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The primary election is Tuesday, August 11. The ballot includes races on the DFL side for legislative seats for the northern half of West St. Paul and the U.S. House seat for the second Congressional district (there are no GOP primaries in these races). There are also primaries for multiple parties for state-wide races, including the open U.S. Senate seat, governor, and more.
We’ll add candidate questionnaires, forums, and additional info as it becomes available.
Printable guide: See our printable voters guide for an at-a-glance chart of local races.
Other races: To see the full list of candidates on the ballot for the November 3 general election, see our full voter guide.
How to Vote: The West St. Paul city website has details on where and how to vote. See the Minnesota Secretary of State website for full details on how to register. You can also vote early with an absentee ballot, either by mail or by stopping at Dakota County offices, starting on June 25.
Minnesota Legislature
West St. Paul is divided into two separate legislative districts, with the southern half in District 53 (no primary) and the northern half in District 65. Both races in District 65 are open seats with no incumbent (Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega is running for Ramsey County Commissioner and Sen. Sandy Pappas is retiring). House seats are two years and Senate seats are four years.
House District 65B: DFL
- Sebastian Ellefson (campaign site) – Endorsed by DFL
- Elena Mena (no campaign site)
Senate District 65: DFL
- Robyn Gulley (campaign site) – Endorsed by DFL
- Natasha Bennett (campaign site)
Candidate Q&A:
- Top issues: What are your two to three top priorities as a state representative/senator and how will you address those issues? What made you decide to focus on those issues in particular?
- Local issues: West St. Paul is a separate city and in a different county than the rest of the legislative district. How will you address the unique needs and concerns of West St. Paul residents?
- Compromise: In recent years the legislature has been very narrowly divided, requiring bipartisan compromise at a time when political divisions are sharper than ever. How do you work with people who disagree with you to get some measure of progress?
Other Resources:
- MPR Voter’s Guide (Ellefson, Gulley)
- 411 Q&As: Gulley
- Ballotpedia Q&As: Ellefson, Gulley
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U.S. House: DFL
Dakota County is in the second Congressional district. This is an open seat with no incumbent since the current representative, Angie Craig, is running for U.S. Senate. House members are elected to two-year terms.
- Abdi Abdulle (campaign site)
- Kaela Berg (campaign site)
- Matt Klein (campaign site)
- Matt Little (campaign site) – Endorsed by DFL
- Hugh McTavish (campaign site)
- Christopher Mosel (no campaign site)
Candidate Q&A:
- Top issues: What are your two to three top priorities as a representative and how will you address those issues? What made you decide to focus on those issues in particular?
- Progress: Congress has accomplished little in recent years, in part due to sharp political divides. Even if Democrats retake the House, that will likely continue. How will you deliver on your promises in light of that reality?
- Different: It’s a crowded field for the DFL primary for this open seat. What differentiates you from the other DFL candidates?
Other Resources:
- MPR Voter’s guide includes Abdulle, Berg, Klein, Little, and McTavish.
- 411 Q&As
- KARE 11 interviews Berg, Klein, and Little, plus Republican Eric Pratt.
- The Daily Agenda debate from July with Berg, Klein, and Little.
- Star Tribune story on the race includes Berg, Klein, Little, and Pratt.
- Carleton Democrats debate from January with Berg, Klein, and Little.
Other Offices
There are a number of other offices on the primary ballot in 2026, including U.S. Senate, Minnesota Governor, and other state-wide positions. As these state-wide races are covered widely, we won’t focus on them. MPR has a voter’s guide that covers these races and other local races.
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