All this week, we are taking a look at next week's election and some of the more noteworthy races.
In Minneapolis, all seats on the City Council are up for grabs. WCCO's Laura Oakes takes a look Behind the Ballot at the forces at play.
The big question is whether or not the council will become even more progressive than it already is, says reporter and coauthor of the Axios Twin Cities newsletter Torey Van Oot.
"Moderates who typically align with Mayor Jacob Fry right now often have a slim majority on many issues," says Van Oot. "But with a combination of open seats and incumbent challenges, progressives are trying to use those to gain some sway on the council."
Van Oot says the highest profile example of this is in Ward 8, where she says Council President, and ally of Mayor Jacob Frey, Andrea Jenkins is facing a real threat from challenger Soren Stevenson. Stevenson is an activist endorsed by both the DFL and the Democratic Socialists of America.
"This is going to be a really close race and this is one of those races that's going to cut to the heart of the issue of the Minneapolis City Council, kind of moderates versus progressives," she says.
Van Oot adds that she's also watching Ward 12, councilmember Andrew Johnson's seat.
Johnson is not running for reelection in a ward that includes the yet-to-be-decided new location of the Third Police Precinct police station, which was destroyed in the George Floyd riots.
Van Oot says Wards 8 and 9 surrounding 38th and Chicago where Floyd was murdered are also notable, considering public safety is a big issue this Election.
In the big picture, Van Oot says voter turnout will be key during a time when the power of the progressives can't be ignored.
"The current numbers will make it difficult for progressives to gain a veto proof majority on the council," Van Oot explains. "So, enough members on a lot of different issues override a veto by the mayor. But gaining even a seat or two kind of like long term could have broader implications for the politics of the city."
In Friday's Part Five of Behind the Ballot, WCCO's Mark Freie looks at the St. Paul sales tax increase ballot question. See all of WCCO's Behind the Ballot stories here.