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States ยท Minnesota

Steele County, Minnesota

2026 election results. Lisa Demuth (R) got 57% of the vote for governor in Steele County. The margin is 8.6 points more Democratic than the 2024 presidential vote here. Below are also 29 local contests from the state's own results.

2026 results in Steele County

U.S. Senate

Michele Tafoya
57.6%10,379
Peggy Flanagan
38.9%7,021
Marisa Simonetti
2.0%358
Rebecca Whiting
1.5%275
100% counted

Statewide: Peggy Flanagan wins. Called.

Governor

Lisa Demuth
56.9%10,273
Amy Klobuchar
40.9%7,383
Steven Young
2.2%392
100% counted

Statewide: Amy Klobuchar wins. Called.

The leader in Steele County is only who has the most votes counted here. Races are won statewide or district-wide, and only the race pages report calls. Last vote update here Nov 3, 9:49 PM.

29 local contests in Steele County

County offices, city and town races, school boards, local measures, judges and districts on Steele County's ballots, from Minnesota's official results file. Names are as the state prints them. "Ahead" describes the current count; it isn't a race call, and we don't call measures.

County offices

County Commissioner District 1

CandidateVotesShare
Gary Spatenka1,88461.8%
Justin Ohnstad1,15637.9%
Write-In80.3%

Gary Spatenka ahead in Steele County.

County Commissioner District 2

CandidateVotesShare
John Glynn2,97299.1%
Write-In280.9%

John Glynn is unopposed.

County Sheriff

CandidateVotesShare
Lon Thiele14,76097.9%
Write-In3172.1%

Lon Thiele is unopposed.

County Attorney

CandidateVotesShare
Robert Jarrett12,68887.8%
Write-In1,75512.2%

Robert Jarrett is unopposed.

Cities & towns

Mayor (Blooming Prairie)

CandidateVotesShare
Michael Ressler64973.0%
Heath Lembke23426.3%
Write-In60.7%

Michael Ressler ahead in Steele County. Blooming Prairie's page.

Council Member (Blooming Prairie) 2 seats

CandidateVotesShare
Paul Tollefson46629.1%
Charlie Heimerman42026.2%
Thomas Wanous29918.7%
William B Newman22113.8%
Trevor Kruckeberg18811.7%
Write-In80.5%

Paul Tollefson and Charlie Heimerman ahead in Steele County. Blooming Prairie's page.

Mayor (Ellendale)

CandidateVotesShare
Scott Groth26397.8%
Write-In62.2%

Scott Groth is unopposed. Ellendale's page.

Council Member (Ellendale) 2 seats

CandidateVotesShare
Jon S. Asplund22349.7%
Charles W Berg22049.0%
Write-In61.3%

Jon S. Asplund and Charles W Berg are unopposed. Ellendale's page.

Council Member (Medford) 2 seats

CandidateVotesShare
Nicholas Goodnature25723.8%
Jason Brandvold23221.5%
Nick Sorensen21519.9%
Michael Prondzinski21219.6%
Mark Heaser15914.7%
Write-In60.6%

Nicholas Goodnature and Jason Brandvold ahead in Steele County. Medford's page.

Council Member At Large (Owatonna)

CandidateVotesShare
Dan Boeke5,27849.0%
Joseph "JOE P." Petersen2,89426.9%
Tony Jurowski2,50123.2%
Write-In1000.9%

Dan Boeke ahead in Steele County. Owatonna's page.

Council Member Ward 1 (Owatonna)

CandidateVotesShare
Tim McManimon1,24854.3%
Brad Flemming1,03445.0%
Write-In160.7%

Tim McManimon ahead in Steele County. Owatonna's page.

Council Member Ward 3 (Owatonna)

CandidateVotesShare
Rick Gnemi74841.5%
Sarah Sanchez48626.9%
Marcy Kim Busho41923.2%
Ethan Becker1448.0%
Write-In70.4%

Rick Gnemi ahead in Steele County. Owatonna's page.

Council Member Ward 5 (Owatonna)

CandidateVotesShare
Rebecca Rand67430.7%
Melissa Danielson51123.2%
Bruce Nelson49522.5%
Dale A Fairbanks48622.1%
Write-In331.5%

Rebecca Rand ahead in Steele County. Owatonna's page.

