Two contested races for Faribault County offices developed by the end of the day on Tuesday, May 31, the last day to file to run for county and state offices.

One of the contested offices is for Faribault County Commissioner District No. 4, where three people filed.

Incumbent Tom Loveall, of rural Winnebago, filed, as did Dana Gates, of rural Winnebago, and Dru Martin, of rural Easton.

With more than two persons filing for the office, all three will now compete on the Primary Election ballot on Aug. 9, with the top two vote getters then moving on to face off on the General Election ballot on Nov. 8.

The fourth district includes the cities of Delavan, Easton and Winnebago and townships of Barber, Delevan, Lura, Prescott and Winnebago.

The other contested race is for county sheriff.

Incumbent Mike Gormley, of rural Bricelyn, filed, as did challenger Jacob Kral, of Blue Earth.

All of the other county offices had just the incumbent filing.

In Commissioner District 2, incumbent Greg Young filed. The district includes the city of Blue Earth’s Ward 1 and 2, and townships Jo Daviess, Pilot Grove and Verona.

The other county offices include: auditor-treasurer, with incumbent Darren Esser filing; recorder, with incumbent Sheri Asmus filing; county attorney, with incumbent Cameron Davis filing.

One person filed in each of the open Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor offices. In District 2, Michael Humburg filed. In District 3 it was Randall Feist who filed, and in District 5 Bill Anderson filed.

State Legislative offices

Two persons filed to run in State Representative District 22A which includes the western side of Faribault County (minus Elmore Township).

Republican incumbent Bjorn Olson will be facing Democrat challenger Marissa Ulmen.

In District 23A, which includes the eastern part of Faribault County, Republican incumbent Peggy Bennett will be facing Democrat challenger Mary Hinnenkamp.

In Senate District 22, which includes Legislative Districts 22A and 22B, Republican Rich Draheim was the only person to file.

In Senate District 23, which includes Legislative Districts 23A and 23B, two Republicans, Gene Dornink and Lisa Hanson, and one Democrat, Brandon Lawhead, have filed.

Congressional

District 1 seat

There will be another faceoff to see who will represent Minnesota’s First Congressional District for the next two years.

Three Republicans and three Democrats have filed to be on the ballot, meaning there will be another vote needed first on the Primary Election ballot of Aug. 9 to see who will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Matt Benda, Brad Finstad and Jeremy Munson have all filed as Republicans, and Jeff Ettinger, George H. Kalberer and James Rainwater have filed as Democrats. (Although Benda just announced he is withdrawing his name from the list as this issue went to press.)

Finstad, for the GOP, and Ettinger, for the DFL, won among a crowded race of contenders in the recent Special Primary Election for the temporary position of congressman, and the two will be facing off in the Special Election to fill the spot, which is also on Aug. 9.

Two others filed for the congressional seat. Brian Abrahamson of the Grassroots Legalize Cannibis Party and Richard B. Reisdorf of the Legal Marijuana Now Party.

Other State offices

In addition, there were numerous filings for open state officials.

For Governor and Lt. Governor, three Republican sets of candidates, two Democrat pairs and four marijuana party sets of candidates all filed, for nine total.

For Secretary of State there were two Republican candidates and two Democrat candidates who filed.

For State Auditor, one Republican and one Democrat filed, and for Attorney General, three Republicans and two Democrats filed.

Local offices

Filings for local offices such as city council and school board, open on Tuesday, Aug. 2 and close Tuesday, Aug. 16.