PrincetonNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Princeton Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 7 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 3 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

Find your match: 3-question quizSee who is on your ballot

No sign-in. Your answers stay on your device. We never endorse anyone.

Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
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 a mayor, two council members to four-year terms from three candidates, and one council member to a two-year term in a special election. Council member Dericka Haugan is not up this year.

Election Day · Nov 3

Take your ballot with you

Candidates, positions and key dates in one email, sent now.

Your cheat-sheet comes right away. You'll also get a reminder before Election Day, the results, then what your council decides next. Unsubscribe anytime. No ads, never sold.

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

01Princeton Public Utilities and electric service4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe utilities commission is negotiating to take over Connexus Energy's electric service in the industrial park; in July 2026 the council asked it to stop, and Connexus has outlined a possible purchase of the city's electric system.

What's on the tableWhether the council keeps opposing the industrial park takeover, and how it responds if Connexus makes an offer for the electric utility.

022027 budget and property tax levy3 sourced facts

Where it standsOn Sept. 24, 2026 the council set a preliminary 2027 levy, calculated at a 15.8% increase; staff said they would keep working to lower it.

What's on the tableThe final 2027 levy and budget, adopted in December.

03Franchise fee renewal and stormwater fee3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe franchise fee adopted in 2018 to pay off park and trail bonds is expiring, and staff have proposed renewing it and starting to collect a stormwater management fee.

What's on the tableWhether to renew the franchise fee and adopt a stormwater management fee, and at what rates.

04Growth and development2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council replaced the city's 1994 subdivision ordinance in September 2026 and continues to sell city-owned lots for development.

What's on the tableWhich plats, rezonings and city land sales to approve as developers bring proposals.

05Rental housing inspections2 sourced facts

Where it standsStaff are drafting a rental licensing and inspection program with a target start date of Jan. 1, 2027.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt the rental inspection ordinance and its fees.

3 notes on these statements

Council members Jenny Gerold, Nick Taylor and Ben Lewis have terms ending December 31, 2026; Dericka Haugan's term ends December 31, 2028. City of Princeton

Jack Edmonds, Nick Taylor, Cailie Derifield, Annette St. Martin, Angelo Vita, Michael Heselton and Victoria Hallin were listed for the Princeton Area Chamber's Sept. 16, 2026 city council forum, which was livestreamed. Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce

The candidates on the ballot are Jack Edmonds and Nick Taylor for mayor; Cailie Derifield, Annette St. Martin and Angelo Vita for two council seats; and Victoria Hallin and Michael Heselton for the special election council seat. Minnesota Secretary of State

No sign-in · answers stay on your phone

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 Princeton Public Utilities keep pursuing the industrial park's electric service territory from Connexus Energy?

  2. 2. Should Princeton consider selling its city-owned electric utility?

  3. 3. How should Princeton approach growth?

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 voted5 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

1 stay (not up this year): Dericka Haugan4 on this ballot

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

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

See something wrong? Report an error

Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.