Parent-Backed Candidates Win Most Minnesota Races
Families in districts with new board members should watch how those seats shape curriculum and education choices.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Homeschooling
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Minnesota Parents Alliance says candidates it endorsed won in 55% of school districts covered by its 2026 voter guide, based on unofficial results reported after the Nov. 3, 2026 election. The group's PAC backed candidates in more than 50 districts statewide, with wins in Brainerd, Forest Lake, Lakeville and Elk River and losses in Hastings and Rochester.
Why it matters
School board seats set local decisions on curriculum, budgets and policy that shape daily life for Minnesota families, including those who homeschool or use alternative education options. The results show how parent-focused slates performed across a range of districts, though the figures come from the group itself and remain unofficial.
Minnesota Parents Alliance says its endorsed candidates won in 55% of districts in its 2026 voter guide, based on unofficial results. In Brainerd, Mike Belz's Forest Lake counterpart DJ Dondelinger led with 10,610 votes for one of three seats, while Curt Rebelein Jr., chair of the Forest Lake board, did not win reelection.
The players
Minnesota Parents Alliance
A Minnesota parent-advocacy group whose PAC endorses school board candidates and publishes an annual voter guide.
Minnesota Secretary of State
The state office that administers and publishes official Minnesota election results.
The details
The Minnesota Parents Alliance PAC endorsed candidates in more than 50 school districts across the state and reported its results on X on Wednesday morning. The figures draw on unofficial Minnesota Secretary of State and district election results rather than certified counts. In Lakeville, Carly Anderson, Laura Fangel, Brian Thompson and Angie Skavnak won the four available seats, while in Elk River Mindy Freiberg defeated challenger Sam Carley for reelection.
Timeline
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Election night results showed MPA-endorsed candidates winning seats in several districts.
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026: The Minnesota Parents Alliance posted its 55% victory claim on X.
The Home Front
School board races in Minnesota are increasingly organized around parent-advocacy slates such as those published in the Minnesota Parents Alliance's annual voter guide. The 2026 results add one data point to that pattern, though the group's self-reported win rate does not show whether similar effects appear across the state's full set of districts.
If you have school-age children in a Minnesota district, check whether your board's new members are listed in your district's official election results on the Minnesota Secretary of State website. Families considering homeschooling or alternative options should review their district's board meeting schedule to follow policy decisions as new members take office.
The takeaway
School board seats decide local rules that touch families across Minnesota, so checking certified results once they are published is worth the effort. Keep your district's board meeting dates on your calendar to see how new members act on education policy.
Further reading
For more on how families navigate education choices outside traditional districts, see Homeschooling in our Minnesota education coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Alpha News MN.
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