One candidate is tracked for Judge, Minnesota 5th Judicial District Court, Seat 8, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Paul J. Gunderson. Candidate information follows official Rock County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Paul J. Gunderson 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 5th Judicial District covers Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock and Watonwan counties; 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.
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. One name is on the ballot for this seat.
Minnesota › Rock County › Judge, Minnesota 5th Judicial District Court, Seat 8
Nonpartisan
Paul J. Gunderson is a judge of the Minnesota 5th Judicial District Court. Appointed to the Nicollet County District Court March 4, 2025, by Governor Tim Walz, per the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Previously an assistant Brown County attorney and an attorney at Blethen Berens and Berens, Rodenberg & O'Connor, per the Minnesota Judicial Branch. No campaign website was found as of September 25, 2026.
Who is running for Judge, Minnesota 5th Judicial District Court, Seat 8 in 2026?
One candidate is tracked for Judge, Minnesota 5th Judicial District Court, Seat 8, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Paul J. Gunderson. Candidate information follows official Rock County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Judge, Minnesota 5th Judicial District Court, Seat 8 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 Rock 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.
Candidate roster from official Rock 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 Rock County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
17 tracked races in Rock County, Minnesota. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.