House District 6B 2026 Election Guide

Contributed

Website: nickyhardy.com

Party: DFL

Age on Election Day: 40

Community: Pequot Lakes

Employment: Kelly Education, Substitute Teacher

Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.

Education:

B.A. - Double Major in Biology and Chemistry, Minor in Psychology; Minnesota State University Moorhead

Ph.D. - Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience; University of Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha, NE)

Post Doc - Department of Chemistry; Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)

Service Roles:

Pequot Lakes Community Library - Board Member and Volunteer

Community Action of Pequot Lakes - Board Member and Volunteer

Crow Wing County Master Gardeners - Volunteer

American Association of University Women - Volunteer

Why are you running?

I am running to bring people together. For as long as I can remember, Minnesota has been pretty divided. Republican vs. Democrat, Metro vs. Rural, hot dish vs. casserole (just kidding). Those divisions don't benefit any of us. I grew up in rural Minnesotan, have lived in big cities and small towns in red, blue, and swing states, and chose to return to rural MN to raise my family. My goal simple: find ways to bring Minnesotans together.

I want to move past partisanship so we can get things done. It wasn't that long ago that bipartisanship was common. More than anything, I want us to move past the wedge issues that divide us and distract us from the work that actually needs to happen. I want to show up, do good work, and leave knowing that I helped make Minnesota a more united, better place.

Why should voters elect you?

"We all do better when we all do better." - Sen. Paul Wellstone

My campaign puts people first because solving long-term problems requires unity and collaboration. I won't pretend to have every answer; as a scientist, I know that is improbable. However, my strengths are in asking questions, seeking out experts, and troubleshooting when faced with a tough problem. Science also taught me that collaboration is often required to achieve great things, even with people who may be difficult or disagreeable. We need to work together to get things done because stalemates serve no one. Additionally, as a volunteer, I have developed a love for service and doing good work for the benefit of others. So as a legislator, I want to bring those same skills - thoughtfulness, collaboration, service, and problem-solving - so rural Minnesota has an opportunity to flourish and grow.

What are your top three priorities, if elected? Please describe specific policy goals.

My top priorities focus on improving rural economics.

1. Affordability - Rural communities need affordable homes and real career pathways that help get people into those homes. We also need to take a hard look at how we can help small businesses get off the ground and flourish.

2. Healthcare - Minnesotans deserve to have access to healthcare that is not tied to their job. Too many people are staying in positions they don't love because they can't risk losing corporate coverage. And small businesses struggle to compete without the ability to offer benefits, and many farmers go uninsured. Single-payer coverage would ensure every Minnesotan has access to healthcare AND the freedom to pursue new opportunities

3. Education - Education from PreK through higher education is essential. A well-educated community supports a diverse economy, attracts new opportunities, and can help rural areas thrive.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

I have been fortunate to know many admirable leaders, and the common thread is their commitment to service. Former State Representative John Ward has continued to serve his community as a school board member and as a mentor. Former State Senator Carrie Ruud continues to leave her mark as a volunteer with Ideal Community Service Organization. Former Pequot Lakes mayor Nancy Adams is a volunteer extraordinaire, and has given her time volunteering with the library and serving on the Pequot Lakes Community Action and the Friends of the Library boards. Mayor Tyler Gardener and Chief of Police Mike Davis make Pequot Lakes a little more special, especially for families that would appreciate a little help during the Holiday season with Operation Grizwold.

The leaders I most admire most are the ones who serve in their official roles and then find ways to keep serving long after the spotlight fades.

What natural resources policies do you support?

“Only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught, and the last river poisoned will you realize you cannot eat money.” - unknown

I support natural resource policies that protect Minnesota's lands and waters for future generations while balancing our economic need for responsible land and water use. Our people and businesses need clear and achievable objectives for conservation and development, including permitting processes that are timely and grounded in science.

I support strong regulations to prevent pollution and contamination and accountability for those who cause harm. Minnesota's natural resources are the foundation of our outdoor economy and our way of life. Protecting our lands and waters is essential to Minnesota's long-term prosperity.

What policies do you support to address concerns of widespread fraud in state-run programs?

We tackle fraud through improved transparency, accountability, and oversight.

1. Transparency - Right now, the dollar amount of fraud people believe exists often depends on the news they consume. No level of fraud is acceptable, but exaggerating it doesn't help us fix the problem. With more transparent processes for how state and federal funds are appropriated and distributed, Minnesotans can have a better understanding of where the money goes and why.

2. Accountability - When fraud occurs, the consequences should be impactful. Strong accountability measures help prevent repeat failures and deter future attempts at fraud.

3. Oversight - Expanded auditing capabilities catch fraud early and prevent large-scale loss. Oversight also requires streamlining so agencies have clear roles and won't balk because of confusion over who is responsible for investigating red flags.

What policies would you champion to help alleviate growing property tax burdens on residents at the local government level? 

The best way to relieve growing property tax burdens is to ensure state mandates come with state funding. Many rural communities cannot afford unfunded mandates, including the most well-intentioned ones.

For example, universal school lunch is an excellent policy that ensures that students are fed, but much of its costs were left to school districts (and local taxpayers) instead of the general fund, which leaves some schools at a disadvantage compared to districts with stronger tax bases. Likewise, a statewide health insurance pool for all school employees would shift the costs from the local district to the state and improve financial equity between districts. Revisiting how we fund education could stabilize school budgets, improve equity, and transfer tax burdens from local residents to the state fund.

State mandates need to come with state funding, no matter if it is human services, elections, environmental regulations, public safety, or something else.

What does representative democracy mean to you?

In a representative democracy, people choose leaders to act on their behalf rather than voting on every bill themselves, which would be time consuming and cumbersome. Thus, the people of the district are tasked with choosing representatives that reflect their collective values and can be trusted to vote on the people's behalf. The votes cast by the representative should reflect the will of the district, or be clearly explained when they do not. But more than anything, the representative that is elected must commit to maintaining open lines of communication that allow for real dialogue (town halls, forums) with the people, even when it is uncomfortable, because that is how we get past our challenges, heal the partisan divide, and grow together within our communities.

Incumbent

Website: JoshHeintzeman.com

Party: Republican

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.