommissioner District 5Nonpartisan race · Bob Redig · Marcia Ward
Bob Redig and Marcia Ward are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Commissioner District 5.
Bob Redig
Bob Redig appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Commissioner District 5, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026; the Secretary of State's candidate filing is the only verifiable source for Bob Redig.
Marcia Ward
Marcia Ward appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Commissioner District 5, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026; the Secretary of State's candidate filing is the only verifiable source for Marcia Ward.
2 candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Commissioner District 5, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings.
Full race pageAuditor/TreasurerNonpartisan race · Chelsi Wilbright
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Chelsi Wilbright
Chelsi Wilbright was elected Winona County Auditor-Treasurer in 2022 after previously serving as the county's Deputy Auditor-Treasurer, per the La Crosse Tribune. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
Chelsi Wilbright is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Auditor/Treasurer, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings (Minnesota prints unopposed county races).
Full race pageRecorderNonpartisan race · Bob Bambenek · Annette Deyo
Bob Bambenek and Annette Deyo are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Recorder.
Bob Bambenek
Bob Bambenek is the sitting Winona County Recorder, per the county's official staff directory, and is described as the county's longest-serving elected office holder, per the Winona Post. He is facing competition for the office for the first time in many years, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Annette Deyo
Annette Deyo is a candidate for Winona County Recorder. She is a graduate of Winona Senior High School and Winona State University who has been involved with local arts organizations and owns a small business, per the Winona Post. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
2 candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Recorder, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings.
Full race pageSheriffNonpartisan race · John Hazelton · Charles Rolbiecki
John Hazelton and Charles Rolbiecki are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Sheriff.
John Hazelton
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Building a community partnership rather than a closed-off Sheriff's Office
- Transparency, modern policing and accountability
- Collaborative public safety through community engagement
About John Hazelton
John Hazelton is a 25-year veteran of the Winona County Sheriff's Office and a lifelong Winona resident, per WXOW. He has served 24 years as the office's lead firearms instructor and has led its Emergency Response Team, per the same source.
Charles Rolbiecki
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Be a hands-on sheriff, balancing administrative duties with visibility in the community
- Prioritize public safety while ensuring staff are supported
- Build a better collaborative system to meet residents' mental health needs
About Charles Rolbiecki
Charles Rolbiecki is a Winona County native with 26 years in law enforcement, including 18 years as a Winona County Sheriff's Office deputy, per his campaign site. He previously ran for sheriff in 2022 and is running again in 2026.
2 candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Sheriff, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings.
Full race pageAttorneyNonpartisan race · Rebecca Church
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Rebecca Church
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Fair and balanced justice combining accountability with rehabilitation
- Victim support and collaboration with law enforcement and county departments
- Community safety through careful decision-making and open communication
About Rebecca Church
Rebecca Church has nearly 20 years of service in county attorney's offices, most of it in Winona County, per her campaign site.
Rebecca Church is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Attorney, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings (Minnesota prints unopposed county races).
Full race pageJudges
Judge, Minnesota 3rd Judicial District Court, Seat 4Nonpartisan race · Jacob C. Allen
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Jacob C. Allen
Jacob C. Allen is a judge of the Minnesota 3rd Judicial District Court. Appointed to the Olmsted County District Court by Governor Mark Dayton on Aug. 31, 2018, and elected in 2020, per the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Previously managing attorney of the Third District Public Defender's Office and a partner at O'Brien & Wolf L.L.P., per the Minnesota Judicial Branch. No campaign website was found as of September 25, 2026.
Jacob C. Allen is the only name on the ballot for this seat; Minnesota prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected, so the race is on the November 3, 2026 ballot but is not contested. Minnesota's 3rd Judicial District covers Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Winona counties; judges are elected at large across the whole district, so every voter there, not just voters in one county, votes on this seat. Minnesota judicial elections are nonpartisan and decided by plurality, with no runoff. Listed from the Secretary of State's certified general-election candidate table.
Full race pageJudge, Minnesota 3rd Judicial District Court, Seat 6Nonpartisan race · Karen R. Duncan
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Karen R. Duncan
Judge Karen R. Duncan was appointed to the Third Judicial District bench by Governor Mark Dayton on March 1, 2013, and was elected in 2014 and 2020, per the Minnesota Judicial Branch. She earned her J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and previously served as chief public defender for the Third Judicial District. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Karen R. Duncan is the only name on the ballot for this seat; Minnesota prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected, so the race is on the November 3, 2026 ballot but is not contested. Minnesota's 3rd Judicial District covers Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Winona counties; judges are elected at large across the whole district, so every voter there, not just voters in one county, votes on this seat. Minnesota judicial elections are nonpartisan and decided by plurality, with no runoff. Listed from the Secretary of State's certified general-election candidate table.
Full race pageJudge, Minnesota 3rd Judicial District Court, Seat 7Nonpartisan race · Dwight Luhmann
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Dwight Luhmann
Dwight Luhmann is a judge of the Minnesota 3rd Judicial District Court. Appointed to the Winona County District Court on July 15, 2024, by Governor Tim Walz, per the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Previously a solo practitioner and city attorney for Preston, 2007-2024, per the Minnesota Judicial Branch. No campaign website was found as of September 25, 2026.
