Primary election results: Sebesta, Lofdahl led City Council race

HUTCHINSON

With all Hutchinson precincts reporting, Dave Sebesta and John Lofdahl have the most votes in the race for Hutchinson City Council Seat 2. Though votes will be canvassed and finalized Friday, it seems likely their names will be on the November general election ballot.

The results so far are:

• Sebesta with 708 votes (57 percent)
• Lofdahl with 373 votes (30 percent)
• Jeff Liestman with 143 votes (11 percent)

Following the primary election Tuesday evening, Sebesta was up late to see the results come in.

"I'm totally elated and totally surprised besides," Sebesta said. "It's a great feeling to have that kind of support from the citizens of Hutchinson. It was almost unbelievable when I saw it."

Sebesta said that as a late bloomer to politics, it has been his goal to get up and do something to address concerns, instead of complain on social media as he often witnesses. He said that leading up to the primary election, much of his campaign time was spent on social media, and encouraging Hutchinson residents to vote.

"I think being involved in the community (as a volunteer), being out in the community personally has been a great asset to me," he said. "I know the old timers. I'm old. ... I think a lot of people might relate to me because I'm their age."

He said seeing his lead in the primary — pulling in more than twice as many as incumbent Lofdahl — was uplifting, and that he wondered if he would be able to settle down and get to bed.

"I think I need to regroup a little bit, I'm shocked," Sebesta said. "But I have a good team behind me, and they're probably already thinking (about what's next)."

Lofdahl said he was looking forward to discussions of policy and the future of Hutchinson leading up to the general election in November.

"I congratulate everyone who ran. I congratulate Dave who came out ahead in the Primary, and look forward to talking about the issues," he said. "I'm glad I had support and it moved me on to the November election."

He complimented Liestman for the amount of door knocking he did ahead of the primary election.

"That's the hard thing," Lofdahl said. "There are a lot of doors in town."

Going forward, he said he will meet with like-minded people and form a plan, get out and knock on doors, post door hangers, and "just try to engage people."

"I'm excited about November. It will be all about voter turnout," Lofdahl said.

Sebesta nearly doubled Lofdahl's votes, but time will tell if the story will be the same when the two face off in November. In Hutchinson Precinct 1, 21.21 percent of eligible voters cast their ballot, in Hutchinson Precinct 3, 23.32 percent voted, and in Hutchinson Precinct 2, 3.66 percent voted. All told, 1,301 ballots were cast in Hutchinson of a possible 7,930.

STATE RACES

The following results reflect 28 of 28 McLeod County precincts reporting.

In the primary race to run on the Republican ticket for governor:

• Jeff Johnson has 1,298 McLeod County votes (62 percent)
• Tim Pawlenty has 709 votes (34 percent)
• Mathew Kruse has 72 votes (3 percent)

Jeff Johnson won the state primary with 52 percent of the vote.

In the primary race to run on the Democrat ticket for governor:

• Tim Walz has 680 McLeod County votes (45 percent)
• Lori Swanson has 475 votes (31 percent)
• Erin Murphy has 301 votes (20 percent)
• Tim Holden has 20 votes (1 percent)
• Ole Savior has 13 votes

Tim Walz won the state primary with 41 percent of the vote.

In the primary race to run on the Republican ticket for Minnesota attorney general:

• Doug Wardlow has 1,051 McLeod County votes (53 percent)
• Sharon Anderson has 584 votes (29 percent)
• Robert Lessard has 330 votes (16 percent)

Doug Wardlow won the state primary with 46.28 percent of the vote.

In the primary race to run on the Democrat ticket for Minnesota attorney general:

• Keith Ellison has 672 McLeod County votes (46 percent)
• Debra Hilstrom has 337 votes (23 percent)
• Tom Foley has 226 votes (15 percent)
• Mike Rothman has 105 votes (7 percent)
• Matt Pelikan has 101 votes (7 percent)

Keith Ellison won the state primary with 50 percent of the vote.

In the primary race to challenge Minnesota House District 18A Representative Dean Urdahl on the Democrat ticket:

• Justin Vold has 215 votes (53 percent)
• Robert Wright has 185 votes (46 percent)

Justin Vold won the district primary with 63 percent of the vote. Urdahl had no Republican challengers, and will appear on the November ballot.

FEDERAL RACES

The following results reflect 28 of 28 McLeod County precincts reporting.

In the primary race to run on the Republican ticket for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Amy Klobuchar:

• Jim Newberger has 1,460 McLeod County votes (74 percent)
• Merrill Anderson has 291 votes (14 percent)
• Rae Hart Anderson has 135 votes (6 percent)
• Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente has 73 votes (3 percent)

Jim Newberger won the state primary with 69 percent of the vote.

In the primary race to run on the Democrat ticket for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Amy Klobuchar:

• Amy Klobuchar has 1,388 McLeod County votes (92 percent)
• Steve Carlson has 42 votes (2 percent)
• Stephen Emery has 27 votes (1 percent)
• David Robert Groves has 23 votes (1 percent)
• Leonard Richards has 15 votes (1 percent)

Amy Klobuchar won the state primary with 95 percent of the vote.

In the primary race to run on the Republican ticket for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Al Franken, now in a special election for a two-year term:

• Karin Housley has 1,318 McLeod County votes (66 percent)
• Bob Anderson has 634 votes (31 percent)
• Nikolay Nikolayevich Bey has 38 votes (1 percent)

Karin Housley won the state primary with 62 percent of the vote.

In the primary race to run on the Democrat ticket for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Al Franken, now in a special election for a two-year term:

• Tina Smith has 1,105 McLeod County votes (75 percent)
• Richard Painter has 192 votes (13 percent)
• Gregg Iverson has 66 votes (4 percent)
• Nick Leonard has 47 votes (3 percent)
• Ali Chechem Ali has 37 votes (2 percent)
• Christopher Lovell Seymore Sr. has 13 votes

Tina Smith won the state primary with 76 percent of the vote.

In the primary race to run on the Republican ticket for Minnesota's Seventh U.S. Congressional District Seat currently held by Collin Peterson:

• Dave Hughes has 1,488 McLeod County votes (77 percent)
• Matt Prosch has 444 votes (22 percent)

Dave Hughes won the state primary with 72 percent of the vote. Peterson had no Democrat challengers, and will appear on the November ballot.

Result are not final until votes are canvassed.