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Two years ago, Duluth voters punted their mayor out of office in a 20-point defeat decided about ninety seconds after the polls closed.
Voters were looking for potholes filled, budgets tamed, plow trucks, and fewer pep talks.
That was then. This fall? No mayor on the ballot, no glamour race to draw out the hordes. Which means turnout will be softer than a Miller Hill Mall food court pretzel. And in Duluth, when turnout drops, anything can happen. The weather decides more races here than campaign yard signs.
Council at Large
Terese Tomanek is hanging on to her at-large seat like a snowplow nursing a failing transmission. Her challengers — Jordon Johnson, Derek Medved, and Asher Estrin-Haire — are circling with fresh sails and fresher slogans. In a normal year, name recognition might bail Tomanek out. In a low-turnout year, a sunny afternoon could send her packing.
District Contests
The Second District is Diane Desotelle versus Christopher Adatte. Two solid candidates waiting for the weather forecast like farmers eyeing hay.
In the Fourth, Tara Swenson is the incumbent, but David Clanaugh is hammering away with the change message. He must carry enough support in Lincoln Park to offset his opponent's firm grip in Piedmont Heights and Duluth Heights. Duluth voters have shown they don’t mind booting the familiar if it means rolling the dice on something new, but Swenson again has Mayor Roger Reinert's strong backing.
School Board
At-large is shaping up like a civic tug-of-war. Amber Sadowski and Kelly Durick Eder promise steadiness. Harry Welty and Loren Martell promise fireworks. Translation: either the meetings keep droning on or we all start bringing popcorn.
In District 1, incumbent Rosie Loeffler Kemp faces parent challenger Frances Wittenberg. The narrative practically writes itself: “experienced union hand” versus “fresh eyes.” Fresh eyes usually win when the voters are in a mood.
District 4’s Jill Lofald sails unopposed. In Duluth politics, this doesn’t mean universal approval; it means nobody else wanted the hassle.
Bigger Picture
Here’s what matters: accountability and trust. Voters don’t care about glossy mailers or yard signs. They care whether they can trust the people in office to tell the truth, do the basics, and not hide behind platitudes when things go sideways.
Two years ago voters were mad that City Hall looked more like a group therapy session than a basic services command deck.
This year’s incumbents should take note. The same restless mood lingers, and arguably stronger than two years ago. The same skepticism hangs in the air. And when Duluth voters are restless, they’re unpredictable.
Election Day Forecast
So here it is: incumbents might sneak by if the weather is lousy. If it’s bright and clear, expect a few surprise names on the winner’s list. Either way, don’t expect voters to rediscover patience suddenly.
Because in Duluth, sunshine doesn’t just melt the snow — it melts incumbents too.
