At the time this issue went to press with 93 percent of the precincts statewide reporting, Mark Dayton was leading in the DFL primary race for Governor with 177,173 votes followed closely by Margaret Anderson Kelliher with 171,683 votes. Matt Entenza got 78,140 votes.

In Senate District 12 Paul Gazelka will be the Republican on the ballot Nov. 2 winning the primary over incumbent Paul Koering 3,753 to 2,857.

In the local, non-partisan races the top two votegetters will be on the ballot Nov. 2. The results are:

Cass County

o Sheriff: Tom Burch and Wayne Tennis will square off in the sheriff’s race. Burch garnered 2,630 votes in the primary followed by Tennis with 1,875. Garr Pemberton got 418 votes and Chris Thompson got 992.

o County Commissioner, District 1: Neal Gaalswyk 508, Ken LaPorte-372, Greg Booth-226.

o County Commissioner, District 2: Robert Kangas- 548, Ed Nelson-208, Phil Kinnunen-179.

Wadena County

o County Auditor-Treasurer: Char West-1,325, Brian James Hagen-417, Betty A. White-234.

o County Commissioner District 5: David Hillukka 456, Dave Schermerhorn 444, Dave Whitaker-99.

Morrison County

o County Commissioner, District 4: Don Meyer-532, Dean Rocheleau-335, Carol Nash-128.

The Aug. 10 primary election saw record numbers file absentee ballots. The Secretary of State’s office reported that nearly 30,841 absentee ballots were filed as of 3 p.m. Tuesday making this the highest number in two decades. The office cautioned that these numbers are unofficial and are expected to change as absentee ballot boards continue processing absentee ballots.

All election results are unofficial pending canvassing.