The Ballot Brief
Hennepin County, Minnesota

Judge, Minnesota 4th Judicial District Court, Seat 16

One candidate is tracked for Judge, Minnesota 4th Judicial District Court, Seat 16, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Jane Maschka. Candidate information follows official Hennepin County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Jane Maschka is the only name on the ballot for this seat; Minnesota prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected, so the race is on the November 3, 2026 ballot but is not contested. Minnesota's 4th Judicial District covers Hennepin County; judges are elected at large across the whole district, so every voter there, not just voters in one county, votes on this seat. Minnesota judicial elections are nonpartisan and decided by plurality, with no runoff. Listed from the Secretary of State's certified general-election candidate table.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels. The sitting officeholder, Jane Maschka, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

Minnesota › Hennepin County › Judge, Minnesota 4th Judicial District Court, Seat 16

Jane Maschka

Nonpartisan Incumbent

Biography

Judge Jane Maschka was appointed to the Fourth Judicial District bench by Governor Tim Walz on April 2, 2024, per the Minnesota Judicial Branch. She earned her J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School and was previously a partner at Faegre Drinker. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

Next on your ballotJudge, Minnesota 4th Judicial District Court, Seat 19

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Judge, Minnesota 4th Judicial District Court, Seat 16 in 2026?

One candidate is tracked for Judge, Minnesota 4th Judicial District Court, Seat 16, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Jane Maschka. Candidate information follows official Hennepin County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Judge, Minnesota 4th Judicial District Court, Seat 16 election in Minnesota?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Minnesota are on the Minnesota election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Hennepin County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Hennepin County and state election office filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Minnesota election office, or see the full Hennepin County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Hennepin County ballot

78 tracked races in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Judge, Minnesota 4th Judicial District Court, Seat 20Judge, Minnesota 4th Judicial District Court, Seat 25Judge, Minnesota 4th Judicial District Court, Seat 27See all 78 Hennepin County races
Candidate profiles
Jane Maschka, full profileOfficial Minnesota election office