County has 70% voter turnout for election

By Enterprise Staff
The general election across Minnesota kept Democrats in power, despite many rural areas voting heavily Republican – including Kittson County.
There was a 70 percent voter turnout for the election within Kittson County, compared to a 60 percent voter turnout across the state – approximately 2.51 million people voted in the state, according to statistics on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.
Kittson County has 2,769 registered voters. The SOS website estimated 1,953 voters cast ballots.
As of the writing of this article, neither the state nor the county or local entities had canvassed the results of the election. These results printed here are unofficial. If they change, we will update that information next week.
These results can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State website as well at https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us.
KITTSON COUNTY races
County commissioners up for election were District 3 incumbent Loren Younggren, running unopposed, and District 5 incumbent Darrel Johnson challenged by Ryan Swenson.
Younggren was re-elected with 342 votes.
Swenson unseated Johnson by 100 votes – 247 to 147.
Younggren and Swenson will be sworn into office in January.
Kittson County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Vig ran unopposed for sheriff. He received 1,726 votes. There were 80 write-in votes. He will take office after current Sheriff Mark Wilwant retires on Jan. 3.
Bob Albrecht was re-elected as county attorney with 1,750 votes.
Andrew Muir and Samuel Anderson were re-elected as Soil and Water District supervisors.
LOCAL RACES
Donaldson City Council – 2 seats – Katie Gonzalez, Ethan Thompson (8 votes each).
Donaldson City Council special election – Lisa Rolfes, 8.
Hallock City Council – 2 seats – Michael Totleben, 310; Jennifer Peterson, 298; write-in, 16.
Halma City Council – 1 seat – Deric Erickson, 22.
Halma City Clerk – Ronda Davis, 16; write-in 3.
Humboldt Mayor – Ronald Gatheridge, 15; write-in, 2.
Humboldt City Council – 2 seats – Heather Gatheridge, 16; write-in, 6.
Humboldt Treasurer – Lynda Cassels, 16; write-in, 1.
Karlstad Mayor – Dale Nelson, 278; write-in, 11.
Karlstad City Council – 2 seats – Ashley Turner, 223; Jennifer Olson, 159; Alaura Sjoegren, 111; write-in, 19.
Kennedy Mayor – write-in, 62.
Kennedy City Council – 2 seats – (Enrique) Henry Escareno, 71; Ross Hanson, 64; write-in, 15.
Lake Bronson Mayor – Ryan Rector, 66; write-in, 10.
Lake Bronson City Council – 2 seats – Patti Jo Shablow, 42; Clarence “Skip” Strom, 41; Tony James Shablow, 31; write-in, 40.
Lancaster Mayor – Mike Olson, 122; write-in, 12.
Lancaster City Council – 2 seats – Krista Matthew, 111; Kathy Bernstrom, 89; Karl Beneke, 43; write-in, 8.
Lancaster City Council special election – Jackson Peterson, 106; Teri Halvorson, 38; write-in, 1.
St. Vincent Mayor – Evan Herberg, 10; write-in, 2.
St. Vincent City Council – 2 seats – Anita Herberg, 8; Daniel Ohmann, 8; write-in, 1.
St. Vincent Treasurer – Kristine Ohmann, 10; write-in, 2.
SCHOOL BOARD
Lancaster School District – 3 seats – James Scalese, 323; Lacey Lupien, 304; Brittany Swenson, 300; write-in, 18.
Kittson Central School District – 3 seats – Amanda Pinnock, 700; Mark Johnson, 689; Eric Ristad, 679; write-in, 20.
Tri-County School District – 4 seats – Mark Koland, 521; Stephen Murray, 501; Raeya Hanson, 428; Darcy Olson, 330; Jenna Cladwell, 307; Brenda McCoy Nelson, 237; Mike Johnston, 213; Jennifer Johnston, 202; write-in, 126.
STATEWIDE and FEDERAL votes in Kittson County
Statewide, Minnesota re-elected Tim Walz and Peggy Flannagan as governor and lieutenant governor; Steve Simon as secretary of state; Julie Blaha as state auditor; and Keith Ellison as attorney general.
Local votes, shown below, had a more red tendency.
U.S. Representative for District 7 – Michelle Fischbach, 1,157; Jill Abahsain, 598; Travis “Bull” Johnson, 161; write-in, 1.
State Senator District 1 – Mark Johnson, 1,565; write-in, 70.
State Representative District 1A – John Burkel, 1343; James Sceville, 561; write-in, 3.
Governor/Lt. Gov – Scott Jensen/Matt Birk, 1,160; Tim Walz/Peggy Flanagan, 689; James McCaskel/David Sandbeck, 37; Steve Patterson/Matt Huff, 25; Hugh McTavish/Mike Winter, 13; Gabrielle Prosser/Kevin Dwire, 2.
Secretary of State – Kim Crockett, 1,141; Steve Simon, 738.
State Auditor – Ryan Wilson, 1,110; Julie Blaha, 640; Tim Davis, 85; Will Finn, 38.
Attorney General – Jim Schultz, 1,197; Keith Ellison, 681; write-in, 2.