The big picture is starting to grow clearer as candidates for Minnesota races file for public office ahead of the Tuesday, June 2, deadline.

For the 8th Congressional District, the two party nominees have officially thrown their names in the hat, alongside a third candidate with a familiar name from 2018. There are some new developments in local races for the Minnesota Legislature and, for those who intend to declare their candidacies for some local, state and federal offices under current limitations with COVID-19, a set of guidelines is included below.

The following are new candidate filings since Thursday, May 28.

State and federal offices

U.S. House of Representatives 8th Congressional District

• Quinn Nystrom, Democrat, Baxter.

• Pete Stauber, R-Duluth, (incumbent).

• Harry Robb Welty, Republican, Duluth.

Minnesota Senate

• District 10 — Shaun Christian Hansen, Republican, Nisswa.

• District 9 — Richard Dahl, Republican, Lake Shore.

Minnesota House of Representatives

• District 9A — Alex Hering, DFL, Pillager.

• District 9B — Laura Wright, DFL, Little Falls.

County offices

Cass County Board

• District 5 — Rick Haaland.

Crow Wing County Board

• District 5 — Tom Nixon.

Morrison County Board

• District 3 — Brian Lindquist.

Wadena County Board

• District 2 — Brian Hagen, Rachel Johnson, Ralph Miller and Michael Weyer.

• District 4 — Murlyn Kreklau.

City offices

Brainerd

• Council Member at Large — Kevin Stunek (incumbent).

• Special election for Council Member at Large — Tad Erickson (incumbent).

• Ward 3 — Wayne Erickson (incumbent).

Filing under COVID-19

The Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office released guidelines for candidates to file electronically or by mail to respect social distancing during COVID-19. All federal candidates should file with the secretary of state. All state candidates may file with either the secretary of state or their county auditor. All county candidates should file with the county auditor. And all city candidates should file with their city clerk.

Major party candidates for state and federal offices have multiple ways they may file for office:

• Sending a notarized affidavit electronically (email or fax), and contacting the secretary of state at 651-215-1440 to give payment information over the phone.

• At the State Office Building by placing a notarized affidavit and payment in the marked dropbox near the south entrance or at the secretary of state’s counter by 5 p.m. June 2. Candidates filing in person are encouraged to wear masks and will be asked to keep social distance while filing and waiting in line. Candidates who have special needs are asked to park in the nearby department of transportation ramp or designated parking spaces in Lot D near Leif Erikson Park and call 651-215-1440 to arrange staff to come to the car. It is likely the in-person filing process will take longer than in past years, a news release stated.

• By mail with notarized affidavit and payment. This option is no longer available since filings must be received by Tuesday.

Minor party and independent candidates can use any of these filing methods above, but will need to submit their petition along with their affidavit of candidacy. Petition signatures can be gathered electronically.
Fees to file for public office are as follows:

• U.S. representative: $300.

• State senator or state representative: $100.

• County office: $50.

• Soil and water conservation district supervisor: $20.

• City of Brainerd offices: $5.