It’s time to vote — here’s what you need to know

Tune in live at 8 p.m. on alphanews.org, or any of our social media channels, for live coverage of the results.

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The polls are now open in Minnesota.

Here’s the information you need to vote:

Most polling places are open until 8 p.m. If you’re in line by 8 p.m., you must be allowed to vote. You can register to vote at your polling place on Election Day with proof of residence.

Every ballot will include the following statewide races.

Governor: 
  • Tim Walz (Democrat – incumbent)
  • Dr. Scott Jensen (Republican)
Attorney General: 
  • Keith Ellison (Democrat – incumbent)
  • Jim Schultz (Republican)
Secretary of state: 
  • Steve Simon (Democrat – incumbent)
  • Kim Crockett (Republican)
State auditor: 
  • Julie Blaha (Democrat – incumbent)
  • Ryan Wilson (Republican)
Some key results we’ll be watching: 
  • Republicans are in a strong position to win their first statewide race since 2006. Many believe this will come by way of victories in the state auditor and attorney general races, but every race is in play.
  • Control of Congress runs through Minnesota’s Second Congressional District, where incumbent Democrat Angie Craig is on the verge of losing to Republican Tyler Kistner. With more than $25 million spent, it’s now the most expensive congressional race in state history.
  • Republicans believe they are positioned to take back the Minnesota House, which would give them control of the Minnesota Legislature.
  • Hennepin County residents will vote in the first competitive county attorney’s race in years as incumbent Mike Freeman retires. Mary Moriarty, a former chief public defender, is running against Martha Holton Dimick, a retired judge. Moriarty is a progressive, DFL-endorsed candidate who is backed by groups that supported the ballot initiative to replace the Minneapolis Police Department. Holton Dimick, also a Democrat, is endorsed by police and says she will focus on reducing crime. Minneapolis is located in Hennepin County, meaning the winner of this race will be responsible for prosecuting crime in Minnesota’s largest city in the middle of an ongoing crime wave.
  • The parental rights movement continues as slates of conservative-leaning candidates will face off against candidates backed by the teachers union for control of school boards across the state.

Across the country: 

  • Republicans could regain control of the U.S. House and Senate. Here’s a list of some of the crucial House races. Key Senate races include: JD Vance vs. Tim Ryan in Ohio; Blake Masters vs. Mark Kelly in Arizona; Herschel Walker vs. Raphael Warnock in Georgia; and Mehmet Oz vs. John Fetterman in Pennsylvania.
  • At the gubernatorial level, Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer and Wisconsin’s Tony Evers are in tough reelection battles with their GOP challengers, Tudor Dixon and Tim Michels. Republican Lee Zeldin could pull off an upset over Kathy Hochul in the New York governor’s race. Rising conservative star Kari Lake is on the path to victory in Arizona.

Tune in live at 8 p.m. on alphanews.org, or any of our social media channels, for live coverage of the results.

 

Alpha News Staff