Lake Superior Zoo Finalists Named for Mayoral Race

The Duluth zoo has narrowed its animal candidate field to a snapping turtle and a red fox.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Wildlife

Lake Superior Zoo Finalists Named for Mayoral Race

Live Poll

Do you believe animal-themed elections are an effective way to teach children the importance of voting?

Lake Superior Zoo has advanced two finalists, Nester the snapping turtle and Marian the red fox, to the final round of its animal mayoral election. The race aims to teach children about the democratic process while highlighting species at the zoo.

Why it matters

The initiative encourages local children to engage with the voting process in a fun environment. By featuring these animals, the zoo works to educate the public on conservation efforts for species that often receive less attention.

In the primary round, Marian the red fox received 313 votes and Nester the snapping turtle earned 212 votes out of nearly 1,000 total ballots cast. Marian has been in the care of the Lake Superior Zoo for two years.

The players

Lake Superior Zoo

This is an accredited zoological park in Duluth that focuses on animal care and public education.

Harbor City International School

This is a local educational institution whose students participated by designing promotional posters for the animal candidates.

The details

Students from Harbor City International School created campaign posters for the candidates, while zookeepers selected the original five contestants to spotlight lesser-known animals. Residents can vote for their favorite candidate either online or at the zoo entrance booth.

Voting for the zoo mayor closes on Nov 10.
The winning mayoral candidate's inauguration occurs in December.
Future zoo mayoral elections will occur every two years.

Culture Shift

This election reflects a broader movement to increase civic literacy among youth by gamifying the democratic process through local institutions. By turning animal advocacy into a formal election, the zoo aligns itself with national trends focused on community-based education.

Residents can actively participate in the race by casting ballots online or visiting the voting booth at the zoo entrance. This allows families a hands-on way to introduce children to election cycles while supporting local conservation education.

The takeaway

The zoo plans to host these elections on a biennial basis to maintain ongoing interest in its conservation mission. This ensures that younger visitors will have recurring opportunities to participate in the mock political process.