Top races to watch in Minnesota's August primary
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Minnesota voters head to the polls on Tuesday for the state's August primary.
Here's a look at some of the races we're watching:
U.S. Senate: GOP-endorsed candidate Royce White and Naval veteran Joe Fraser are the two leading candidates for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
- While White's actions, record and comments have attracted controversy, Fraser has failed to raise the cash strategists consider necessary to run a significant statewide campaign.
- The winner will take on U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar in November.
2nd Congressional District: Attorney Tayler Rahm's decision to drop his bid for the GOP nomination in the 2nd Congressional District to work for the Trump campaign should have cleared the path for former federal prosecutor Joe Teirab.
- But Rahm remains on the ballot, and some local Republicans are still campaigning on his behalf in the suburban swing district.
- The winner will run against DFL U.S. Rep. Angie Craig in the suburban swing seat.
5th Congressional District: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar faces a repeat challenge from former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels.
- Samuels came within 3,000 votes of ousting the incumbent congresswoman in 2022. This year's race hasn't attracted the same level of outside spending.
7th Congressional District: GOP U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach faces a primary challenge from businessman Steve Boyd, a fellow conservative who has argued it's time for a political outsider.
- Neither candidate won the GOP endorsement in the rural district, but Fischbach has the backing of former President Trump.
State Legislature: There are a number of contested state legislative primaries tomorrow, including a three-way DFL contest to succeed retiring DFL Rep. Frank Hornstein in a Minneapolis seat.
- Six Republican incumbents and one sitting Democrat are facing primary challenges, as MPR News reports.
- Other races, including one in the Winona area, will establish the match-up for November contests that will determine the House majority.
- Another race in the west metro will set the stage for the November special election that will decide which party controls the state Senate next year.
Local: Some voters in the Twin Cities metro will also see races for school board, county board and other local posts on their ballots, per the Star Tribune.
Go deeper: How to vote in Minnesota's statewide primary