By Bruce Karnick

The list of candidates for the November third election is quite long. To see the sample ballot for your Ward and Precinct, visit https://www.hastingsmn.gov/city-government/ elections Hastings voters share 90% of the ballot so we will list the common ones first.

President – Vice President / Party Affiliation Donald J. Trump – Mike Pence / Republican Party Joseph R. Biden – Kamala Harris / Democratic-Farmer- Labor Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente – Darcy Richardson / Independence- Alliance Howie Hawkins – Angela Walker / Green Party Kanye West – Michelle Tidball / Independent Brock Pierce – Karla Ballard / Independent Gloria La Riva – Leonard Peltier / Socialism and Liberation Alyson Kennedy and Malcolm Jarret / Socialist Workers Party Jo Jorgenson – Jeremy “spike” Cohen / Libertarian Party United States Senator Kevin O’Connor – Legal Marijuana Now Oliver Steinberg – Grassroots – Legalize Cannabis Jason Lewis – Republican Party Tina Smith – Democratic-Farmer-Labor United States Representative District 2 Adam Charles Weeks – Legal Marijuana Now Tyler Kistner – Republican Party Angie Craig – Democratic-Farmer-Labor State Senator Leilani Holmstadt – Republican Party Karla Bigham – Democratic-Farmer-Labor State Representative Tony Jurgens – Republican Party Kelsey Waits – Democratic-Farmer-Labor County Offices – Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor District 1 Kevin Chamberlain – Running unopposed Judicial Offices Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice 4 Michelle MacDonald Paul Thissen (Incumbent) Court of Appeals Court of appeals has four judges running unopposed: Carol Hooten, Randall J Slieter, Jeanne Cochran, Kevin G. Ross.

First Judicial District Judges First District Court has nine judges running unopposed and one opposed. Those unopposed are: Ann M. Offermann, Dannia Edwards, Tracy L. Perzel, Patrick H.Goggins, Michael D Wentzell, Shawn M. Moynihan, Christian Sean Wilton, Vicki Taylor, Tana O. O’Brien.

The one judge with competition Joseph Carter (Incumbent) vs Martin “Marty” Judge That is all the shared candidates for Hastings. City Council has only one of the four members being challenged. Jen Fox is challenging Incumbent Joe Balsanek in Ward 2. Tina Fold of Ward 1, Lisa Leifel of Ward 3 and Trevor Lund of Ward 4 are all running unopposed.

With all the various platforms out there encouraging you to vote, the hope here is that you can use this list to help with your research before going to the polls. While we are on the topic of the polls. Election judges are such a vital role to the entire process. Have you considered signing up to be one? Students as young as 16 can work the polls and they get paid the same as the adult election judges and it’s a great resume addition! Of course, they are looking for adult election judges too, and yes, it is a paid gig. Details can be found on the same website listed above, email [email protected] or call 651-480-2343 with questions. Keep in mind, you need to go through three hours of training to be an election judge.