Here Are The Candidates Running In The 1st District Special Primary

ST. PAUL, MN — A total of 20 candidates and four different political parties will appear on the ballot for the special primary election to replace United States Rep. Jim Hagedorn.

Hagedorn, 59, died of cancer in February. He represented Minnesota's First Congressional District from 2018 until his death.

Following state protocol, Gov. Tim Walz set the special primary election for May 24. Early voting starts Friday.

Hagedorn was diagnosed with stage IV kidney cancer in February 2019 and received continued care and immunotherapy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. In July 2021, the congressman announced that kidney cancer had resurfaced.

Hagedorn's wife and former Minnesota Republican Party chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan is among the candidates hoping the fill the vacancy left by his death.

Minnesota has open primaries, meaning residents do not have to register with a certain party before voting. However, there is a limit of one candidate per ballot.

Find the primary candidates and their political parties below:

Note: Candidates that provided their websites to the Minnesota Secretary of State's office have their sites linked below.

Grassroots — Legalize Cannabis

• Haroun McClellan

Legal Marijuana Now

• Richard B. Reisdorf

Republicans

• Bob "Again" Carney Jr.
• Kevin Kocina
• Jeremy Munson
• Nels Pierson
• J.R. Ewing
• Brad Finstad
• Roger Ungemach
• Jennifer Carnahan
• Matt Benda
• Ken Navitsky

Democrats

• Warren Lee Anderson
• Sarah Brakebill-Hacke
• James Rainwater
• Jeff Ettinger
• Richard W. Painter
• George H. Kalberer
• Rick DeVoe
• Candice Deal-Bartell