Thief River FallsNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Thief River Falls Mayor & City Council Election 2026

5 of 8 council seats are on the ballot, with 7 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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General 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 citywide choose the mayor and one at-large council member; voters in Wards 1, 3 and 5 each choose their ward's council member. Only the at-large race has more than one candidate.

General 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

01Arena management after Oak View Group4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council ended Oak View Group's management contract on Sept. 16, 2026, and approved an interim agreement with MAV Group through Dec. 31, 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to extend MAV Group or sign a longer-term agreement to manage the city's arenas and other venues.

022027 budget and property tax levy4 sourced facts

Where it standsOn Sept. 15, 2026, the council approved a proposed 2027 levy of $5,665,675, about 21.42% more than the 2026 levy.

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

03Data center moratorium and ordinance2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted an 18-month moratorium on data centers on Sept. 15, 2026.

What's on the tableWhat a city data center ordinance should require on location, infrastructure, water, noise and ratepayer protection.

3 notes on these statements

Megan Arlt resigned from the Ward 1 seat on Sept. 29, 2026, effective immediately; her name remains on the November ballot. Thief River Falls Times · Sep 29, 2026

The council voted to advertise for applicants to fill the Ward 1 vacancy for the term ending Dec. 31, 2026. City of Thief River Falls · Oct 6, 2026

Mike Lorenson (Mayor), Megan Arlt (Ward 1), Kelly Langness (Ward 3) and J. Scott Pream (Ward 5) are the only candidates who filed for their seats. Minnesota Secretary of State

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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 the city have paid $550,000 to end Oak View Group's arena management contract early?

  2. 2. Should the city keep the proposed 21.42% increase in the 2027 property tax levy?

  3. 3. How should the city handle proposals for data centers?

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

3 stay (not up this year): Jason Aarestad, Julie Bolduc, Michele McCraw5 on this ballot

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

  • The City Council is made up of the mayor, five ward council members and two at-large council members. City of Thief River Falls
  • The mayor votes on council resolutions; Mayor Mike Lorenson is listed in the roll call of the Sept. 29, 2026 vote. City of Thief River Falls · Sep 29, 2026
  • Mike Lorenson, as a 2024 mayoral candidate, described Thief River Falls as having a weak mayor system in which the mayor has no more authority than other council members. KAXE · Oct 8, 2024

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