Polls are open today for the DFL primary in the race for the Senate District 59 seat, which represents the University of Minnesota area.

The winner will likely go on to win the general election on Jan. 10 and become the first new voice for the area in the state Senate in almost 30 years âÄî the district, which stretches from Cedar-Riverside to north Minneapolis, is typically a DFL stronghold.

Voters will choose who among the five DFL candidates will square off against Republican candidate Ben Schwanke. Kari Dziedzic, Peter Wagenius, Paul Ostrow, Mohamud Noor and Jacob Frey are on the DFL ticket.

Polling places are scattered across the University area: Coffman Union, Van Cleve Park (901 15th Ave. SE), Grace University Lutheran Church (324 Harvard St. SE), First Congregational Church of Minnesota (500 Eighth Ave. SE) and Marcy Open School (415 Fourth Ave. SE), among others. A full list is available on the city of MinneapolisâÄô website.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.