Dwight Luhmann is the only name on the ballot for this seat; Minnesota prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected, so the race is on the November 3, 2026 ballot but is not contested. Minnesota's 3rd Judicial District covers Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Winona counties; judges are elected at large across the whole district, so every voter there, not just voters in one county, votes on this seat. Minnesota judicial elections are nonpartisan and decided by plurality, with no runoff. Listed from the Secretary of State's certified general-election candidate table.
Full race pageJudge, Minnesota 3rd Judicial District Court, Seat 15Nonpartisan race · Erin Lindhart Felten
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Erin Lindhart Felten
Erin Lindhart Felten is a judge of the Minnesota 3rd Judicial District Court. Appointed to the Olmsted County District Court on Aug. 6, 2024, by Governor Tim Walz, per the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Previously a referee for the Third Judicial District in Olmsted County and an attorney at Hoversten, Johnson, Beckmann & Hovey LLP, per the Minnesota Judicial Branch. No campaign website was found as of September 25, 2026.
Erin Lindhart Felten is the only name on the ballot for this seat; Minnesota prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected, so the race is on the November 3, 2026 ballot but is not contested. Minnesota's 3rd Judicial District covers Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Winona counties; judges are elected at large across the whole district, so every voter there, not just voters in one county, votes on this seat. Minnesota judicial elections are nonpartisan and decided by plurality, with no runoff. Listed from the Secretary of State's certified general-election candidate table.
Full race pageJudge, Minnesota 3rd Judicial District Court, Seat 17Nonpartisan race · Christopher A Neisen
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Christopher A Neisen
Judge Christopher A Neisen was appointed to the Third Judicial District bench by Governor Mark Dayton on June 29, 2018, and was elected in 2020, per the Minnesota Judicial Branch. He earned his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and previously was managing partner at Wornson, Goggins, Neisen, Morris & Brever, P.C. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Christopher A Neisen is the only name on the ballot for this seat; Minnesota prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected, so the race is on the November 3, 2026 ballot but is not contested. Minnesota's 3rd Judicial District covers Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Winona counties; judges are elected at large across the whole district, so every voter there, not just voters in one county, votes on this seat. Minnesota judicial elections are nonpartisan and decided by plurality, with no runoff. Listed from the Secretary of State's certified general-election candidate table.
Full race pageJudge, Minnesota 3rd Judicial District Court, Seat 22Nonpartisan race · Jeffrey M Johnson
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Jeffrey M Johnson
Judge Jeffrey M Johnson was appointed to the Third Judicial District bench by Governor Mark Dayton on March 23, 2018, and was elected in 2020, per the Minnesota Judicial Branch. He earned his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law and previously served as Third Judicial District Chief Public Defender. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Jeffrey M Johnson is the only name on the ballot for this seat; Minnesota prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected, so the race is on the November 3, 2026 ballot but is not contested. Minnesota's 3rd Judicial District covers Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Winona counties; judges are elected at large across the whole district, so every voter there, not just voters in one county, votes on this seat. Minnesota judicial elections are nonpartisan and decided by plurality, with no runoff. Listed from the Secretary of State's certified general-election candidate table.
Full race pageDistricts and boards
Soil and Water Supervisor District 1Nonpartisan race · Ross L. Greden
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Ross L. Greden
Ross L. Greden appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Soil and Water Supervisor District 1, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026; the Secretary of State's candidate filing is the only verifiable source for Ross L. Greden.
Ross L. Greden is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Soil and Water Supervisor District 1, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings (Minnesota prints unopposed county races).
Full race pageSoil and Water Supervisor District 4Nonpartisan race · Tom Scarponcini
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Tom Scarponcini
Tom Scarponcini appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Soil and Water Supervisor District 4, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026; the Secretary of State's candidate filing is the only verifiable source for Tom Scarponcini.
Tom Scarponcini is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Winona County Soil and Water Supervisor District 4, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings (Minnesota prints unopposed county races).
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Winona County is split across 4 Minnesota Senate and House districts.
Find your districts by addressMinnesota Senate: 2 districtsDistricts 20, 26
Minnesota Senate District 20Steven E Jacob (R) · Jason Lohmann (D)
Steven E Jacob
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Protecting the unborn
- Second Amendment rights
- Supporting law enforcement
About Steven E Jacob
Jacob is a fourth-generation family farmer and small business owner who served ten years on the Winona County Board of Commissioners, chairing its Road and Bridge Committee, per the campaign site. Jacob served ten years on the Winona County Planning Commission, helped develop the Ag Water Quality Certification program, and the site says Jacob was elected to the Minnesota Legislature in 2022 and is a candidate for Senate District 20, per the campaign site.
Jason Lohmann
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Support strong pre-K through 12 education and special education
- Protect family farms and small businesses
- Improve rural infrastructure funding and support veterans
About Jason Lohmann
Jason Lohmann is a farmer in Zumbrota who describes himself as bringing common sense and practical, working class experience to the campaign, per the campaign site. He serves on the Zumbrota-Mazeppa School Board, the Goodhue County Education District Board, the Zumbrota Township Board and a local fire board, per the campaign site.
