For just the third time in three decades, voters will decide who to elect in an open 10th Judicial District seat. It starts Tuesday with paring down three candidates to two.

Mack Guptil, Forest Lake, Ben Lacy, Stillwater, and Rebecca Waxse, Stillwater, are candidates in an Aug. 11, 2026, primary election for a 10th Judicial District seat. (Courtesy of the candidates)

Mack Guptil, Ben Lacy and Rebecca Waxse are running in the primary election. Two of them will compete in the Nov. 3 general election to replace Judge Greg Galler, who decided not to seek re-election after 26 years on the district court bench. Galler, who was appointed by Gov. Jesse Ventura and elected to the six-year seat four times, will continue serving until his successor is elected, sworn in and takes the seat in early January.

UPDATE: Rebecca Waxse, Ben Lacy advance to November ballot

Open seat judicial elections are rare statewide. Most judges are appointed by a governor after a seat opens midterm because of a retirement, resignation or death. In the 10th Judicial District, voters have selected two judges through an open seat election over the past three decades: Susan Miles in 1996 and Tad Jude in 2010.

Contested races are also scarce, as ousting a sitting judge has proven to be a difficult thing to do. None of the 19 judges up for re-election this year in the 10th Judicial District faces a challenger.

The judicial district has 45 judges and roughly 365 staff overseeing nearly 120,000 cases per year. The district encompasses Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington and Wright counties.

Minnesota judicial elections have been nonpartisan for more than a century, meaning no party affiliation is listed next to a candidate’s name on the ballot.

Here are the three candidates for the open judicial seat, which is chambered in Stillwater.

Mack Guptil

Age, city: 49, Forest Lake

Education: I attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and graduated in 2000 with a double major in political science and economics. I attended law school at Hamline University School of Law and graduated in 2003.

Relevant experience: I have been a general practice lawyer for over 22 years. My major practice areas are criminal law, family law, child protection law and civil commitment law. I have litigated civil cases and countless criminal cases to verdict. I have seen good jurists effectively administer justice over the last 20 years. I am in the courtroom nearly every day it is open. My hope is to take these observations of good judges and mesh that with my life and work experience.

Mack Guptil (Courtesy of the candidate)

Why people should vote for you: I believe I am qualified to be a District Court Judge. I have significant experience litigating cases throughout the district. In that experience, I have worked with probation agents, social workers, judges, opposing counsel, guardians ad litem and clients. I have learned about and been exposed to my clients’ life experiences and backgrounds. These experiences have allowed me to understand and work with individuals from different backgrounds and positions. I am able to empathize with individuals but also rationally apply the law to the facts. I have a calm and measured demeanor which should produce a fair judicial temperament.

Two top challenges for the district court judicial system and how you would address them: Judges currently face a changing environment with the emergence of artificial intelligence and the risk of its unrestrained and unchecked use. This may distort the perception of effectiveness or the learned professionalism of the legal branch. To that end, judges must be patient and calm in addressing these issues while remaining legally effective. Additionally, individuals who come before the criminal justice system tend to have some connection to mental health and chemical dependency issues. Quality programming and case coordination are necessary to mitigate episodic occurrences. An appropriate jurist can identify an individual’s ability to utilize those services when accessible and then evaluate whether that individual has mitigated the future risk of exposure to the criminal justice system. To that end, accessibility of programming and coordination remain an issue.

Campaign website: mackguptilforjudge.com

Ben Lacy

Age, city: 38, Stillwater

Education: University of Minnesota Morris BA, International Relations; Hamline University Business School, MBA, Concentration in Conflict Management; Mitchell Hamline School of Law, JD, cum laude, Certificate in Advocacy and Problem Solving

Relevant experience: Tubman Managing Attorney and Staff Attorney; Assistant Washington County Attorney; Law Clerk for the Honorable Judge B. William Ekstrum; Law Clerk for the Washington County Attorney’s Office; Century College Continuing Education and Customized Training Instructor; National Institute for Strangulation Prevention — Legal Advisory Committee Member

Ben Lacy (Courtesy of the candidate)

Why people should vote for you: I want to serve my community by using my unique perspective and experiences to provide a well-rounded, impartial and just courtroom experience. I believe that I approach the world differently than most people by seeing and framing issues in ways that others do not. I want to provide this perspective to the bench. I also am someone who has shaped systems in every place that I have worked, that skill is another I want to bring to the bench because our systems are good, but they are going to change quickly with AI. I believe I can provide thoughtful perspective to help bridge the judiciary into the future while keeping the humanity in a growing robotic world.

Two top challenges for the district court judicial system and how you would address them: Mental health is a crisis in our courts and I will work to address it and see that the cases are treated fairly and with respect. Hopefully moving toward a specialty court where the issue can be addressed in the future. We are in the middle of a technological revolution that will test the abilities of our courts to adapt. Artificial intelligence will need to be addressed in the coming years in the judiciary, however, artificial intelligence cannot ever replace humanity in the courts.

Campaign website: lacyforjudge.com

Rebecca Waxse

Age, city: 48, Stillwater

Education: University of Kansas, 1997-2000, Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology; Hamline University Law School, 2003-2006, Juris Doctorate

Relevant experience: I have nearly 20 years of experience practicing law, primarily in criminal defense and family law. I began my career as a public defender in Anoka County, representing juveniles and handling child protection matters. I later represented adults charged with felony offenses in Isanti County before transferring my public defender practice to Washington County in 2010, where I continue to serve today. In addition to my public defender work, I have maintained a private practice focused on criminal defense and family law. My criminal practice ranges from misdemeanors to serious felonies, including complex cases involving DNA evidence. I consult on DNA cases across the entire 10th Judicial District and the state of Minnesota. My family law practice includes marital dissolutions, child custody and parenting-time disputes and post-divorce matters. Throughout my career, I have represented thousands of clients and have extensive courtroom experience, including contested hearings, motion practice, court trials, jury trials and sentencings.

Rebecca Waxse (Courtesy of the candidate)

Why people should vote for you: People should vote for me because I have the experience, judgment and temperament necessary to serve as a judge. After nearly 20 years in Minnesota courtrooms, I understand that judges must know and follow the law, listen carefully, make thoughtful decisions, and treat every person with dignity and respect. A judge’s approach directly impacts public trust and respect for the law. Throughout my career, I have represented people from many different backgrounds and circumstances, often during the most difficult moments of their lives. That experience has taught me that every case is unique and that courtroom decisions have a significant impact on people’s lives. If elected, I will bring extensive courtroom experience, a strong understanding of the law and a commitment to fairness, integrity, and respect. I will approach every case with an open mind and ensure that everyone receives a fair process.

Two top challenges for the district court judicial system and how you would address them: The two top challenges are to address mental health and chemical dependency issues present across the court system and to maintain public trust in the judiciary. I have represented thousands of individuals whose involvement with the justice system was complicated by untreated mental illness and/or chemical dependency. While these issues do not excuse criminal conduct, access to appropriate treatment can reduce recidivism and enhance public safety. As a judge, I would appropriately balance the use of available treatment resources, diversion programs and specialty courts while still prioritizing accountability and public safety. Maintaining public trust is equally important. Courts can be intimidating and difficult to understand. I would maintain a professional, patient and respectful courtroom, explain proceedings and decisions in plain language and ensure every person is heard and treated with dignity. Even when someone disagrees with an outcome, they should have confidence that the process was fair.

Campaign website: waxseforjudge.com