Election 2023

6 Minnesota school board races to watch for Election Day 2023

attendees and panelists
Attendees at Bloomington School Board listening session on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023.
Elizabeth Shockman | MPR News

It’s an off-year for Minnesota school board races, with 29 districts holding regularly scheduled school board elections and 16 holding special elections to fill empty positions. But the competition for those approximately 100 open seats has been fierce in many places with nearly 200 candidates filing to run.

Some of the top issues gaining attention from this year’s candidates are parental involvement, curriculum selection and student discipline, among others.

MPR News surveyed candidates in six districts that have competitive races. Take a look at what candidates had to say about their campaigns.

1) Anoka-Hennepin (ISD 11)

2) Hastings (ISD 200)

3) Minnetonka (ISD 276)

4) Mounds View (ISD 621)

5) Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan (ISD 196)

6) South Washington County (ISD 833)

How do I find out which candidates and questions are on my ballot?

Enter your address information into the state’s ballot finder to view a sample of what you’ll be voting on, including the names of those running and any questions you’ll be casting a vote on.

More school board coverage from MPR News

The school board elections you won’t want to ‘sleep on’

a school hallway with a sign

School board elections are at the center of local politics. But they’ve become increasingly polarized. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about why culture war issues are suddenly playing a role in who gets elected to local school boards.


New group with focus on Minnesota school board candidates launches

Community members attend a launch

The School Board Integrity Project is part of a surge in groups across the political spectrum that are organizing to influence school board elections and promote candidates that back their views.


Book ban attempts on the rise in Minnesota schools

a group of attendees and panelists

Occasional parent concerns about a book have morphed into confrontations with groups and parents coming in with long lists of titles they see as inappropriate. It’s happening across the nation and in Minnesota.


Teachers union, advocacy groups warn of ‘extremist’ school board candidates

Person in red shirt talks at podium

A coalition of educators and advocates for Jewish and LGBTQ+ people urged Minnesotans to know the views of who they choose for local school board seats this fall.


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