ST. PAUL, Minn. – Twenty aspirants for Congress plunked down the $300 filing fee to be on a special election primary ballot May 24. They seek the MN-1 southern Minnesota seat that Jim Hagedorn held until he died a month ago. The filing deadline was 5 p.m., Tuesday. Candidates have a couple days to change their minds and withdraw, but then Secretary of State Steve Simon will begin preparing the primary election ballot. The primary will narrow the field. The special general election will follow 2-1/2 mongs later. The winner will fill out the remainder of Hagedorn’s term. The term will be short — to only January 3, when the 118th Congress is sworn in. Whoever wins the August election presumably would have a running start as the incumbent for election in November to the next full two-year.
Special election calendar
Deadline to withdraw candidacy: March 17
Special Primary election: May 24
Special general election: August 9
Who’s in the running
Candidates on the May primary ballot, listed alphabetically, by residence, and, if available, each one’s campaign website link:
Republicans
Matt Benda, Albert Lea: Site
Jennifer Carnahan, Blue Earth: Site
Bob“Again” Carney Jr., Minneapolis: Site
E.R. Ewing, Glenville: No site
Brad Finstad, New Ulm: Site
Kevin Kocina, Meisville: Site
Jeremy Munson, Lake Crystal: Site
Ken Navitny, Rochester: Site
Nels Pierson, Rochester: Site
Roger H. Ungemach, Fridley: No site
Others
Harun “Aaron” McClellan, Twin Cities, Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis: No site
Richard B. Reisdorf, Mankato, Legal Marijuana Now. No site