REGIONAL—The special election to fill the District 3A House seat left vacant by the recent death of David Dill will offer voters their pick from among six candidates—and it’s already offered up a couple of surprises.

Eric Johnson, the International Falls businessman who had challenged Dill in 2014 as a Republican, filed for office late last Wednesday as a DFLer. He joins Rob Ecklund as the other I-Falls-based candidate seeking the DFL nod, and Johnson’s entry into the race will undoubtedly complicate Ecklund’s bid. Ecklund, a steelworker who works for Boise, has racked up two key union endorsements in recent days, including the District 11 Steelworkers and the Iron Range Building Trades.

Two candidates from Ely have also joined the fray, including former Ely Mayor Roger Skraba, who has run for the Legislature at least twice before, once as a DFLer, once as an Independence Party candidate, and now as a Republican. That decision will leave Skraba focused on the Dec. 8 general election.

Fellow Elyite and current city council member Heidi Omerza meanwhile will be focused on the Sept. 29 primary that will determine the DFL nominee in the Democratic-leaning district. That primary battle sets up a geographical tussle across the vast House district that hugs Minnesota’s northern border from Grand Portage nearly to Baudette.

Bill Hansen, a longtime canoe outfitter, small business advocate, and DFL activist is based in Cook County and he’s expected to draw the bulk of his voter support in the eastern and southern portions of the district. Omerza is likely to show her strength in the Ely and Babbitt area, while Ecklund and Johnson will compete for votes primarily from the northern and western parts of the district.

The last entry in the race is Kelsey Johnson, who filed as an Independent on the final day. Kelsey Johnson most recently worked as chief lobbyist in St. Paul for the Grocery Manufacturers of Minnesota. According to her announcement, she’s a lifelong resident of St. Louis County, although her lobbyist disclosure form filed in June with the state’s Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board lists an apartment near Loring Park in Minneapolis.

The race promises plenty of behind-the-scenes battles, such as the ongoing fight within the DFL about the location of a potential endorsing convention. DFLers aligned with Ecklund and Sen. Tom Bakk are reportedly pushing for a convention on the western end, such as International Falls or Cook, while other candidates and their supporters are pushing for a more central location, such as Ely. Given the vast road travel distances involved for delegates, the location of an endorsing convention could be key to the final outcome— since only those delegates who show up are allowed to vote.

Hansen has twice received the DFL party endorsement for the seat, both times challenging Dill; his campaign chairman, Nancy Powers of Ely, said he’d abide by the endorsement as long as the process was fair.

The Timberjay will provide a Question and Answer opportunity for DFL candidates in our Sept. 18 edition, in advance of the primary. The Timberjay will provide a similar opportunity for candidates ahead of the Dec. 8 special election.