The Ballot Brief
McLeod County, Minnesota

Minnesota Senate District 17

2 candidates are tracked for Minnesota Senate District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Julie Kelzer and Glenn H Gruenhagen. Candidate information follows official McLeod County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Julie Kelzer (Democratic-Farmer-Labor), Glenn H Gruenhagen (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Minnesota Senate District 17; Glenn H Gruenhagen is the sitting member, per the Minnesota Senate's official member directory (senate.mn). Nominees were chosen at the August 11, 2026 primary (where contested) or qualified directly for the general ballot. The field is the Secretary of State's certified candidate table; Minnesota prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Glenn H Gruenhagen, is on the ballot.

Minnesota › McLeod County › Minnesota Senate District 17

Julie Kelzer

Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Top priorities
  • Supports affordability of health care, childcare, housing, food and energy
  • Supports stable school funding and staffing
  • Supports transparency in government spending

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Julie Kelzer has worked in customer service since age 14 and earned a cosmetology degree from Regency Beauty Institute in 2010, working as a salon manager and stylist before the pandemic, per the campaign site. She later started her own residential house cleaning business to keep flexible hours for her family, per the campaign site. Kelzer is a mother of two, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Glenn H Gruenhagen

Glenn H Gruenhagen

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities
  • Supports electing judges who interpret the constitution and laws as written
  • Opposes abortion
  • Supports reducing taxes and regulations

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Gruenhagen owns Gruenhagen Insurance and Financial Services and holds Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Life Underwriter designations, per the campaign site. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1971 to 1973 and on the Glencoe Silver Lake school board for 16 years, per the campaign site. He has represented McLeod and Sibley counties in the Minnesota House since 2010, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Next on your ballotMinnesota House District 17A

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Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Minnesota Senate District 17 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Minnesota Senate District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Julie Kelzer and Glenn H Gruenhagen. Candidate information follows official McLeod County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Minnesota Senate District 17 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 McLeod 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 McLeod County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your McLeod County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Minnesota House District 17BJudge, Minnesota 1st Judicial District Court, Seat 1Judge, Minnesota 1st Judicial District Court, Seat 2See all 23 McLeod County races
Candidate profiles
Julie Kelzer, full profileGlenn H Gruenhagen, full profileOfficial Minnesota election office