Imagine it’s Election Day, and you, a first time voter, feel confident that you are educated about the candidates enough to make the choice that’s best for you. You’re registered and everything! But lo and behold, you open your ballot and realize you failed to educate yourself equally as well on the senate and house candidates for your state and district. 

Never fear, the LeSabre is here, so you can walk into the polls as the most educated first voter that Sartell has ever seen. 

Here’s your ultimate guide to the candidates you need to know with none of the extra fluff you don’t, including the candidate’s opinions on the issues that, statistically, young voters care about most. 

House Candidates

The St. Cloud area falls under the umbrella of District 6, which includes Benton County, Carver County, Sherburne County, Wright County, and Anoka County. If you’re voting from a different area, find out what district you’re a part of here.

Republican Ticket

Tom Emmer, running for reelection, is already credited with five years of congressional service. Emmer is a member of the House Financial Services Committee and chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. His main concerns include reducing the national debt and the concept of big government.

Climate?

Emmer doesn’t consider environmental issues one of his key concerns, but has said he feels it’s important for generations to leave the planet in a better condition than they found it for the benefit of future generations.

Coronavirus?

The candidate is a strong advocate for reopening businesses after the closures due to the pandemic. He states that he trusts workers and business owners to take the proper precautions to keep each other safe.

Social Justice?

Emmer has recently focused on starting an initiative to begin bridging positive relationships between the community and law enforcement, a project he’s calling #thankacop. The initiative focuses on reducing recent scrutiny of law enforcement and recognizing the difference law enforcement makes both on duty and behind the scenes.

Democratic Ticket

Tawnja Zahradka is the challenger this election year, a UND alum with a firm stance advocating for equal rights and environmental activism. Zahradka is a former Mrs. Minnesota America and TV personality, and a survivor of a situation involving sexual harassment in the workplace and a following legal battle in 2017. Zahradka is open about the incident and how she feels her story resonates with voters.

Climate?

A self-proclaimed environmentalist, Zahradka believes that the previous misuse of available resources is both undeniable and unacceptable. Her biggest concerns include keeping Minnesota’s boundary waters in their pristine condition, and limiting pesticide use that damages the food supply.

Coronavirus?

Zahradka wants to focus on preventing further financial distress for affected families by holding back on evictions and foreclosures, with an emphasis on limiting food insecurity for those who are inevitably in these situations.

Social Justice?

The candidate believes that systemic racism is prevalent in our country and has been passed down through the generations. She feels the best way to combat this and cut it off at the source is to educate people of all issues on the subject.

Click here for the MPR debate between the 6th District candidates.

Senate Candidates

Republican Ticket

Jason Lewis, previous star of his own radio show, is best known for his previous service in the House, previously representing Minnesota’s 2nd district. Emmer is a member of the House Financial Services Committee and chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. His main concerns include reducing the national debt and the concept of big government.

Climate?

In order to maximize America’s economic efficiency, Lewis feels that marginally mitigating climate change, as opposed to making drastic changes as a response, is best.

Coronavirus?

Lewis feels that the Trump administration’s COVID response was more than adequate with all measures taken, and feels that the time has come to fully reopen the economy, both in Minnesota and in the United States as a whole.

Social Justice?

Lewis proudly stands with law enforcement and believes protecting citizens, particularly through a law enforcement system, should be the government’s first priority.

Democratic Ticket

Tina Smith is running for reelection this election cycle. Her key issues include passing what she believes should be bipartisan legislation on health care, both in the physical and mental aspect.

Climate?

Smith believes further steps and calls to action should be based on facts and science, in both matters of climate change and other environmental issues such as the installation of oil pipelines. She feels the response to climate change could be stimulating to both the creation of jobs and the economy. She has a proposed bill, the clean energy standard bill that she says intends to achieve net-zero emission in the electric sector by 2050.

Coronavirus?

Tina Smith intends to provide widespread diagnostic testing in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. She has introduced legislation in her time serving in the Senate to develop a full national testing plan. 

Social Justice?

While Smith opposes the defunding of law enforcement, she feels that police system reform is very important and necessary to ensure that all US citizens feel safe in their homes and communities.

Other Candidates

Other single-issue candidates appearing on your ballot are Kevin O’Connor, for the Legal Marijuana Now party, and Oliver Steinberg, for the Grassroots party.

Hopefully, this is helpful in the final days leading up to casting your ballot. For more resources on all Minnesotan candidates, click here.