Candidates Announced for Barnes County Races

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Voters in Barnes County, North Dakota will have several contested races to decide in the upcoming 2026 elections. The June 9th primary will narrow the field for commissioner seats in Districts 4 and 2, as well as the county auditor position. The remaining county offices including treasurer, states attorney, sheriff, recorder, and commissioner in District 3 will be uncontested.

Why it matters

Local elections for county-level offices are critical for determining the leadership and policies that directly impact residents' daily lives, from infrastructure and public services to law enforcement and the judicial system. Contested races provide voters with meaningful choices to shape the future direction of their community.

The details

In the Commissioner District 4 race, four candidates - Vicky Lovell, Ron Manson, Lance Peterson, and Rory Gabel - will face off in the June 9th primary, with the top two finishers advancing to the November 3rd general election. For the Barnes County Auditor position, Carol Grenz and Beth Didier will compete in both the primary and general election. The remaining county offices including treasurer, states attorney, sheriff, recorder, and commissioner in District 2 and 3 will be uncontested.

• The June 9th primary election will narrow the field for several county offices.
• The November 3rd general election will determine the winners of the contested races.

What’s next

Voters in Barnes County will head to the polls on June 9th for the primary election, which will determine the finalists for the contested commissioner and auditor races. The general election on November 3rd will decide the winners of those races.