The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce and the Duluth News Tribune are hosting the 2026 Candidate Forums on Sept. 28 and 29 from 5-8:15 pm at the Garden Event Center. These forums will provide a timely opportunity to meet the candidates running for state and local offices this election season.
The 2026 Candidate Forums are free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Walk-in’s welcome. Complimentary parking is available in the lot behind The Garden if you mention the event.
The forums will also be video recorded by the Duluth News Tribune and made available for viewing later, at no cost, at duluthnewstribune.com.
*Our candidate forums are structured around invitations to the nominees of the two major political parties. This has been our longstanding format and is intended to keep the program manageable within the time and logistical constraints of the event while providing voters with an opportunity to hear from the major-party candidates.
Monday, September 28th
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm Minnesota Senate
District 3 – Senator Grant Hauschild (Incumbent) vs. Andrea Zupancich
District 8 – Senator Jen McEwen (Incumbent) vs. Darrick Law
6:00 pm – 6:30 pm St. Louis County Commissioner
District 1 – Commissioner Annie Harala (Incumbent) vs. Kris Eilers
6:45 pm – 7:15 pm US Senate
Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan vs Michele Tafoya
7:30 pm – 8:15 pm Minnesota Governor
House Speaker Lisa Demuth vs. US Senator Amy Klobuchar
Tuesday, September 29th
5:00 pm – 5:30 pm Duluth Public Schools – ISD 709
5:45 pm – 6:15pm Minnesota House of Representatives
District 3B – Representative Natalie Zeleznikar (Incumbent) vs. Aaron Schweiger
6:30 pm – 7:15 pm Minnesota House of Representatives
District 8A – Representative Liish Kozlowski (Incumbent) vs. Shawn Savela
District 8B – Representative Pete Johnson (Incumbent) vs. Alan Kehr
7:30 pm – 8:15 pm US House of Representatives
8th Congressional District – US Representative Pete Stauber (Incumbent) vs. Trina Swanson
