Good morning and welcome to primary day! In this edition of the AM newsletter, you will find all you need for today’s primary election, from key races to watch, to tips on voting safely, live results and special coverage from MPR News. 

More on the primaries, after weather and the latest COVID-19 numbers. 

Favorable primary day weather. You can enjoy sunshine wherever you’re in Minnesota today, with nice, not-too-hot temperatures and dry air. Highs today will be in the 80s across the state, and lows at night in the lower 50s to the lower 60s. Find the latest forecast on Updraft.

Minnesota unveiled new guidance for long-term care facilities. State health officials are increasingly concerned over reports of despondent residents in long-term care. That’s one of the reasons they’re loosening restrictions on visitors to long-term care with new guidance that would open the door wider. Outside visitation can be expanded, based on factors like COVID-19 case numbers in the surrounding community and the number of confirmed and active cases among residents and staff. 

Here are the latest coronavirus statistics in Minnesota:

• 61,516 cases confirmed (625 new) via 1,172,118 tests

• 1,660 deaths (three new)

• 5,606 cases requiring hospitalization

• 320 people remain hospitalized; 159 in intensive care

• 54,364 patients no longer needing isolation

Your guide to Minnesota's primary day.  Today’s primary election is the first election where Minnesotans cast their ballots in the midst of the pandemic. On that note: State Secretary of State Steve Simon is asking Minnesotans to be patient, as many races are expected to be called later than the previous elections given the amount of absentee ballots this time. 

• What’s on your ballot? MPR News and the League of Women Voters of Minnesota have built a voter's guide where you can enter your address, political party preference and find out what's on your ticket.
  

• Key races to watch: DFL match in 5th District, GOP match in 7th District. I n the 5th Congressional District, DFL-endorsed incumbent Rep. Ilhan Omar is challenged by first-time candidate Antone Melton-Meaux, who outraised Omar -- $3.2 million from April to June, several times more than Omar’s $471,000. 

  In western Minnesota’s 7th District, four Republicans are on the primary ballot, including GOP-endorsed Michelle Fischbach, a former lieutenant governor and state senator and David Hughes, who ran twice against incumbent DFL Rep. Collin Peterson.

• Don’t forget to wear a mask -- even while waiting outside to vote. Before stepping out your door to go to the polls, be sure to read this: Voting in person 101, pandemic edition. From what’s required for you to enter the polling station, to tips to minimize the risk of getting the virus while in the building, here are answers to some key questions on voting safely on primary day. 

• Find the latest election news and live results. While we may not know the final results of all the races until later this week, you can still find out who’s leading in races in your jurisdiction and results of some races that are called on primary night. Also on MPR News.org, find the latest news from the primaries from our journalists at polling places throughout primary day. 

• Stay tuned for special coverage tonight on radio. At 9 p.m. on MPR News, host Tom Crann and political editor Mike Mulcahy will deliver the highlights and analysis of the primaries, candidate and election official interviews and more. Listen to the hour long special coverage tonight on radio or via our live stream. 

• Want to share your voting experience with us? Or have a question about the primaries and/or the November election? Use a hashtag, #TellMPR, to share your story and photo with us! Not on Twitter? You can also share your experience via this form.

— Jiwon Choi, MPR News | @ChoiGEE1