Indivisible Iron Range

2026 Primary Election Results

In 2024, Minnesota Congressional District 8 saw 76,145 voters turn out for the August primary to cast ballots for a congressional representative: 40,802 Republican and 35,343 Democratic.

August 11, 2026 turnout in CD8 exploded to 137,630 voters in the 2026 primary: 67,187 Republican and 70,443 Democratic.

This marks an 81% increase in voter turnout, along with a massive 99% jump in DFL participation!

Results from MN Secretary of State office:

DFL

U.S. Senator:
Peggy Flanagan

Governor and Lt. Governor:
Amy Klobuchar and Ben Schierer

Secretary of State:
Steve Simon

State Auditor:
Zack Filipovich

Attorney General:
Keith Ellison

U.S. Representative District 8:
Trina Swanson

Republican

U.S. Senator:
Michele Tafoya

Governor and Lt. Governor:
Lisa Demuth and Ryan Wilson

Secretary of State:
Tad Jude

State Auditor:
Scott Jensen

Attorney General:
Ronald J. Schutz

U.S. Representative District 8:
Pete Stauber

Letter to the Editor: Upcoming election is ‘most important’

The upcoming election is going to be one of the most important of our lifetime. As we edge closer to losing our democracy, it’s essential that all of us get out and vote. And the best vote is one that involves some research.

For the last 50 years, various right wing organizations have schemed to take over all the layers of government; local, state and federal. As they have accomplished this they have systematically chipped away at many of the rights we have had.

Health care, woman’s right to choose, union rights, minority rights, gay and trans people’s rights have either been threatened or taken away in many states.

Now they are endangering our right to vote.

The current occupant of the White House and his sycophants in Congress and his cabinet have tried to push the SAVE Act, demanded voter rolls from the states, discouraged voting by mail and used other intimidation factors to make it difficult to cast your ballot.

What once was the party of Lincoln is now under the influence of MAGA. Any Republican in Congress that stood by their principles was either defeated in a primary election or left office at the end of their terms. There are good Republicans, but none of them are in Congress.

The same right wing factions have also corrupted the Supreme Court with a majority of right wing idealogues.

The balance is now six to three and the court has made many dubious rulings, starting with Citizens United, which open the floodgates for dark money to influence elections.

The bulwark against this slide into totalitarianism has been the District Court judges and various law groups that have challenged their moves and won.

The good news is that the tide is starting to shift against them. Various pro democracy groups nationwide are organizing on the grass roots level and educating our citizens on the power of their vote.

On the state level, the GOP is trying to distract you with accusations of Democats condoning fraud, which is false, conveniently ignoring the rampant corruption coming daily out of the White House led by someone who was convicted on 34 counts of fraud!

Fellow citizens, this election isn’t for right versus left, it’s all of us versus the Epstein class, the billionaires who are using their money to influence elections in their favor.

If you’re fed up with all the lies, corruption, out of control prices and endless wars, please take the time to look past all the sound bites and research what each candidate stands for. Don’t look at what they say, look at what they do!

Jerry Newton
Biwabik

Get Involved with Second Harvest Heartland

About the organization: Second Harvest Heartland is a leading hunger-relief organization. In partnership with more than 1,000 food shelves and hunger-relief programs in Minnesota and western Wisconsin, we provided more than 143 million meals to neighbors last year. We also help families enroll in food assistance and provide prepared meals for people who need more than groceries. Second Harvest Heartland is a leader, convener and voice in hunger-related policy discussions. Learn more » or connect on Facebook »

Watch the DFL CD8 Candidate Forum

Candidates: Emanual “Manny” Anastos, Bob Helland, John Paul McBride, Dr. Wendell Smith, Trina Swanson and Debra Topping.
Unable to attend: Luke Gulbranson, Jeremiah Liend and Carrie Mitchell

Notable timestamps:

  • 1:36 Overview and forum rules
  • 4:49 Opening statements
  • 11:20 Question 1 – If you could address only one rising cost facing Americans, which would it be and why? What trade-offs might your approach involve? What specific policies would you propose to address rising costs in health care, housing, education, and food?
  • 22:36 Question 2 – How would you balance the demand for minerals needed for clean energy technologies (such as copper and lithium) with the environmental impacts of mining including effects on the BWCA and other public lands? And how will you ensure that local residents, especially in rural areas, have a meaningful voice in decisions about mining projects and water use?
  • 34:08 Question 3 – Given concerns about the health of our democracy, how will you uphold democratic principles in office and can you briefly address your campaign funding, including any corporate or special interest support, and whether you will abide by the DFL nominating process?
  • 46:20 Question 4 – Will you commit to disbanding ICE and support the prosecution of every member of ICE and Trump’s paramilitary groups that committed crimes against humans (including denial of Habeus Corpus) in the United States during either of Trump’s terms in office?
  • 58:01 Question 5 – The poor and middle class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the very rich pay lawyers, and the ultra-rich pay politicians. Examples of paid off politicians and the ensuing corruption at the executive and legislative branch levels are far too numerous to list separately. But one example, and as I mentioned, there are so, so many, is the investment of $500 Million Deal and $2 Billion Investment in Trump Family Crypto Business, World Liberty Financial, by the United Arab Emirates resulting in the UAE gaining access to highly sensitive United States developed AI computer chips. Once you are elected to congress would you pursue hearings to look into corruption of this administration and hold violators accountable?
  • 01:10:15 Questions from the crowd