MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Anoka County Voting Returns Set November Races in Coon Rapids, Blaine, Ramsey, Anoka, Fridley and St. Francis

Tuesday’s primary narrowed several crowded municipal and county contests across Anoka County, including a St. Francis mayoral race separated by one vote and an open County Board race featuring two current and former Coon Rapids officials.

ANOKA COUNTY, MN (August 13, 2026) Voters across Anoka County selected the candidates who will advance to the November 3 general election in several closely watched municipal and county races during Minnesota’s Tuesday, August 11 primary.

The unofficial returns produced a decisive first-place finish in the Coon Rapids mayoral primary, a 15-vote margin for the second qualifying position in Ramsey and a one-vote difference between two candidates competing for the final place in the St. Francis mayoral election.

The results remain unofficial until they are reviewed and certified through the election canvassing process. The Anoka County Canvassing Board is scheduled to meet Friday, August 14.

Carlson and Nguyen advance in Coon Rapids mayoral race

Pat Carlson and Thuba Nguyen emerged from a three-candidate Coon Rapids mayoral primary and will face each other in November.

With all 22 precincts reporting, Carlson received 5,853 votes, or 60.14% of the ballots cast in the race. Nguyen finished second with 2,355 votes, or 24.20%, while Jim Shegstad received 1,524 votes, or 15.66%.

Carlson’s first-place finish gave her a lead of nearly 3,500 votes over Nguyen. The November election, however, begins a separate head-to-head contest in which voters will select the city’s next mayor.

The position is open because current Coon Rapids Mayor Jerry Koch is seeking election to the Anoka County Board of Commissioners.

Two Coon Rapids City Council contests did not require primary elections because only two candidates filed in each race. Sean Novack and Jean Wayne are competing in Ward 3, while Brian Armstrong and Thomas Huling are running in Ward 5.

The City of Coon Rapids published the unofficial primary results and information about the candidates advancing to November.

Koch and Geisler advance in open County Board District 4 contest

Coon Rapids Mayor Jerry Koch and former Coon Rapids City Council Member Jennifer “Jenny” Geisler advanced in the primary for the open Anoka County Commissioner District 4 seat.

Koch led the three-candidate field with 3,413 votes, or 44.33%. Geisler received 3,135 votes, or 40.72%, while Michael Nordstrom finished with 1,151 votes, or 14.95%.

Koch and Geisler will compete in November to succeed County Commissioner Scott Schulte, who is not seeking another term.

Because District 4 includes a substantial portion of Coon Rapids, the contest will place two candidates with extensive city-government experience before many of the same voters who are also selecting a new mayor.

The primary produced a 278-vote difference between Koch and Geisler. Together, the two advancing candidates received more than 85% of the votes cast in the race.

Newland and Tierney move forward in Blaine Ward 1

Incumbent Blaine City Council Member Tom Newland and former council member Alex Tierney advanced from the Ward 1 primary.

Newland received 1,365 votes, accounting for 50.11% of the total. Tierney placed second with 1,008 votes, or approximately 37%, while Richard Paul received 351 votes, or about 12.89%.

All 10 Ward 1 precincts had reported results.

Newland and Tierney will now compete for the council seat in November. Tierney previously served on the Blaine City Council, giving voters a general-election contest between two candidates with prior experience in city government.

Fifteen votes decide second place in Ramsey

Debra Musgrove and Kelly Muchowski advanced from Ramsey’s three-candidate primary for an at-large City Council seat.

Musgrove led the field with 1,507 votes, or 36.81%. Muchowski received 1,301 votes, or 31.78%, narrowly securing the second qualifying position over Justin Dahl.

Dahl received 1,286 votes, or 31.41%, leaving only 15 votes between second and third place.

The close result makes Ramsey one of the Anoka County communities where the official canvass will receive particular attention. Unless the canvassed totals change the order of finish, Musgrove and Muchowski will appear on the November ballot.

Four candidates advance for two Anoka council seats

Five candidates competed in the City of Anoka primary for two at-large City Council seats. Because two positions will be filled, the four candidates receiving the highest vote totals advanced to the general election.

Jackie Young, Joelle Alvord, Marissa Carroll and Sam Scott secured places on the November ballot. Andrew Boho was eliminated after receiving 469 votes, or 9.13%.

Young led the field with 1,082 votes, or 21.06%, according to the reported unofficial returns.

In November, voters will be able to select two candidates from the four-person field. The two candidates receiving the most votes will win the at-large council seats.

The Anoka mayoral election did not require a primary because only two candidates, incumbent Mayor Phil Rice and former mayor Erik Skogquist, filed for the office. They will meet directly in the general election.

Fridley voters narrow two City Council fields

Primary voters in Fridley narrowed the candidate fields in two ward-level City Council contests.

In Ward 1, Emily Villanueva and Luke Cardona advanced to the November election. Abdilahi Jama, who also appeared on the ballot as AJ, did not advance.

In Ward 2, Ryan Evanson and John Brillhart secured the two general-election positions. Natividad Seefeld was eliminated in the primary.

The November results in each ward will determine who represents those areas on the Fridley City Council.

One vote separates candidates in St. Francis mayoral primary

The closest reported municipal contest in Anoka County occurred in St. Francis, where one vote separated the candidates in second and third place in the mayoral primary.

Mark Vogel finished first with 498 votes, representing approximately 46% of the total. Sarah Udvig received 295 votes, while Aaron Hill received 294.

Based on the unofficial returns, Vogel and Udvig advance to the November general election. Udvig’s one-vote advantage over Hill makes the canvassing process especially significant in this contest.

The close margin does not by itself establish that a recount will occur. Any recount eligibility, request or other election procedure would be governed by Minnesota election law after the results are officially canvassed.

What happens next

Election administrators will review precinct returns, reconcile vote totals and complete the canvassing process before the results become official.

The Anoka County Canvassing Board meeting on Friday is expected to address county and local results within its jurisdiction. Municipal canvassing requirements may also apply depending on the office and governing authority involved.

Certification is particularly important in Ramsey, where 15 votes separated the second- and third-place candidates, and in St. Francis, where the preliminary difference was one vote.

Candidates confirmed through the canvass will advance to Minnesota’s general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Voters should consult the Minnesota Secretary of State and their municipal or county election offices for certified results, voter-registration information and polling-place details.

Editor’s note: All vote totals and percentages in this report are unofficial and are subject to correction through the canvassing and certification process.

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