The Presidential race was another one for the history books.
In 2016, when Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton, Trump prevailed with 304 electoral college votes compared to Clinton’s 227. In that race, Trump won the electoral college but had fewer popular votes than Clinton – a point of contention among some voters. Trump had 62,984,828 compared to Clinton’s 65,853,514 votes.
For 2020, Biden layed a reverse Uno card on Trump, claiming 306 electoral college votes compared to Trump’s 232. Biden won the popular vote, as well, with more than 81 million compared to over 74 million for Trump.
But, 2024 was a different story. Trump won both the electoral college and popular vote. As of press time, Trump has 295 electoral college votes compared to Harris with 226. Trump has over 72.7 million popular votes compared to Harris’ 68 million. As of press time, ballots are still being processed for Arizona and Nevada, but the numbers seem to be leaning in favor of Trump. On January 20, 2025, Donald J. Trump will take the oath of office to be the 47th President of the United State of America.
The State of Minnesota, which often displays a mostly red map with a few blue counties, is considered a blue state. This election was no different. Out of 87 counties, Trump won the vote in 78 counties, but the dense population centers of nine counties (Clay, Cook, Dakota, Hennepin, Lake, Olmsted, Ramsey, St. Louis and Washington) turned the state in favor of Harris. Those nine counties represent a total of 1.37 million voters out of the total 3.17 million voters in the state. Harris claimed 1,653,837 votes compared to Trump’s 1,516,563 – a roughly 137,000 difference.
In Fillmore County, Trump overwhelmingly appealed to rural voters by a large margin, claiming 7,638 (61.67%) votes compared to Harris’ 4,491 (36.26%) votes.
Houston County was somewhat similar. The Trump and Vance duo garnered 6,548 (57.29%) of the votes compared to Harris and Walz with 4,668 (40.84%) votes.
State Representation
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (DFL) retained her seat with 188,283 (49.26%) votes compared to Republican challenger Royce White with 181,610 (47.52%). Klobuchar will be serving her fourth term.
U.S. Congressman Brad Finstad (R) won with 220,934 (58.51%) over DFL challenger Rachel Bohman who garnered 156,375 (41.41%) of the votes. Finstad will be serving his second term.
For State Representative of District 26B, Republican Gregory M. Davids, the incumbent, earned support from 15,714 (63.32%) of the voters, while DFL challenger Allie Wolf pulled in 9,044 (36.44%) of the votes.
In 2022, Davids ran unopposed and won with 94.67% of the votes, pulling in 15,037 of the votes.
For the 2020 general election, Davids won with 14,711 (63.67%) of the votes, with DFL-endorsed challenger Jordan Fontenello earning 8,344 (36.11%) of the votes.
Davids is currently serving his 17th term in office.
County Races
In Fillmore County, incumbent Mitch Lentz ran unopposed for county commissioner representing District 1, raking in 2,154 (98.27%) of the votes.
For District 3, Lawrence Hindt, incumbent, earned 1,160 (56.72%) votes compared to challenger Gerald A. Wolf with 875 (42.79%) votes. Hindt retains his seat on the county board.
Marc Prestby, representing District 5, ran unopposed, and garnered 1,748 (97.54%) votes.
For Fillmore Soil & Water Conservation District, Jason T. Wetzel (District 2), Kathy Tesmer (District 3), Eunice Biel (District 4), and Travis Willford (District 5) ran unopposed and retained their seats.
In Houston County, Kurt W. Zehnder, running unopposed for county commissioner of District 3, claimed 1,458 (95.23%) of the votes.
Mikal Sylling and Greg Myhre faced off for District 5, with Myhre earning 1,417 (74.07%) of the votes for a victory.
The Root River Soil & Water Conservation District had three candidates run unopposed, Kenneth Anderson (District 3), Glenn Kruse (District 4), and Matt Feldmeier (District 5), all winning seats on the board.
Cities
Brownsville Mayor Jean Meyer ran unopposed and retains this leadership role. David Prestby and Bill Fitzpatrick ran unopposed for the two seats available, so they will claim those seats.
For Caledonia, candidates Pree Amin and Jeremy Leis faced off for the seat of mayor, with Leis claiming victory with 59.76% of the votes. Bob Klug and Amanda Wray Ninneman ran unopposed for the two open seats on the council, claiming those seats.
