Published: November 4th, 2026.
Joe Leko wins Dakota County sheriff's race, Kathy Keena secures another term as county attorney, and voters select mayors, council members, county commissioners and state lawmakers across the southern Twin Cities metro.
DAKOTA COUNTY, MN - Voters across Dakota County and Minnesota headed to the polls Tuesday, November 3, 2026, to decide a wide range of local, county, legislative, and statewide races that will shape government leadership in the coming years.
Among the most closely watched local contests, Joe Leko defeated Bobby Lambert for Dakota County sheriff, while incumbent County Attorney Kathy Keena defeated challenger Jeffrey Sheridan. Voters also decided competitive city council and mayoral elections in communities including Farmington, Hastings, and several smaller Dakota County municipalities.
At the state level, Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) candidate Amy Klobuchar won Minnesota's gubernatorial election, becoming the first woman elected governor in state history. Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan also won Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat, defeating Republican Michele Tafoya.
The election also determined Minnesota's next secretary of state, state auditor and attorney general, along with congressional representation and control of the Minnesota Legislature. According to unofficial results from the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office, all 4,105 precincts across Minnesota's 87 counties had reported by Wednesday morning. All 144 Dakota County precincts had also submitted their results.
Although vote counting has concluded at the precinct-reporting level, the results remain unofficial until the appropriate canvassing boards certify them. Minnesota's State Canvassing Board is scheduled to certify state and federal election results on November 19, 2026.
Dakota County Election Results
Joe Leko Defeats Bobby Lambert in Dakota County Sheriff's Race
Joe Leko secured a decisive victory in the Dakota County sheriff's election, receiving 106,538 votes, or 61.77% of ballots cast. His opponent, Bobby Lambert, received 64,985 votes, representing 37.67%. An additional 966 votes, or 0.56%, were recorded as write-ins. Leko finished ahead by 41,553 votes, a margin of approximately 24.1 percentage points.
The sheriff oversees the Dakota County Sheriff's Office, which provides law enforcement services, operates the county jail, handles court security, and performs other public safety responsibilities throughout the county.
Kathy Keena Wins Dakota County Attorney Election
Incumbent Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena won reelection, defeating challenger Jeffrey Sheridan. Keena received 96,683 votes, or 56.82%, compared to Sheridan's 72,647 votes, or 42.70%. Another 818 write-in votes were recorded. Keena won by 24,036 votes, or about 14.1 percentage points.
The Dakota County Attorney's Office prosecutes felony criminal cases, handles certain juvenile and misdemeanor matters, provides legal representation to county government, and carries out other responsibilities under Minnesota law.
Dakota County Board of Commissioners
Several seats on the Dakota County Board of Commissioners were on Tuesday's ballot, including competitive elections in Districts 1 and 6.
Mike Slavik defeated Nathan Ryan in District 1 by 8,031 votes, while Mary Liz Holberg defeated Jacob Borealis in District 6 by 4,968 votes.
Joe Atkins and Laurie Halverson also appeared on the ballot without named opponents in Districts 2 and 3, respectively. Their reported totals were independently corroborated by local election coverage.
County commissioners oversee significant areas of county government, including transportation infrastructure, property taxes, public health, social services, public safety funding, and county budgeting.
Soil and Water Conservation District
In the District 4 Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor race, Shannon Wohlman received 15,172 votes, or 52.47%, defeating Bruce Johnson, who received 13,610 votes, or 47.07%.
An additional 132 write-in votes were recorded. Wohlman finished ahead by 1,562 votes.
The Soil and Water Conservation District works on issues involving water quality, soil conservation, natural resources and land management.
City Elections Across Dakota County
Municipal elections were another major part of Tuesday's ballot, with voters selecting mayors and city council members in communities throughout the county.
Farmington: David Pritzlaff Wins Special Mayoral Election
Farmington voters selected David Pritzlaff in a four-candidate special election for mayor. With all six precincts reporting, Pritzlaff received 4,509 votes, representing 44.28% of the vote.
Pritzlaff finished 1,340 votes ahead of Bernatz, his nearest competitor. Because the race involved four candidates, Pritzlaff secured the most votes without receiving an outright majority. Minnesota municipal elections of this type are generally decided by plurality, meaning the candidate with the most votes wins.
Farmington City Council: Ben Blomgren and Veronica Marshall Secure Two Seats
Farmington voters also selected two council members from a field of six candidates. All six precincts reported. Percentages on the official results page represent shares of total votes cast for candidates, not the percentage of voters who selected each candidate.
Ben Blomgren led the field with 3,570 votes, followed by Veronica Marshall with 3,033 votes. They secured the two available seats based on the unofficial results.
Tanya Huffman finished third with 2,792 votes, just 241 votes behind Marshall. David Sieburg received 2,384 votes, Philip Windschitl received 2,355, and Christopher Eric Pierce received 1,810. Another 110 write-in votes were recorded.
The results will determine two positions on the Farmington City Council, which makes decisions involving local development, infrastructure, city services, budgeting, and property taxes.
Hastings: Mary Fasbender Wins Mayoral Race
Hastings voters reelected Mary Fasbender as mayor, according to unofficial results reported by local radio station KDWA. Fasbender received 6,444 votes, compared with 3,556 for Geoffrey Norquist, a margin of 2,888 votes.
In the Hastings City Council election, Angie Haus received 5,439 votes, and Dave Pemble received 5,170, securing the two available seats. Mitchel Kulage received 2,266 votes, while Lee Albert Wickboldt received 1,435.
The Hastings School Board election was considerably closer for the final available seat. Mark Zuzek led with 9,571 votes, followed by Melissa Kinneman with 6,326. Kendal Larson received 5,968 votes, just 47 more than Carrie Banaszewski Tate, who received 5,921. Jessica Dressely finished with 5,731 votes.