Steven E Jacob (Republican), Jason Lohmann (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) are on the November 3 ballot for Minnesota Senate District 20. Not on the November ballot: Steve Drazkowski, 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.
Full race pageMinnesota Senate District 26Cherie Johnson (R) · Jack Hedin (D)
Cherie Johnson
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Making life more affordable through responsible spending
- Supporting local farms, small businesses, and education
- Upholding transparency and accountability in government
About Cherie Johnson
Johnson is an educator who teaches and coaches and has also served as a foster parent, per the campaign site. She and her husband Ben have raised seven children in Winona and she serves on local community boards, per the campaign site.
Jack Hedin
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Support locally owned businesses and oppose out of state corporate consolidation
- Promote cover crop practices to address nitrate runoff and soil conservation
- Address health care workforce shortages and affordability
About Jack Hedin
Jack Hedin is a farmer and small business owner who built Featherstone Farm in southeast Minnesota over 30 years, developing greenhouses, crop storage facilities and a regional trucking network for produce, per the campaign site.
Cherie Johnson (Republican), Jack Hedin (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) are on the November 3 ballot for Minnesota Senate District 26. Not on the November ballot: Jeremy R. Miller, 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.
Full race pageMinnesota House: 2 districtsDistricts 20B, 26A
Minnesota House District 20BSteve Holm (D) · Sara Bertschinger (R)
Steve Holm
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Focuses on water quality and conservation, including addressing nitrate pollution
- Supports improving rural health care access and affordability
- Supports agricultural viability, including farm insurance and labor issues
About Steve Holm
Steve Holm grew up on a small farm near St. Charles, Minnesota, per campaign site. Steve Holm worked at Mayo Clinic for 41 years, per campaign site. Steve Holm served seven years on the Saratoga Township Board, per campaign site.
Sara Bertschinger
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Supports family farms and small businesses
- Focuses on advancing quality education
- Emphasizes government accountability
About Sara Bertschinger
Sara Bertschinger works as a home care nurse in the Rochester area, per campaign site. Sara Bertschinger and her husband live on a family homestead near Pine Island that has been in the family for a century, per campaign site.
Steve Holm (Democratic-Farmer-Labor), Sara Bertschinger (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Minnesota House District 20B. Not on the November ballot: Steven Jacob, 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.
Full race pageMinnesota House District 26ADan Wilson (D) · Aaron Repinski (R)
Dan Wilson
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- building affordable housing in downtown Winona
- fully funding a school district daycare center
- addressing elevated nitrate levels in groundwater
About Dan Wilson
Wilson is a farmer and laborer who has lived in Winona County for 20 years, spent six years as a live-in volunteer at Bethany House, and co-chairs the Winona Economic Development Authority, per the campaign site. He farms rotationally grazed cattle with his wife, per the campaign site.
Aaron Repinski
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Improving reading and math proficiency in schools
- Returning state budget surpluses to taxpayers
- Addressing rising local crime, including opioid-related offenses
About Aaron Repinski
Repinski previously served on the Winona city council and currently works as a Winona County bailiff, per the campaign site. He is a lifelong resident of the Winona area who has raised his family in the community, per the campaign site.
Dan Wilson (Democratic-Farmer-Labor), Aaron Repinski (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Minnesota House District 26A; Aaron Repinski 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.
Full race pageBallot questions
2 local ballot questions from official county, city and school district lists. Countywide questions appear on every ballot in Winona County; city, school district and special-district questions only inside the jurisdiction named. Statewide measures are listed separately.
School District Question 1: Approval of New School District Referendum Revenue AuthorizationIndependent School District No. 858 (St. Charles Public Schools) · Would revoke the school district's existing referendum revenue authorization of its existing per-pupil amount and replace it with a new authorization of $650 per pupil for ten years.
Would revoke the school district's existing referendum revenue authorization of its existing per-pupil amount and replace it with a new authorization of $650 per pupil for ten years.
School District Question 1: Renewal of Capital Project Levy Authorization for TechnologyIndependent School District No. 861 (Winona Area Public Schools) · Would let the school board renew capital project levy authorization of 3.383% of the district's net tax capacity to fund technology, curriculum, transportation and facility maintenance costs.
Would let the school board renew capital project levy authorization of 3.383% of the district's net tax capacity to fund technology, curriculum, transportation and facility maintenance costs.
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
Who is on the ballot in Winona County, Minnesota on November 3, 2026?
Winona County sample ballot 2026: see where the commissioner, county recorder and county sheriff candidates stand on jobs, the budget and health care. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Minnesota?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Minnesota are listed on the Minnesota election hub. Minnesota election hub →
What ballot questions are on the Winona County ballot?
2 ballot questions: Approval of New School District Referendum Revenue Authorization; Renewal of Capital Project Levy Authorization for Technology. Each question page explains what a yes vote and a no vote would do.
How do I see my exact Winona County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
Minnesota statewide racesEvery Minnesota race on this county's ballot.All Minnesota ballot measures1 statewide ballot measure