Schools

School Board Member (ISD #756, BLOOMING PRAIRIE) 4 seats

CandidateVotesShare
Rodney Krell97526.1%
Crystal Studer92324.7%
Haley Tollefson91224.4%
Monica Anderson90224.1%
Write-In240.6%

Rodney Krell, Crystal Studer, Haley Tollefson and Monica Anderson are unopposed. The contest crosses into 3 other counties; across all of them: Rodney Krell 1,476 (26.4%), Haley Tollefson 1,380 (24.7%), Crystal Studer 1,357 (24.3%), Monica Anderson 1,332 (23.8%).

School Board Member (ISD #761, OWATONNA) 4 seats

CandidateVotesShare
Nikki Gieseke6,12215.4%
Elizabeth Hedlund5,67914.3%
Timothy O'Connor5,37013.5%
Ann Miller5,31413.4%
Darren Albers4,67011.8%
April St. Martin4,48811.3%
Christopher Lee4,48811.3%
Damian Baum3,4058.6%
Write-In1780.4%

Nikki Gieseke, Elizabeth Hedlund, Timothy O'Connor and Ann Miller ahead in Steele County. The contest crosses into 1 other county; across all of them: Nikki Gieseke 6,122 (15.4%), Elizabeth Hedlund 5,681 (14.3%), Timothy O'Connor 5,372 (13.5%), Ann Miller 5,316 (13.4%).

School Board Member (ISD #763, MEDFORD) 3 seats

CandidateVotesShare
Allison Janke57219.8%
Jenny Amberg56619.6%
Tyler Morgan52918.3%
Tricia Prondzinski45815.9%
Matt Dempsey44815.5%
Bryan Duncan30810.7%
Write-In80.3%

Allison Janke, Jenny Amberg and Tyler Morgan ahead in Steele County. The contest crosses into 2 other counties; across all of them: Jenny Amberg 653 (19.5%), Allison Janke 645 (19.2%), Tyler Morgan 630 (18.8%).

School Board Member (ISD #829, WASECA) 4 seats

CandidateVotesShare
Dave Dunn225.0%
Alyssa Bowers225.0%
Theron A. Kruger225.0%
Taylor Zinkle225.0%
Write-In00.0%

Dave Dunn, Alyssa Bowers, Theron A. Kruger and Taylor Zinkle are unopposed. The contest crosses into 2 other counties; across all of them: Dave Dunn 3,390 (25.8%), Theron A. Kruger 3,384 (25.8%), Alyssa Bowers 3,376 (25.7%), Taylor Zinkle 2,907 (22.1%).

School Board Member (ISD #2125, TRITON) 4 seats

CandidateVotesShare
Dale Jensen1220.3%
Wendy Kenworthy1016.9%
Bruce Huber1016.9%
Lloyd Henslin JR915.3%
Christi Runnells711.9%
Walter Alan Bluhm610.2%
Brian Ginder58.5%
Write-In00.0%

Dale Jensen, Wendy Kenworthy, Bruce Huber and Lloyd Henslin JR ahead in Steele County. The contest crosses into 2 other counties; across all of them: Dale Jensen 1,648 (19.7%), Wendy Kenworthy 1,575 (18.8%), Christi Runnells 1,344 (16.1%), Lloyd Henslin JR 1,282 (15.3%).

School Board Member (ISD #2168, N.R.H.E.G.) 4 seats

CandidateVotesShare
John Misgen49120.4%
Nick Budach45118.7%
Amy Ihrke40716.9%
Justin Schlaak39316.3%
Pat Theuer33614.0%
Troy Buendorf32113.3%
Write-In70.3%

John Misgen, Nick Budach, Amy Ihrke and Justin Schlaak ahead in Steele County. The contest crosses into 2 other counties; across all of them: Justin Schlaak 1,509 (18.7%), Nick Budach 1,480 (18.4%), John Misgen 1,429 (17.7%), Amy Ihrke 1,399 (17.4%).

