elections 2026
By Nicole RonchettiSeptember 09, 2026Alongside statewide and local races on the ballot this November, Minnesotans will also answer an important question asking if they want to increase funding for local school districts – without increasing taxes. With unanimous bipartisan support, a ballot question was added to ask voters if they would like to increase disbursements from Minnesota’s Permanent School Fund from 2.5% to 4.5%. “This…- September 02, 2026Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison last week joined a coalition of 25 states in filing a lawsuit against the United States Postal Service (USPS) challenging its new rule that purports to grant USPS the authority to regulate mail voting in elections. On Aug. 27, a federal judge in Massachusetts temporarily blocked the USPS from enforcing rules that would have required states to overhaul…
By Lori SorensonAugust 26, 2026Rep. Brad Finstad of Minnesota’s First Congressional District was in Luverne Monday as part of southwest Minnesota roundtable discussions with local leaders about issues impacting their communities. In Luverne he met with members of the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System and Rock County Rural Water for a roundtable discussion to discuss their ongoing expansion projects. Finstad pledged…- By Jason BerghorstAugust 19, 2026With the Aug. 11 primary in the rearview mirror, attention has turned to the Nov. 3 general election, which presents several contested races for Rock County voters. Depending on where voters live, local ballots will include the following candidates this fall. County offices There three contested races for county officials on the fall ballot. All Rock County voters will have an…
- By Jason BerghorstAugust 19, 2026Following the Aug. 11 Primary Election, the list of major-party candidates for local, state, and federal offices on the Nov. 3 ballot are set. Rock County voters will decide between the following Democratic- Farmer-Labor (DFL) and Republican party candidates in the fall election. Federal offices For the office of U.S. Senator from Minnesota, voters will choose between Democrat Peggy…
- By Jason BerghorstAugust 19, 2026Rock County residents joined voters from across Minnesota to cast ballots in the 2026 Primary Election on Tuesday, Aug. 11. In addition to voting in the partisan primaries, some voters had local races to decide on. In District 3 for the Rock County Board of Commissioners, voters elected Rick Peterson to fill the seat vacated by Greg Burger who moved from the county earlier this year. …
By Nicole RonchettiAugust 14, 2026Rick Peterson won the special election for Rock County’s District 3 and is set to join the county board of commissioners early next week. Peterson, who retired last month as Star Herald general manager, garnered 259 votes compared to Deon Carriere’s 103. While he tried to follow results as they were coming in, Peterson said he and his wife were on a drive when he found out that he’d won the…- By Jason BerghorstAugust 12, 2026Rock County voters participated in the state primary election Tuesday, Aug. 11. Ballots included both major parties on one side and local, nonpartisan primary contests on the other side. Voters had to choose only one party to vote for on the partisan side, or they could just vote on the nonpartisan side. The polling location for Luverne residents was at Generations in Luverne for the first…
By Lori SorensonAugust 12, 2026Over 60 people gathered at the Rock County Library in Luverne Thursday night for a public town hall meeting with Dist. 1 Congressional candidate Jake Johnson, Stewartville. Johnson is the DFL frontrunner challenging incumbent GOP candidate Brad Finstad in the Nov. 3 election to represent Minnesota’s District 1, which covers the southern portion of Minnesota. “We had great conversations at our…- By Jason BerghorstJuly 29, 2026UPDATED INFORMATION: Two challengers filed to be candidates for the Luverne School Board on July 28, bringing the total number of candidates to five for the four seats to be voted on in November. Sara Bolt and Anita Marden will join incumbents Michael DeBates, Zach Nolz and David Wrigg on the ballot this fall. The top four vote getters will be elected to four year terms. Current board chair…
- By Star Herald EditorialJuly 29, 2026Rock County voters will participate in the Aug. 11 primary election that also affects the Dist. 3 Rock County Board seat and the South Ward Luverne City Council seat. Rock County District 3 generally encompasses the northwest neighborhoods of Luverne and rural Rock County sections four miles west of Highway 75 between 131st Street and the Iowa border. It also includes the sections east of…
- By Lori SorensonJuly 08, 2026Minnesota statewide early voting began last week for the Aug. 11 primary, and mail ballots will be sent out this week to those who vote by mail. In Rock County, the Aug. 11 election will determine the next Dist. 3 county commissioner and will narrow the field in the South Ward Luverne City Council election. County Board candidates are Rick Peterson and Deon Carriere. The one with the most…
- July 08, 2026The filing period for Rock County’s small cities, townships and school districts opens July 14 and runs through July 28. Seats on the ballot for small cities this year include: •Beaver Creek (mayor, two councilors) •Hardwick (mayor, two councilors) •Hills (two councilors) •Kenneth (mayor, two councilors) •Jasper (mayor, two councilors) •Magnolia (mayor, three councilors) •Steen (mayor,…
July 08, 2026Rock County voters will participate in the Aug. 11 primary affecting the Dist. 3 County Board seat. Early voting began last week and mail ballots will be sent out this week, so the Rock County Star Herald this week is featuring candidate profiles to inform voters on this local race. Candidates in each race received the same questions as their opponents with instructions to provide responses…
July 08, 2026Rock County voters will participate in the Aug. 11 primary affecting the South Ward Luverne City Council seat. Early voting began last week and mail ballots will be sent out this week, so the Rock County Star Herald this week is featuring candidate profiles to inform voters on this local race. Candidates in each race received the same questions as their opponents with instructions to provide…
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