Leech Lake primary candidates gain more than 50 percent of the vote, declared winners

The Leech Lake Election Board certified the results of the 2022 Primary Election held Tuesday.

Both candidates on these ballots received more than 50 percent of the vote and are therefore declared the winner. Leech Lake District I, which had no incumbent, will be represented by Kyle Fairbanks.

Fairbanks received 129 votes, which was more than 52 percent of the total.

Current District II Representative Steve White gained nearly 84 percent of the vote within the district with 115 votes.

Leech Lake Communications Director Michael Chosa writes that the Secretary-Treasurer position was not included on the primary ballots because there is only one certified candidate for the position.

The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe ruled that the incumbent Secretary-Treasurer is not a certified candidate due to a prior felony conviction. 

The Leech Lake General Election will be on Tuesday, June 14, and will have a referendum question regarding blood quantum from the MCT, in addition to contests for local council, housing board and school board.