In Canton, Mayor Josh Nordsving ran unopposed. There are two seats available on the council, and Jen Dowling claimed one seat. A prevailing write-in candidate had not been announced as of press.
Chatfield Mayor John McBroom faced challenger Curtis Sorenson, with McBroom prevailing with 52.58% of the votes. Joshua Broadwater, Pam Bluhm and Dave Frank claimed the three open seats on the city council.
Eitzen taxpayers voted to re-elect Mayor Jeff Adamson, and they filled the two open seats with Mitchel A. Luttchens and Mitch Lange.
In Fountain, Ron Reisner claimed the seat of mayor. Since there were two open seats for city council but nobody on the ballot, voters were prompted for write-in candidates. As of press time, the Fillmore County Auditor’s Office had not finalized the write-in candidate data.
Grand Meadow votes had one candidate for mayor, so Timothy Baxter Fenton prevailed. The council had two seats available and three candidates. Thomas Oehlke (43.59%) and Caden Fruth (36.10%) claimed those seats, defeating Bryan Owens (19.08%). Grand Meadow also held a special election in which Isaac Tangen, the only candidate on the ballot, prevailed.
For Harmony, Steve Donney retained his seat as mayor. The council had four candidates vying for two seats. Jesse Grabau (30.04%) and Tara Morem (27.26%) claimed those positions over Keith McIntosh (22.09%) and Brad Thacher (20.15%).
Hokah taxpayers had Leland Tippery on the ballot for mayor with no opposition. For city council, they had to choose two. Kim Holter (42.83%) and Mike Walsh (32.73%) prevailed over Amy Oehmigen Fattig (23.84%).
Houston voters had one candidate for mayor, Scott Wallace, and he claimed that seat. For the council, there were two seats open, and they were filled by Emily Krage and Danny Todd.
La Crescent elected Mike Poellinger, unopposed, for mayor, and Dale W. Williams and Christopher Langen to the two council seats available.
Lanesboro had four candidates running for mayor. Alicia Pearson (41.90%) defeated Donald Bell, Ken Soiney, and Mindy Albrecht-Benson. The council had two seats to fill with Kathryn Wade (39.35%) and Joe Cullen (33.91%) prevailing over Sarah Pieper (25.00%).
In LeRoy, there were three candidates on the ballot for mayor. Edwin Koppen (48.40%) prevailed over Diane Whalen and Randy Sager. The council had two open seats and four candidates on the ballot. Chastidy Sweeney (33.71%) and Paul Apenhorst (22.56%) claimed the two seats over contestants Devin Wallace (21.93%) and Brian Thiel (20.41%).
Mabel had two candidates running for mayor. Adam Wilder (77.31%) prevailed over Clarence Austin Brumm (21.57%). There were two seats available with four contenders. Kelly Sand (28.37%) and Kirsten Wyffels (26.53%) prevailed over Cory Wilson (26.23%) and Craig Amdahl (17.94%)
In Ostrander, Stephanie Start (65.67%) defeated Pamela Kunert (32.09%) for the seat of mayor. Jimmie Dean Jr. (31.28%) and Dan Hellerud (20.99%) claimed two seats on the city council, defeating Crystal Erickson (18.11%), Vernon Thompson (18.11%), and Laney Brincks (11.52%).
For Peterson, Chris Stenzel won the seat of mayor, while Justin Simon and Tracy Seelbinder claimed the two available seats on the city council.
In Preston, Kurt Reicks (60.70%) retained his seat as mayor, defeating Alison Leathers (30.88%) and Austin Baukol (8.02%). Dean Aug and Steven Hall claimed the only two seats available on the city council.
Rushford Village Mayor Dennis Overland retains his seat. Rick Ruberg and Mike Ebner claimed the two seats available for city council.
Spring Grove had two candidates running for mayor. Bryan Goober Wilhelmson (56.57%) defeated Saundra (Saundy) Solum (42.97%) for the seat of mayor. For council, Michael Hagen (43.80%) and Morgan Buckland (42.34%) claimed the two seats over Rinda Connelly (12.50%). A special election was held for a council member, as well, and Trent Turner claimed that seat running unopposed.
For Spring Valley, Justin Mlinar (61.61%) defeated Luan R. Ruesink (37.14%) for the seat of mayor. The council had two seats available. Chris Danielson (36.83%) and John Dols (27.83%) defeated Greg Brooks (18.26%).
