South Washington County voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, to decide a number of contested races in the 2026 general election, including seats on the Cottage Grove, Newport, and Woodbury city councils, Denmark and Grey Cloud Town Boards, as well as Washington County sheriff, Minnesota governor, U.S. Senate and state Legislature.

The election will also feature races for judicial seats in the tenth district and two ballot questions, giving voters an opportunity to weigh in on representation at the local, county, state and federal levels.

Chief among local contests is the race for two at-large seats on the Cottage Grove City Council. Three candidates, Michael D. Haatvedt, Monique Garza and Tony Khambata, are seeking election to the council. Garza in an incumbent, while Haatvedt and Khambata are new. Khambata has previous council experience after he was appointed to fill the seat of outgoing council member LaRae Mills in 2021, later winning election in his own right in 2022 before being replaced by David Clausen. Haatvedt serves on the city’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, being appointed in March 2025 for a term extending through Dec. 31, 2028. Voters may select up to two candidates, with the two highest vote-getters winning the seats. The race is nonpartisan.

At the county level meanwhile, voters will choose between Brian R. Mueller and Jeremy Bolen for Washington County sheriff. The sheriff's office is also nonpartisan, with both candidates appearing on the ballot without party designations.

Other Washington County races include County Commissioner District 4, where Karla Bigham is listed without a named opponent, and county attorney, where Kevin M. Magnuson is likewise unopposed on the printed ballot. Tim Behrends is listed for Soil and Water Conservation District 4 supervisor. Voters can also write-in a name for each race if they so choose.

In the statewide race for governor and lieutenant governor meanwhile, Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidates Amy Klobuchar and Ben Schierer face Republican candidates Lisa Demuth and Ryan Wilson, along with Green Party candidates Steven Young and Jane Kirby.

The governor's race is among several statewide contests on the ballot, with voters also selecting candidates for secretary of state, state auditor and attorney general.

For secretary of state, incumbent Democrat Steve Simon faces Republican Tad Jude, Green Party candidate Seth Kuhl-Stennes and Libertarian George "Chip" Tangen.

The state auditor race includes Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate Zack Filipovich, Republican Scott Jensen and Forward Independence candidate Jay Reeves.

Incumbent Attorney General Keith Ellison, a Democrat, faces Republican Ronald J. Schutz in his bid for another term.

At the federal level, voters will decide who represents Minnesota in the U.S. Senate. Four candidates appear on the ballot, including Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate Peggy Flanagan, Republican Michele Tafoya, Libertarian Rebecca Whiting and independent Marisa Simonetti.

In Minnesota's Second Congressional District, Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate Matt Little faces Republican Eric Pratt for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

State legislative races will also be decided in November. In Senate District 41, Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate Judy Seeberger faces Republican Tom Dippel. The district includes Cottage Grove and surrounding communities.

In House District 41A, Republican Wayne A. Johnson faces Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate Cole Birkeland. Both legislative contests will determine representation in the Minnesota Legislature when lawmakers convene for the next legislative session.

Beyond the candidate races, voters will be asked to decide two ballot questions. The ballot includes a proposed amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, identified as Constitutional Amendment 1, as well as a separate county question. Both require voters to select either yes or no. The proposed amendment relates to how schools are funded and is worded as follows:

“INCREASING FUNDING TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

“Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to increase the funding going to all school districts from the permanent school fund, which is a fund that supports school districts without raising individual income or property taxes, effective July 1, 2027?”

The amendment was approved with bipartisan support by the Minnesota Legislature in the 2026 session, but now must win a majority of voters to be adopted.

The county question meanwhile relates to a bond referendum to renew funding for the Land and Water Legacy Program, with $40 million in general obligation bonds to fund land acquisition and improvements over 20 years if approved.

The question is worded as follows:

“PRESERVATION OF WATER QUALITY, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND NATURAL AREAS

“To continue to improve the water quality of rivers, lakes, and streams, including the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers, protect drinking water sources, preserve wetlands and woodlands, protect land along water bodies from development and preserve natural areas, purchase parklands, and protect wildlife habitat, shall Washington County be authorized to issue general obligation bonds in an aggregate amount not to exceed $40,000,000 to acquire and improve land under the Washington County Land and Water Legacy Program with the use of funds limited to these purposes only, full public disclosure of all project spending, and subject to an annual public audit?

Tax impact if approved is estimated at $24.60 per year for twenty years on a residential homestead with median estimated market value of $420,900.

Not to be left out, a number of judicial races will also appear on the ballot, including seats on the Minnesota Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and 10th Judicial District Court.

For the Minnesota Supreme Court, Sarah Hennesy is listed for Associate Justice Seat 1, while Paul Thissen is listed for Associate Justice Seat 4. Neither faces a named opponent on the ballot.

Five Court of Appeals seats are also up for election. Candidates include Elizabeth Bentley for Seat 1, Rachel Bond for Seat 7, Jeanne Cochran for Seat 13, Kevin G. Ross for Seat 15 and JaPaul J. Harris for Seat 18. All five are listed without named opponents.

In the 10th Judicial District Court, candidates running without named opposition include Juanita C. Freeman for Seat 1, Catherine (Kate) McPherson for Seat 23, Karin L. McCarthy for Seat 24, Karen B. Schommer for Seat 28, Jacob Fischmann for Seat 29 and Elizabeth H. Strand for Seat 32.

One contested judicial race is for District Court Seat 38, where Ben Lacy faces Rebecca A. Waxse. Heather Pipenhagen is also listed for Seat 43, while Jennifer D. Peterson is listed for Seat 45.

Judicial elections in Minnesota are nonpartisan, meaning candidates do not appear with political party affiliations.

With contests ranging from local government to statewide and federal offices, the November election will determine leadership and representation across several levels of government. The Cottage Grove City Council and Washington County sheriff races will have particularly direct implications for local residents, while legislative and statewide elections will help shape Minnesota's government for the coming years.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polling places open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Voters who are in line when polls close at 8 p.m. will still be permitted to cast their ballots.

Residents can find information about voter registration, polling locations, absentee voting and sample ballots through the Minnesota Secretary of State's office at www.sos.mn.gov or the state's voter information website at mnvotes.gov.