Anoka-Hennepin voters oust incumbent school board member as St. Paul, other districts report

Voters in some of Minnesota's largest school districts were poised to elect new leaders Tuesday, including many in suburban races where political action committees spent record sums in campaigns dominated by social issues.

In the Anoka-Hennepin district, incumbent Erin Heers-McArdle lost her bid for a second term to newcomer Linda Hoekman. Heers-McArdle was endorsed by the teachers union, while Hoekman had the backing of the Minnesota Parents Alliance. Hoekman will represent District 1, which includes Anoka and parts of Andover and Coon Rapids.

In the District 2 race, which covers Blaine and parts of Coon Rapids, Zach Arco narrowly led Susan Witt in a race that was too close to call. Michelle Langenfeld beat Scott Simmons and Cyrus Wilson in the District 5 race, which includes Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park and parts of Fridley.

Debates over social issues such as equity initiatives and LGBTQ inclusion dominated Minnesota's suburban school board races. Candidates backed by progressive activists and teachers' unions campaigned in favor of those programs, while slates of conservative candidates endorsed by groups aligned with the parents' rights movement staked claims on the other side of the issue.

In St. Paul, where four seats are up for grabs and half of precincts had reported as of press time, newcomer Carlo Franco and incumbent Chauntyll Allen led the pack, while Erica Valliant and Yusef Carillo had the third and fourth most votes.

Incumbent Zuki Ellis, a former school board president, trailed Carillo as of 10 p.m. Tuesday.

In Roseville, a Holocaust conspiracist who raised concerns but did not launch a significant campaign had the fewest votes of seven candidates on the ballot with a little more than half of precincts reporting.

Staff writer Anthony Lonetree contributed to this report.