School Board Member (ISD #2172, KENYON-WANAMINGO) 4 seats

CandidateVotesShare
Timothy LaCanne829.6%
Stephanie Brezina725.9%
James Jarvis622.2%
Jeff "L.J." Gearhart II622.2%
Write-In00.0%

Timothy LaCanne, Stephanie Brezina, James Jarvis and Jeff "L.J." Gearhart II are unopposed. The contest crosses into 3 other counties; across all of them: Timothy LaCanne 1,705 (26.2%), James Jarvis 1,671 (25.7%), Stephanie Brezina 1,599 (24.6%), Jeff "L.J." Gearhart II 1,427 (21.9%).

Local measures

CITY QUESTION 1 (Owatonna)

ChoiceVotesShare
No9,34876.7%
Yes2,84723.3%

No ahead with 76.7% in Steele County. Owatonna's page.

Judges

Judge - 3rd District Court 4

CandidateVotesShare
Jacob C. Allen12,66599.2%
Write-In1010.8%

Jacob C. Allen is unopposed. The contest crosses into 10 other counties; across all of them: Jacob C. Allen 149,543 (99.2%).

Judge - 3rd District Court 6

CandidateVotesShare
Karen R. Duncan12,71298.9%
Write-In1451.1%

Karen R. Duncan is unopposed. The contest crosses into 10 other counties; across all of them: Karen R. Duncan 149,162 (99.2%).

Judge - 3rd District Court 7

CandidateVotesShare
Dwight Luhmann12,63899.2%
Write-In970.8%

Dwight Luhmann is unopposed. The contest crosses into 10 other counties; across all of them: Dwight Luhmann 148,868 (99.2%).

Judge - 3rd District Court 15

CandidateVotesShare
Erin Lindhart Felten12,64799.2%
Write-In970.8%

Erin Lindhart Felten is unopposed. The contest crosses into 10 other counties; across all of them: Erin Lindhart Felten 148,877 (99.2%).

Judge - 3rd District Court 17

CandidateVotesShare
Christopher A Neisen12,63799.3%
Write-In920.7%

Christopher A Neisen is unopposed. The contest crosses into 10 other counties; across all of them: Christopher A Neisen 148,881 (99.2%).

Judge - 3rd District Court 22

CandidateVotesShare
Jeffrey M Johnson12,67599.2%
Write-In980.8%

Jeffrey M Johnson is unopposed. The contest crosses into 10 other counties; across all of them: Jeffrey M Johnson 149,217 (99.2%).

Districts

Soil and Water Supervisor District 1

CandidateVotesShare
Mark Ihlenfeld14,44499.3%
Write-In960.7%

Mark Ihlenfeld is unopposed.

Soil and Water Supervisor District 3

CandidateVotesShare
Mark D. Ditlevson14,15199.2%
Write-In1120.8%

Mark D. Ditlevson is unopposed.

Minnesota's official results, file posted Nov 13, 12:38 PM. Unofficial until certified.

Compared with 2024

RaceMargin2024 presidentShift
MN SenateR +19.3R +25.0D +5.7
MN GovernorR +16.4R +25.0D +8.6
MN-01R +13.1R +25.0D +11.9

Margins compare the Democrat and the Republican only. The 2024 column is the presidential margin in the same places as each race's votes here. Shift is this year's margin minus it, shown once at least 90% of the expected vote is counted. A dash means there's no 2024 figure for those exact places.

How Steele County has voted for president

YearDemocratShareRepublicanShareMarginVotes
2024Kamala Harris36.7%Donald Trump61.0%R +24.420,872
2020Joe Biden37.5%Donald Trump59.9%R +22.421,125
2016Hillary Clinton32.5%Donald Trump58.4%R +25.819,179
2012Barack Obama45.5%Mitt Romney51.8%R +6.319,124
2008Barack Obama45.9%John McCain51.2%R +5.419,656
2004John Kerry42.8%George W. Bush55.6%R +12.818,695
2000Al Gore42.9%George W. Bush51.2%R +8.216,066

Shares are of all presidential votes, and the margin is the Democrat's share minus the Republican's. Since 2000, the presidential margin here has moved R +16.2.

Other counties in Minnesota

Minnesota results

Sources & scope

Votes for 2026 come from the count this site reads, by county. They're unofficial until Minnesota certifies them. Past presidential votes are from MEDSL and VEST, via Polling Forecast. Minnesota's own results, deadlines and offices are on the state page.