Other Municipal Elections
Several smaller Dakota County communities also held elections.
In Coates, Craig Franzmeier received 78.79% of the vote for mayor, compared to Mike Gores' 13.64%. Five write-in votes accounted for another 7.58%.
In Empire, Eric Hanson and Josh Gunderson received the highest vote totals in the two-seat council election, ahead of Marla Vagts, who received 519 votes.
In Lilydale, Mary Kleinberg received 444 votes, and Christopher Daly received 370, ahead of Bart Schneider, who received 247.
Sunfish Lake voters supported Claire Noble in the regular council contest, with 238 votes compared to Thomas P. Hurley's 211. In the separate special council election, Sally English received 180 votes to Grant Fitzer's 107.
One of the closest races among the newly reported municipal results occurred in Vermillion. Joe Munson received 167 votes, or 50.45%, while Ross Brockman received 162 votes, or 48.94%. Munson's five-vote lead highlights the importance of canvassing and any applicable recount procedures before the result becomes official.
Statewide Minnesota Election Results
While Dakota County voters made decisions about local leadership, the election also brought major changes to Minnesota's statewide offices.
Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidates won all five major statewide contests: governor, U.S. Senate, secretary of state, state auditor, and attorney general.
Amy Klobuchar Elected Minnesota's First Female Governor
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar won Minnesota's gubernatorial election, defeating Republican Lisa Demuth, the speaker of the Minnesota House. Klobuchar and her running mate, Ben Schierer, received 1,569,094 votes, representing 55.47% of ballots cast.
Demuth and her running mate, Ryan Wilson, received 1,205,788 votes, or 42.63%. Green Party candidates Steven Young and Jane Kirby received 51,384 votes, or 1.82%.
Klobuchar finished ahead of Demuth by 363,306 votes statewide. Her victory marks a historic milestone: Klobuchar will become the first woman elected governor of Minnesota. She succeeds DFL Governor Tim Walz, who decided not to seek a third term.
Peggy Flanagan Wins Minnesota's Open U.S. Senate Seat
Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan won the race for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Tina Smith. Flanagan defeated Republican Michele Tafoya, receiving 1,520,295 votes, or 53.71%, compared with Tafoya's 1,232,677 votes, or 43.55%.
Independent candidate Marisa Simonetti received 41,549 votes, while Libertarian Rebecca Whiting received 32,476.
Flanagan's statewide margin over Tafoya was 287,618 votes. The result means Minnesota's open Senate seat will remain in DFL hands.
Steve Simon Reelected Secretary of State
Incumbent Secretary of State Steve Simon won another term, defeating Republican Tad Jude.
Simon received 1,528,567 votes, or 54.71%, compared with Jude's 1,167,892 votes, or 41.80%.
Libertarian George "Chip" Tangen received 54,665 votes, while Green Party candidate Seth Kuhl-Stennes received 41,372.
Simon will serve a fourth term overseeing Minnesota's election administration and other duties assigned to the Secretary of State's Office.
Zack Filipovich Wins State Auditor Election
The race for Minnesota state auditor resulted in a victory for DFL candidate Zack Filipovich, who defeated Republican Scott Jensen. Filipovich received 1,473,426 votes, or 52.94%, compared with Jensen's 1,229,400 votes, or 44.17%. Forward Independence candidate Jay Reeves received 78,968 votes, or 2.84%.
The election fills the position held by outgoing State Auditor Julie Blaha, who did not seek reelection. Minnesota's state auditor oversees financial accountability and audits involving local governments throughout the state.
Keith Ellison Wins Third Term as Attorney General
Incumbent Attorney General Keith Ellison won reelection over Republican Ronald J. Schutz. Ellison received 1,520,397 votes, or 54.30%, compared with Schutz's 1,275,393 votes, or 45.55%.
Ellison finished ahead by 245,004 votes statewide and will serve a third term as Minnesota attorney general.
Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District: Matt Little Wins Open Seat
One of the most significant federal elections for Dakota County was the race for Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District. DFL candidate Matt Little won the open congressional seat.
The district includes all of Dakota, Scott and Le Sueur counties, along with portions of Rice and Washington counties. Little will succeed Democratic Representative Angie Craig, who chose not to seek reelection to the U.S. House.
The result is especially important for Dakota County residents because the district's representative serves as their voice in the U.S. House on federal legislation, appropriations and constituent matters.
Other Congressional Developments
Elsewhere in Minnesota, several incumbent members of Congress secured reelection, including Kelly Morrison in District 3, Betty McCollum in District 4, Ilhan Omar in District 5 and Michelle Fischbach in District 7.
One closely watched contest remained unresolved Wednesday morning: Minnesota's 1st Congressional District race between Republican incumbent Brad Finstad and Democrat Jake Johnson. Johnson held a narrow 324-vote lead, and the race had not been called. With how close this race is, it will likely result in an automatic recount.
That result should not be treated as final without a subsequent race call or certification.
When Will the Election Results Become Official?
Although all precincts have reported, Minnesota's November 3 election results remain unofficial. According to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office, county canvassing boards must review and certify county-level results following the election. Municipal and school district election results are also subject to applicable canvassing procedures.
The Minnesota State Canvassing Board is scheduled to meet Thursday, November 19, 2026, to certify state and federal election results.
Recounts may be requested or required under applicable Minnesota election laws, and certified results can be amended if a recount changes the outcome
Residents can review election totals and subsequent updates through the Minnesota Secretary of State's official election results website.
Limitless Media News will continue monitoring election certification, potential recounts, and additional local results throughout Dakota County.
Written by: Will Wight
