Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Elk River Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

3 contests

4 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

Mayor · Unopposed

Matthew WestgaardFormer Elk River City Council member who serves on the Economic Development Authority and Municipal Utilities Commission.1sourced

City Council Ward 1 · 1 seat

Shelly BinsfeldPresident of Rock Leaf Water Environmental, an environmental and engineering company. She has served seven years on the Sherburne Soil and Water Conservation District Board.3sourced
Cory GrupaIncumbentCouncil Member, Ward 1; term expires 12/31/20265sourced

City Council Ward 4 · Unopposed

Eric Johnson17-year member of the Elk River Planning Commission.3sourced

Voters in each ward choose their own council member; the mayor is elected citywide. Three of the five seats are on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot: mayor, Ward 1 and Ward 4.

3 notes on these statements

Mayor John Dietz is not seeking re-election, and Council Member Jennifer Wagner is not running for another term in Ward 4, so those two seats are open. Cory Grupa is the incumbent in Ward 1. Elk River Star News

Matthew Westgaard is the only candidate listed for mayor on the Secretary of State candidate list. Minnesota Secretary of State candidate filings, Sherburne County

The Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce held a mayor and council candidate forum on Sept. 23, 2026. Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce forum video

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Mike BeyerCouncil Member, Ward 3; term expires 12/31/20282sourced J. Brian CalvaCouncil Member, Ward 2; term expires 12/31/20283sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz1 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesData centers, 2027 property tax levy, Council and mayor pay Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter pre-registration closes for the general election

Tue, Oct 13, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Data centers

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council directed staff to prepare findings denying a zoning change that would have allowed data centers in the light industrial district, and to prepare a 12-month moratorium.

What's on the tableWhether and where data centers may be built in Elk River, and the terms of any moratorium.

On July 6, 2026 the council voted 5-0 to direct staff to prepare findings of fact denying a request to add data centers as a conditional use in the I-1 light industrial district. Elk River City Council minutes, July 6, 2026 · Jul 6, 2026
On July 6, 2026 the council voted 5-0 to direct staff to review and prepare a 12-month moratorium on data center projects. Elk River City Council minutes, July 6, 2026 · Jul 6, 2026
The Planning Commission voted June 23 to recommend denial of the ordinance amendment and urged the council to consider a six-month to one-year moratorium. Elk River Star News
The proposed ordinance would have allowed data centers in industrial zones with limits on size and energy use and a closed-loop cooling requirement. MPR News · Jul 7, 2026

2027 property tax levy

Where it standsThe council approved a preliminary 2027 levy increase of 9.2% on Sept. 21, 2026; the final levy can be lower but not higher.

What's on the tableThe final 2027 levy and budget, to be adopted by December.

The council approved the preliminary 2027 levy by a 4-0 vote on Sept. 21, 2026, with Council Member J. Brian Calva absent. Elk River Star News
The preliminary levy increase was more than 20% when budget talks began in July, then fell to 15%, about 11% and 9.2%. Elk River Star News
The city proposed transferring $750,000 from the Building Replacement Fund to cover costs otherwise supported by the levy. Elk River Star News
Council Member Jennifer Wagner suggested taking 5% out of public safety, roughly $600,000 from police and fire operations. Elk River Star News

Council and mayor pay

Where it standsThe Oct. 5, 2026 council agenda includes Ordinance 26-21, an amendment to the salaries of the mayor and councilmembers.

What's on the tableWhat the mayor and council members are paid.

Council members receive an annual salary of $7,500 and the mayor receives $10,000. Elk River 2026 Candidate Guide
The Oct. 5, 2026 agenda lists Ordinance 26-21: Amendment to Salaries of Mayor and Councilmembers under general business. Elk River City Council agenda, October 5, 2026 · Oct 5, 2026

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. How should Elk River handle data center proposals?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

First day of early voting for the general electionElk River 2026 Candidate GuideSep 18, 2026
Voter pre-registration closes for the general electionElk River 2026 Candidate GuideOct 13, 2026
General electionElk River 2026 Candidate GuideNov 3, 2026
Terms begin for elected officersElk River 2026 Candidate GuideJan 4, 2027

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Mike Beyer, J. Brian Calva3 on this ballot

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

Elk River has four wards, each represented by an elected council member, and the mayor represents the community at large. Elk River 2026 Candidate Guide
The mayor presides over the City Council and has the same powers to make, second and vote on motions as council members. Elk River 2026 Candidate Guide
The mayor and four council members serve four-year terms, staggered so that council members from two wards are elected every two years. Elk River 2026 Candidate Guide

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

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