Next week, Minnesotans will head to the polls to winnow down the field for November in the statewide primary elections, with contested local races on the ballot across the state for both partisan and nonpartisan offices, as well as the statewide nomination for U.S. Senate.
While the DFL and Republican parties have indicated their preferred candidates through the caucus and endorsing convention process in most races, voters will have the option to overrule party leaders and select a candidate challenging their party’s endorsement.
Historically, Minnesotans have not been shy about opting for a candidate other than the endorsed candidate if they see fit. Gov. Tim Walz, his predecessor Gov. Mark Dayton and Attorney General Keith Ellison are all examples of candidates who defeated their party’s endorsed choice. All three went on to not only win the election in November, but also secure re-election four years later.
Election Day for the primary is Tuesday, Aug. 13.
Locally, one of the only races contested within parties is the race for House District 19B, which includes Owatonna, Waseca and surrounding rural areas. The incumbent is retiring Rep. John Petersburg, R-Waseca. When Petersburg was first elected in 2012, he succeeded DFLer Kory Kath, of Owatonna, but the district has voted heavily Republican in recent elections.
As they did during the endorsement process, Republicans Tom Sexton, of Waseca, and Michael “Mick” Ditlevson, of Owatonna, are competing to secure the support of their party, with the winner likely to head into the general election as a formidable favorite to represent the area in St. Paul come January, though DFLer Edel Fernandez, of Owatonna, is hoping to win voters over as well.
Sexton won the endorsement in June, winning about 60% of the delegate vote to Ditlevson’s 30% on the final ballot. The remaining vote went to Owatonna’s Chris Rausch, while Waseca’s Taylor Zinkle failed to make it onto the final ballot.
Despite the result, Ditlevson later announced that he would run in the primary election, arguing that the endorsing convention had not delivered “unanimous consensus” and thus ought to be settled through a primary.
Both Sexton and Ditlevson have waged robust campaigns throughout the summer, dotting the landscape with their yard signs. With just a week to go, both candidates are making a final pitch to voters.
Tom Sexton
As the endorsed Republican candidate, I am running for office to prioritize the needs and values of our community in Southern Minnesota. I will focus on pro-family policies, improving infrastructure, preserving family farms, strengthening law enforcement, assisting veterans, improving educational programs, helping our senior citizens, addressing workforce concerns, and ensuring the integrity of State programs to protect taxpayer funds.
My campaign is dedicated to promoting security, prosperity, and unity while advocating for the interests of our community to shape an improved future for Minnesotans. The trifecta in St. Paul has rammed through policy after policy that contradicts the values and will of the voters in House District 19B. I promise to bring good governance back to St. Paul and practical, conservative representation to Steele and Waseca counties.
Today we face demanding times as we witness flagrant disrespect of our law enforcement professionals, ever-increasing taxes, and local infrastructure development challenges. Enough is enough! In Minnesota, we are short 1,000 police officers with 2,500 more officers entering retirement eligibility over the next two years. Thus, the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) endorsed me prior to the primary election to address this issue.
The state budget is out of control. The one-sided legislature spent the $17.8B surplus and raised taxes and fees by over $10B more across the 2023-24 biennium. Overall, the budget increased 40% from $55B to over $70B.
This trend must be reversed. The surplus cannot magically become the baseline budget as we cannot afford to raise taxes and expect our citizens to remain in Minnesota.
As a retired United States Air Force colonel and retired energy industry Vice President of Construction Management, I am willing to bring years of advanced education and experience to St. Paul and fight the necessary battles on behalf of our Southern Minnesota values.
Mick Ditlevson
I care deeply about this community and, as an OHS graduate and fifth-generation farmer, will be here for the long-haul (you can’t exactly move farmland!).
Like many families who have put down roots in our community, I love Minnesota and want to see it prosper economically and politically. To do so, our state needs to grow next-generation leaders — leaders who will remain here and live with the consequences of their policy decisions for the coming decades.
While I’m grateful to have worked in Washington DC for the White House, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency during the Trump Administration, I know my fiscal insights and ties to rural Minnesota will serve 19B voters well.
My campaign slogan, “It’s Time to Reel in Reckless Spending!,” is focused on curbing the deficit spending that’s causing our community financial distress. My initiatives are budget-minded and practical.
An important focus of mine is to immediately repeal the harmful regulations hindering rural Minnesota business growth. Supporting local industries is essential in recruiting and retaining people in our communities.
I also believe in bringing relief to our seniors; we can, and should, double down on our efforts to repeal the double taxation of social security benefits.
Lastly, Republican leadership has proposed an “A+” plan in promoting common sense energy initiatives which I support. My experience under the Trump Administration will benefit us in reaching those energy goals.
In addition to these issues, I am always here to hear your concerns; I want to be your best advocate in St. Paul. I urge you to VOTE for Mick Ditlevson as your chosen Republican candidate in the primary election on August 13.
Statewide race
The lone statewide race on the ballot, for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, faces a contested primary race on both sides of the ballot with five DFLers and eight Republicans in the mix. The DFL side of the ballot shouldn’t feature too much drama, with Klobuchar likely to sweep over a handful of candidates with minimal name recognition.
On the Republican side, party endorsed Royce White is facing off against businessman and veteran Joe Fraser. White, a former NBA player who unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination in the 5th Congressional District in 2022, has secured endorsements from the right of the party, including former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz.
Fraser, by contrast, is running as more of an electability-minded moderate, warning that White’s history of controversial statements along with allegations of campaign finance violations and failure to pay child support could sink the party in November. Fraser’s campaign has picked up endorsements from the more “establishment” wing of the party, like former Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Sen. Norm Coleman.
National prognosticators figure either candidate would face an uphill battle against Klobuchar, a well-entrenched incumbent who enjoys a vast fundraising advantage, national profile and history of winning three consecutive elections by large margins, running well ahead of the rest of the DFL ticket each time.
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