BensonNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Benson Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 4 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

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Election Day (Nov 3): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Voters elect the mayor for a two-year term and choose two at-large council members for four-year terms.

Election Day · Nov 3

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

What the next council decides

01Street projects and special assessments4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city plans 2027 street and utility projects on 12th Street South and McKinney Avenue and is studying whether to assess part of the cost to benefiting properties for the first time.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt a special assessment policy and how to pay for the 2027 street projects.

022027 budget and property tax levy3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council adopted a proposed 2027 levy of $2,142,915, a 6.5% increase; the Truth in Taxation hearing is Dec. 7, 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to keep the 6.5% increase or lower it when the final levy is adopted.

03City support for the Benson Golf Club2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council penciled in a $30,000 transfer to the Golf Club for 2027, less than the club requested.

What's on the tableHow much tax money, if any, to transfer to the Golf Club each year and under what process.

04Quadrogen and the west industrial park2 sourced facts

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council approved a real estate option agreement with Quadrogen for city-owned west industrial park land.

What's on the tableWhether the land sale and development agreement with Quadrogen goes forward.

05Oversight of engineering bills3 sourced facts

Where it standsCouncil members have questioned engineering invoices that lack project totals and balances.

What's on the tableWhat detail to require before approving contractor and engineering pay requests.

1 note on these statements

John (Jack) Evenson is the only candidate on the ballot for Mayor. Minnesota Secretary of State · Nov 3, 2026

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. Should Benson charge part of street reconstruction costs to the properties along the street?

  2. 2. How much should the city's 2027 property tax levy rise?

  3. 3. How much tax money should the city transfer to the Benson Golf Club?

  4. 4. Should Benson move ahead with Quadrogen on the west industrial park land?

  5. 5. Should the council hold engineering pay requests until invoices show progress payment details?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted6 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Nancy Maanum, Eric Payne3 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

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