Whalan voters elected David Hallum as mayor, and Thore E. Johnson and Owen B. Lewis to the only two available council sets. More than 95% of voters were in favor of transferring ownership of their entire municipal electric utility system, including infrastructure and service, to MiEnergy Cooperative effective January 1, 2025.
Wykoff had only one contender for mayor, so Ryan Breckenridge claimed that seat at the head table. There were two seats available on the city council, with Jane Baker (40.09%) and Barbara Fate (25.87%) prevailing over Jerico Bushman (16.78%) and Mitchell Joe Horsman (15.85%).
School Boards
Caledonia Public Schools had three seats available and four contenders. Julie Augedahl (28.92%), Leigh King (27.23%), and Spencer Yohe (23.46%) claimed seats, defeating Carol Nelson (19.99%).
Chatfield Public School had four candidates and three open seats. Tom Keefe (30.11%), Jill Harstad (29.08%), and Katie Priebe (28.37%) beat out Aric T. Bauman (11.70%).
Fillmore Central Public Schools had four candidates vying for three seats, with Jason Schwarz (29.87%), Carrie Mathison (28.26%) and Brian Michel (21.64%) winning over Aaron Bishop (19.41%). The referendum earned 1,574 (57.93%) against and 1,143 (42.07%) in favor, so the bond failed to pass.
Grand Meadow Public Schools had three open seats and six people on the ballot. Steve Meyerhofer (28.20%), Justin A. Queensland (27.91%), and Courtney Soltau (14.08%) prevailed, winning seats over Karsen Ulwelling (13.52%), Matt Unverzagt (10.02%), and Russell Crabtree (5.92%).
Houston Public Schools had three seats available and only two candidates to fill those seats. Josh Norlien and Mimi Carlson claimed two of those seats. A write-in candidate is yet to be announced. There was also a special election for a school board member, and Lisa Schultz will be taking that seat.
Kingsland Public Schools had four seats up for grabs with five candidates on the ballot for School Board Member at Large. Cindy Seabright (22.09%), Brady Wolfgram (21.89%), Ann Oeltjen (21.77%), and Kyle Mulhern (17.15%) won the four seats. Dan Freeman (15.93%) came up short on votes. There was a special election for School Board Member at Large, in which Steven Lynn Tammel (50.21%) prevailed over Dan Schmidt (48.70%). Kingsland taxpayers voted (53.75%) in favor of passing a school building bond not to exceed $8.9 million with those funds directed toward repairs to the roof, exterior walls, parking lots, and building infrastructure improvements. Voters did, however, strike down (58.18%) a nearly $11.5 million bond to invest in a new physical education multi-purpose gymnasium, lock rooms, weights, fitness space, and a multi-purpose large group room.
La Crescent-Hokah Public Schools had four seats on the ballot with five candidates vying for the opportunity to serve. Paige Matthews Schoepel (21.81%), Eric Morken (21.19%), Brandon Lange (21.13%), and Wade Welper (18.57%) earned the votes, leaving Steve Porter (16.82%) out of the running.
Lanesboro Public Schools had three seats to fill and six contenders. Sara Peterson (24.60%), Lucas Bergo (21.34%), and Mark Holmen (18.85%) defeated Christine Troendle (15.48%), Tamara DeGarmo (10.98%), and Jennifer Kimball-Olson (8.42%).
LeRoy-Ostrander Public Schools had four seats to fill and only three candidates on the ballot. Dan Evans, Jessica Yoch, and Nicole Wallace will claim those seats. The winning write-in candidate was undetermined as of press time.
Mabel-Canton Public Schools had four seats to fill and only three candidates on the ballot: Mark Wiedemann, Jason Marquardt and Chris Miller. The prevailing write-in candidate had not been announced as of press time.
Rushford-Peterson Public Schools had four seats to fill and five contenders. Matt Helgemoe (23.30%), Chris Grindland (22.58%), Amy Woxland (22.08%), and Ken Sawle (16.40%) earned a seat at the table, beating Marge O’Laughlin (14.39%).
Spring Grove Public Schools had three seats available, and four candidates. Lisa Myhre (26.89%), Myriah Klug (25.42%), and Stephanie Morken Jaster (23.63%) prevailing, defeating Shawn Buckland (23.41%).
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