Narrow victories for Democrats in MHS mock election
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MARSHALL -- A mock election held at Marshall High School this week showed close races for U.S. House and Senate, Minnesota governor and Minnesota Legislature. However, the mock election results showed Democratic candidates had the lead in several races.
The MHS Honor Society has conducted mock elections going back to about 2010, Honor Society adviser Rick Purrington said this week. Students and school staff can fill out mock ballots and also learn about how voting works in Minnesota.
Purrington shared the results of Tuesday's mock election with the Independent. A total of 356 MHS staff and students voted in the mock election.
The ballots students filled out included races for U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, Minnesota governor and other statewide offices and Minnesota state House and Senate races. The ballots also included the Marshall School Board race and Marshall's one contested city council race.
In the U.S. Senate race, Democratic candidate Peggy Flanagan received 179 votes and Republican Michele Tafoya had 102 votes. In the race for Minnesota's 7th Congressional District, Democratic candidate Erik Osberg received 190 votes, while Rep. Michelle Fischbach received 132 votes.
The mock election results showed Amy Klobuchar in the lead for Minnesota governor with 159 votes. Republican governor candidate Lisa Demuth had 159 votes. Other state races also showed DFL victories, with Keith Ellison winning the Minnesota Attorney General's race against Ron Schutz 169 to 130; Zack Filipovich winning the State Auditor race against Scott Jensen 149 to 108; and Secretary of State Steve Simon winning against Tad Jude 151 to 94.
A majority of students and staff showed support for Minnesota's constitutional amendment to increase school funding, mock election results said. A total of 283 votes were cast in favor of the amendment, and there were 50 "no" votes or blank ballots.
The mock election included the Minnesota state House race in District 15A, and the state Senate race in District 15. Both districts include Lyon County. The mock election results showed DFL candidate Andrea Boettger winning the Senate District 15 race with 178 votes. Republican candidate Braxton Seifert had 152 votes. In the mock election for House District 15A, DFL candidate Nathan Schmig had 191 votes, and Republican candidate Brad Hennen had 127 votes.
In local races, the mock election had Marshall School Board candidates Julie Allen, Nathan Green and Sara Brink in the lead. Mock election results showed Marshall City Council member John Alcorn receiving 158 votes and challenger Larry Magrath receiving 101 votes.