State incumbents face challenges in fall election Sheriff's race only contested one locally

The Minnesota legislators who represent Steele County will face challenges for their seats at the state level on Nov. 8, with an August primary set for one of the races.
Incumbent Sen. Gene Dornink, R-Brownsdale, is running in the newly created Senate District 23 after leading District 27 since his election in 2020. The change of district prompted Dornink to move from Hayfield in order to live in the new district.
The redistricting occurs every 10 years following the federal census to keep each district as equal as possible, population-wise.
Dornink faces two challengers, including another Republican. Lisa Hanson, of Hayward, filed for candidacy May 27. She may be best known as the former Albert Lea restaurant owner who spent 60 days in jail for defying Gov. Tim Walz’s second order to close businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hanson was convicted in December after a jury trial in Freeborn County.
Her entry into the race forces a primary to determine the Republican candidate for the seat. The primary election is Aug. 9.
Brandon Lawhead, of Austin, filed as a DFLer for the Senate District 23 seat on May 31. He’s been an attorney for more than 25 years.
Incumbent Sen. John Jasinski, R-Faribault, filed to run for the newly created Senate District 19. He’s represented District 24 since being elected in 2016.
He will face off against DFL candidate Kate Falvey, who filed May 31, the last day to do so. Falvey is also from Faribault, where she teaches German at Faribault High School.
The state representatives for Steele County also have competition.
District 27A incumbent Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, will face a challenge wfrom DFLer Mary Hinnenkamp, also of Albert Lea. They will vie for the newly created District 23A, which includes the southern half of the county except for Blooming Prairie Township.
Incumbent Rep. Patricia Mueller, R-Austin, has filed to run in the newly created House District 23B, which has just a sliver of Steele County – Blooming Prairie Township – in addition to all of Mower County and six townships in eastern Freeborn County.
She was elected to the seat in 27B in 2020.
Former Austin Mayor Thomas Stiehm will challenge Mueller for the seat. He is running as a member of the DFL.
Minnesota Rep. John Petersburg, R-Waseca, is facing a challenge in the newly drawn House District 19B. The new territory covers the north half of Steele County and a small section of eastern Waseca County, including the city of Waseca.
Abdulahi Ali Osman, DFL-Owatonna, has also filed for the seat.
It appears the Steele County Board of Commissioners will continue to look the same as it has for the past several years.
Because of redistricting, four of the five seats on the county’s Board of Commissioners are up for grabs, but by the close of May 31, the last day to file for election, only the incumbents for Districts 1-4 had done so.
District 5 was unaffected by the redistricting; it’s represented by Greg Krueger, of Owatonna, whose term expires Jan. 6, 2025.
Districts 1 and 2 are both four-year terms that will expire Jan. 4, 2027. James Brady, of Waseca, has filed as the incumbent for District 1 and John Glynn has filed for re-election to District 2.
Incumbents Rick Gnemi and Jim Abbe, who represent Districts 3 and 4, respectively, have both filed. Both are two-year terms that will expire Jan. 6, 2025.
Dan McIntosh has filed for Steele County Attorney, a position he’s held since 2010.
Scott Tuchtenhagen, of Owatonna, is the only name on the ballot for Steele County Surveyor.
Mark Ditlevson, also of Owatonna, has filed the paperwork to run for Soil and Water Supervisor of District 3. Mark Ihlenfeld, of Owatonna, filed to represent District 1.