Rochester, MNVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Rochester Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 7

council seats up

4 contests

8 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

Mayor · 1 seat

City Council Ward 1 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 3 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 5 · 1 seat

All Rochester voters pick a mayor; voters in Wards 1, 3 and 5 also pick their ward's council member. The mayor does not vote on council items, so three of the seven council votes are on this ballot.

2 notes on these statements

Rochester's mayor does not have a vote on approving the annual city budget. Post Bulletin · Sep 30, 2026

Lisa Ross listed no campaign website in her Post Bulletin questionnaire. Post Bulletin candidate Q&A · Jun 5, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Dan DoeringCouncil Member, Ward 6, elected 2024; not on the 2026 ballot8sourcedAndy FriederichsCouncil Member, Ward 4, elected 2024; not on the 2026 ballot7sourcedNick MillerCouncil Member, Ward 2, elected 2024; not on the 2026 ballot7sourcedRandy SchubringCouncil President (at large), elected 2024; not on the 2026 ballot6sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesProperty taxes and the 2027 budget, The regional sports complex and indoor space, Housing and growthKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Pre-registration deadline (you can still register at the polls)

Tue, Oct 13, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Property taxes and the 2027 budget

Where it standsIn September the council set a preliminary 2027 levy of $124.9 million, about 5.6% above 2026; the final levy is adopted after a Dec 7 hearing.

What's on the tableThe final 2027 levy and budget; the levy can be lowered from the preliminary amount but not raised.

The regional sports complex and indoor space

Where it standsThe $65 million sales-tax sports complex is being built outdoor-first after costs rose; an indoor dome of up to $55 million is on hold while funding options are studied.

What's on the tableWhether and how to fund indoor recreation space, including a dome at the complex, and how to involve residents.

Housing and growth

Where it standsMost of the $50 million economic vitality fund from the 2023 sales-tax extension is set aside for housing.

What's on the tableHow to spend housing dollars, and which kinds of housing and growth to encourage.

Downtown development and historic buildings

Where it standsIn August the council voted 4-3 to overturn the Heritage Preservation Commission and let developers seek a seven-story addition behind historic South Broadway buildings.

What's on the tableHow to weigh new downtown development against the rules for the downtown historic district.

City response to federal immigration enforcement

Where it standsAfter federal immigration operations in Rochester, the council reaffirmed that local police do not assist immigration enforcement and voted to document local impacts for court cases.

What's on the tableHow far the city goes in responding to federal immigration enforcement, including legal filings.

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. The preliminary 2027 levy is $124.9 million, about 5.6% higher than 2026. What should the council do in December?

  2. 2. In December 2025 the council approved a $28 million construction contract for the regional sports complex, and later overrode the mayor's veto. Where do you stand?

  3. 3. Rochester has about $33 million in sales-tax money for new housing. What should it focus on?

  4. 4. In August 2026 the council voted 4-3 to overturn a historic-preservation denial for an addition to downtown buildings at 309-317 Broadway Avenue. Where do you stand?

  5. 5. The council voted 4-3 to have the city attorney document local impacts of immigration enforcement for federal court cases. Where do you stand?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Dan Doering, Andy Friederichs, Nick Miller, Randy Schubring4 on this ballot

7 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

  • The City Council has seven elected members: one council member at large who serves as Council President, and six members representing the city's six wards. City of Rochester
  • Elections are staggered every two years: Wards 1, 3 and 5 and the mayor are elected in the same year, and Wards 2, 4 and 6 and the at-large member in the alternate cycle. City of Rochester
  • The mayor and Council President are both elected citywide. City of Rochester
  • Eight candidates ran in the Aug 11 mayoral primary after two-term Mayor Kim Norton chose not to run again; Joe Powers and Jess Garcia advanced. MPR News · Aug 12, 2026
  • Ward 5 was the only council race with an Aug 11 primary. Post Bulletin · Jul 28, 2026

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

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