Primary Day Arrives for Rochester Mayor, City Council & Olmsted County Board Races
Rochester, MN (RochesterNow)- Primary Election Day has arrived in Minnesota.
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The polls open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday and close at 8 p.m. Only two candidates in each race on the ballot Tuesday will advance to November’s General Election.
Voters in Rochester will narrow down the field of candidates in races for mayor, city council and Olmsted County Board.
The Rochester School Board is not a part of the Primary Election. Board members voted in February to scrap the Primary Elections.
Primary Elections for Rochester Mayor, City Council & Olmsted County Board
Eight candidates are in the field for Rochester Mayor.
The candidates for Mayor are Axe Abdimajid Ahmed, Molly Dennis, Walé Elegbede, Jess Garcia, Ayub HajiOmar, Jerod Lucker, Valmick M. Patel, Joe Powers and Benjamin Zastrow.
Read More: Who is Running for Rochester Mayor? Meet the Candidates
The fifth ward is the only one of the three Rochester City Council races on the ballots this year to host a Primary. Ruchi Gupta and Acacia Ward are running against Incumbent Shaun Palmer.
Two of the three races for the Olmsted County Board require Primary Elections. Districts two and six are on the ballot on Tuesday.
Karuna Ojanen and Gabe Perkins are challenging District two incumbent David H. Senjem. Commissioner Bob Hopkins is facing a Primary challenge from Tawonda Burks and Michael Wojcik.
Statewide Primary Races in Minnesota
Minnesota voters will also narrow down the candidates in several statewide races.
Notable primaries are happening in the race to replace retiring Senator Tina Smith and to replace Gov. Tim Walz, who is not seeking a third term.
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