MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Candidate Filing for Coon Rapids City Council and Mayor's Race Closes Tuesday as 2026 Municipal Election Takes Shape

COON RAPIDS, MN (June 1, 2026) The window for residents seeking elected office in Coon Rapids is rapidly closing, marking the final opportunity for prospective candidates to place their names on the ballot for one of three city leadership positions that will be decided during Minnesota's General Election this fall.

The City of Coon Rapids has announced that candidate filing for municipal office will officially close at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, ending a two-week filing period that began May 19. Voters will elect a mayor and two members of the City Council when ballots are cast on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.

The offices scheduled for election include:

• Mayor
• City Council Ward 3
• City Council Ward 5

The successful candidates will serve four-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and concluding Dec. 31, 2030.

For a city of more than 60,000 residents and one of Anoka County's largest municipalities, municipal elections often determine the leadership responsible for decisions that most directly affect residents' daily lives. City officials oversee issues ranging from public safety and street maintenance to housing development, park investments, infrastructure planning, budgeting, economic development, and long-term community growth.

Unlike state and federal elections, municipal races frequently receive less public attention despite the significant influence local elected officials have on neighborhood-level policy decisions.

According to city election information, individuals interested in running for office must submit an Affidavit of Candidacy, required election paperwork, and a $10 filing fee to the City Clerk's Office at Coon Rapids City Hall before the filing deadline. Regular filing hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, with the clerk's office remaining open until 5 p.m. on June 2 to accommodate last-minute filings.

Candidate filing materials provided by the city indicate that prospective candidates must also complete additional disclosure and election-related forms required under Minnesota law. The city has made filing packets and orientation materials available to prospective candidates through its elections office and website.

The November election will occur simultaneously with Minnesota's statewide General Election, meaning voters will see municipal contests on the same ballot as numerous federal, state, county, and judicial races. According to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Elections Calendar, statewide ballots in 2026 will include races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Auditor, Minnesota Legislature, and judicial offices, along with local races where applicable.

Absentee Voting and Early Voting Options

Residents who are unable to vote on Election Day will have several options available.

Minnesota law allows any eligible voter to cast an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Absentee voting begins 46 days before Election Day. Voters may request ballots online through the Minnesota Secretary of State's voter portal or through Anoka County Elections.

Completed absentee ballots may be returned by mail, delivered in person to Coon Rapids City Hall or the Anoka County Elections Office, or returned by an authorized agent subject to state limitations. Ballots must be received by Election Day to be counted.

The city also plans to offer direct balloting at City Hall beginning 18 days before Election Day, allowing voters to cast ballots directly into a ballot counter before Nov. 3. City officials have indicated that direct balloting will begin Friday, Oct. 16.

Local Democracy Begins with Candidate Filing

While Election Day remains more than five months away, Tuesday's filing deadline represents the first major milestone in the 2026 municipal election cycle.

Once filing closes, residents will have a clearer picture of who is seeking to lead the city through the next four years. The final candidate list will determine whether races are contested and will shape the conversations surrounding the future direction of Coon Rapids as it continues to address growth, infrastructure demands, housing needs, economic development, public safety priorities, and community investment.

Residents seeking additional information about candidate filing, voter registration, absentee voting, precinct locations, or election procedures can find resources through the City of Coon Rapids Elections Division and the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office.

Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026
Candidate Filing Deadline: Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 5 p.m.
Offices on the Ballot: Mayor, Ward 3 City Council, Ward 5 City Council

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