by Dennis Dalman
In the Nov. 8 general election, Sartell voters will have a slate of choices, some of whom were determined in the Aug. 9 primary.
In the primary election for Minnesota governor, Democrats gave incumbent Tim Walz (and running mate Peggy Flanagan) an overwhelming vote of confidence, with 96.5 percent of the total DFL votes cast. Challenger Ole Savior received 3.5 percent of the votes.
For Republican gubernatorial, Scott Jensen scored a resounding victory (89.3 percent of the votes) among Republican voters. Challengers Joyce Lacey (6.6 percent) and Bob Carney (4.1 percent) lost the primary.
That means incumbent Walz will be challenged by Jensen in the Nov. 8 general election.
For Minnesota Secretary of State, incumbent Steve Simon was favored by Democrat voters (72.5 percent) over DFL challenger Steve Carlson (27.5 percent). Republican contender Kim Crockett won the primary with 63.2 percent of the vote, compared to 36.8 for contender Erik van Mechelen.
Thus, incumbent Simon will face off with Crockett Nov. 8.
Incumbent Attorney General Keith Ellison, a DFL member, will be challenged in the Nov. 8 election by Republican Jim Shultz. Ellison survived a primary challenge from DFL’er Dill Dahn, with Ellison getting 89.3 percent of the vote and Dahn getting 10.l7 percent.
Schultz won the primary over two challengers with a vote of 52.5 percent. Fellow Republicans Doug Wardlow and Sharon Anderson lost to Schultz with a vote of 34.8 and 12.7 respectively.
Incumbent Republican state senator for Senate District 13, Jeff Howe, will be challenged by Democrat Alissa Brickman of Sauk Rapids. In the primary, Howe (with 85.6 percent of the vote) defeated challenger Ashley Burg (14.4 percent of the vote).
Minnesota Senate District 13 includes Sartell, St. Stephen, LeSauk Township, the west side of St. Joseph, Sauk Rapids, Holdingford, Albany, Paynesville and Kimball.
Please note: In the near future, the Newsleader will have updates of all candidates for the Nov. 8 election, including candidates who were not subject to the Aug. 9 primary election.