KAXE contacted each candidate at least twice to invite them to participate in our Election Guide, using contact information submitted to the Secretary of State's Office.
Candidate responses have not been edited and are published exactly as submitted, including typos and formatting.
As necessary, our news team added contextual information clearly marked with an "editor's note" and in italics. We will make every effort to make note of inaccuracies if they come to our attention.
Please contact our news team at news@kaxe.org with questions or comments or to report any errors.
KAXE's Election Guide includes contested races in communities with at least 100 people. Visit our full list of who's running for office in Northern Minnesota to see who else will be on the ballot in November.
About this race
The Minnesota Legislature passes laws and sets the state budget. It is made up of 67 senators and 134 representatives.
State House District 11A includes all of Carlton County and portions of St. Louis and Pine counties. It also includes the cities of Carlton, Wrenshall, Cloquet, Cromwell, Barnum, Moose Lake and Sturgeon Lake.
Republican Rep. Jeff Dotseth, who is running for reelection, is the co-vice chair for the House's housing finance and policy committee. He was first elected in 2022.
The winner of the election will begin their two-year term in January.
Click the tabs below to learn more about the candidates
Incumbent
Party: Republican
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Website: chrisswansonforhouse.com
Party: DFL
Age on Election Day: 49
Community: Cloquet
Employment: Cloquet Senior High School, Social Studies Teacher
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
BS: Broad Field Social Studies, M.Ed.
Why are you running?
It's time to get good things done again.
Why should voters elect you?
I've been effective as a Cloquet City Councilor, helping with turning down the temperature, creating good relationships with people across the political spectrum, and working diligently to help where I can.
What are your top three priorities, if elected? Please describe specific policy goals.
Bringing Economic Development monies back into the northern part of the state.
Ensuring our Fire and EMS services are appropriately funded.
Working to make sure we can get ahead again rather than just getting by.
Name a public leader you admire and explain why.
Jim Oberstar was a good, smart, diligent representative. He maintained his integrity, could work across the aisle, but was absolutely committed to serving all of his constituents well. We need more of that these days.
What natural resources policies do you support?
Balancing the desires of economic development, our outdoor recreation opportunities, and the need to preserve protected wilderness areas is a delicate dance, but one that is essential. We have proven track records in the timber and mining industries when when backed by the best science and environmental standards. We can take our ATV and UTV rides, boat, fish, hunt, and hike, along with all the other things we enjoy up here without wrecking the future potential. Let's be smart about our use of water, our footprint on the land, and our impact on the wildlife that make this a wonderful place to live.
What policies do you support to address concerns of widespread fraud in state-run programs?
We need a strong enforcement and investigation mechanism to make sure fraud isn't happening with our state programs. Like most people in Minnesota, I'm disgusted bad actors have taken advantage of our generosity and good will. They need to be prosecuted and imprisoned. No excuse for that nonsense. Let's make sure there are controls in place, that the watchdogs are watching, and that a culture of excellence is what we're about. Funding and empowering the Office of Inspector General will be key going forward.
What policies would you champion to help alleviate growing property tax burdens on residents at the local government level?
Property taxes should be more predictable and affordable, especially for seniors, working families, and people on fixed incomes. We need stronger state support for cities, counties, and school districts so they don’t have to rely so heavily on property taxes to fund essential services.
We should also simplify property-tax relief programs and make sure seniors and low- and middle-income homeowners and renters can access them easily. Local governments should continue looking for savings through efficiency and shared services, but we shouldn’t balance budgets by cutting police, fire, roads, libraries, or other services people rely on.
We also need a fairer approach to local revenue that asks more from those who can best afford it instead of placing more pressure on homeowners.
Property taxes shouldn’t be the default solution whenever local governments need revenue. We need better tools, stronger state support, and targeted relief for Minnesotans feeling the greatest burden.
What does representative democracy mean to you?
Everything. It's our tradition, our history, our governmental system. It means everyone in our society has a place they know someone will listen and try to help, that the greatest good for the greatest number is what we're after, and that we can, as a society and through our representatives, agree to disagree with one another in a way that preserves the dignity of the other. It's really about how we want to be in order to secure a greater future for our people. It's everything.
Still have questions for the candidates? Contact information for all those who've filed to run for office can be found at candidates.sos.state.mn.us.
-
Contributed/Book covers—publisher websites; Tracy KampaChildren's librarian Tracy Kampa reviews new books by Sophie Blackall, Chelsea Lin Wallace, Steve Sheinkin and Meaghan McIsaac. -
The retired DNR forester gave a walking tour of his forest property as part of a Cass Soil and Water Conservation District forest management event. -
Plus: Aitkin's 68-year-old water tower is demolished; Demuth, Klobuchar will debate in the Brainerd lakes area; and we're partnered with ICTV to host school board forums.
-
Stella Mayerhoff/KAXE / Report for AmericaRetired DNR forester Gary Anderson gave a walking tour of his forest property as part of a Cass Soil and Water Conservation District habitat management event.
