Senate District 2 2026 Election Guide

Incumbent

Party: Republican

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.

Website: danrogersmn.com

Party: DFL

Age on Election Day: 65

Community: Guthrie

Employment: Retired teacher. I am still farming and do winter logging.

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

As a high school/middle school science teacher for 38 years I worked with thousands of students that encompassed a spectrum of abilities. Giving those students a science education that emphasized interaction with the natural world around them was always important. Working with people and working to make this world a better place go hand in hand.

Why are you running?

I want those that follow to have a better future. In terms of humanity that means to treat others with respect and dignity and to always work to give those who are less fortunate a better life. We need to ensure as well, that the organisms we coinhabit this planet with, may also sustain their lives.

Why should voters elect you?

If elected I will strive to bring to fruition a better Minnesota: A state in which healthcare is not a privilege but a right; A state in which our children can attend childcare that is affordable, safe and of high-quality; A state in which housing is available and affordable; And a state that safeguards our environment.

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

Priority number one: Affordable healthcare - all citizens of MN deserve healthcare that they can afford. I will work to ensure that this becomes a reality. Priority number two: Affordable childcare - childcare is infrastructure. Helping young families by providing affordable, safe and high quality childcare is as important as having good quality roads. Priority number three: Affordable housing - citizens of this state have a basic right to housing that is affordable. Working with cities and counties across the state we develop strategies to build the housing units we need.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Paul Wellstone was a public leader that epitomized a leader who cared. As senator he championed the environment, labor and health care. He worked for us all but especially for those who were disadvantaged.

What natural resources policies do you support?

I have been a farmer/logger for the majority of my life and have enjoyed the benefits of living in a portion of Minnesota that has many forests, lakes and rivers. Future generations will want these resources available so that they too can find employment, recreation, solitude and peace. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area is one such resource that should forever be preserved. Sustainable use of forests for wood fiber products simultaneously with maintaining habitats for native species of organisms is critical. Most importantly we need to ensure that our water resources are carefully managed so that our water is clean and safe for human use and that the opportunities for fishing, farming, industrial, commercial and residential uses can coexist. Mining of minerals and aggregates also needs to be carefully regulated so that the mining processes and ore handling don't threaten our other cherished natural resources.

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

Fraud in any form is wrong. When state money is being administered there needs to be internal controls to detect and prevent fraud, monitoring of operations and training for the staff that are overseeing programs.

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

Minnesota has a high quality of life. Taxes support much of those quality factors. Recent federal cuts to programs like SNAP are placing additional costs and manpower burdens on counties. Overall costs for construction, health care, fuel and labor are increasing which puts additional pressures on counties and cities to maintain amenities and needed infrastructure. Residents of our state currently have these options available: Property tax deferral program for senior citizens; regular homestead credit refund; and a program aimed at giving some veterans and their families relief on property taxes.

What does representative democracy mean to you?

Representative democracy allows for a system of government in which people through voting select fellow citizens to represent them. The task of these representatives is to advocate for the citizens that put them in that position.

Contributed

Party: United New Independence

Age on Election Day: 30

Community: District 2, Clearwater County

Employment: Independent Contractor / Conifer Transit

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

14 years of service in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as a cook coordinator. This experiences brings how state departments operate internally, what works and where the shortfalls are.

Obtained an associates degree from Institute of Production and Recording for Music Production and Engineering. This experience will help to handle different views, approaches and characters. This will help deal with short term deadlines and working on a project/bill you may not want to work on.

Why are you running?

I have lost faith that the state’s leadership and legislature will fix the problems they have created from unfunded programs, potential fraud, and lack of accountability. The 2 major parties focus on dividing voters and not uniting them. I will bring a new perspective to the legislature and call out harmful legislation that they may attempt to pass. I chose to run as an independent as the 2 parties have failed voters and i have no plans to fall down the 2 party lines. The Democrats and Republicans have gotten us to where we are today. Are you the voter satisfied with your candidates/party’s accomplishments in recent years?

Why should voters elect you?

This campaign offers transparency by informing voters of potential harmful legislation such as the “data center regulation” bill from 2025. Billionaires are given tax breaks by the MN legislature while taxes and fees go up on us. Minnesota operates for the profit of corporations at the expense of the working class. I will NEVER stay silent on corruption within our government regardless of party affiliation.

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

1. Repeal “data center regulation” bill from 2025

- data center bill gave a “sales tax exemption” to data centers for up to 35 years.

2. Lower income taxes / raise corporate tax rate / raise “gross premium tax”

- lower income taxes by 0.5% for working class.

- Raise corporate tax rate to 15% (currently 9.8%).

- Raise “gross premium tax” paid by insurance companies to 5.25% (currently 1.26%).

3. Artificial Intelligence Transparency Act

- Companies must place a disclaimer on building/website of its use of AI and what it is used for.

- Companies utilizing Artificial Intelligence must create a policy and training regarding AI safety for the employees.

- Require employers to give a disclaimer to employees on the use of AI within the company

- Prohibition of AI to determine an individual’s social score/public rating.

- Information deletion policy for AI accessing personal data.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Bernie Sanders. Senator Sanders has remained consistent throughout his political career while most politicians have flip flopped repeatedly. He has held the positions of strengthening workers rights, addressing wealth and income inequality, and ending wars.

What natural resources policies do you support?

None. The Minnesota DNR has repeatedly failed in carrying out its duties of “natural resource conservation,” from not paying Overtime correctly to employees to not following land acquisition laws to not recording timber harvests on WMA land to Shade Tree bonding grants not properly awarded, Outdoor Heritage Fund Grants were not properly documented and significant issues with the launch of the DNR’s new electronic licensing system. All these issues were covered in multiple audits or performance evaluations by the Office of the Legislative Auditor in 2025 and 2026.

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

- State expenditure oversight board with only members of the public elected to it and no state officials can hold a seat on this board.

- put requirements into the bills for new programs to get access to state funding.

- do not establish new programs without proper funding.

- provide actual proof of fraud claims

- public yearly meeting on tax dollar spending efficiency by state department/program.

- More strict whistleblower protection laws.

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

- Change the formula for how property tax is calculated.

What does representative democracy mean to you?

An individual who is elected to represent a specific area of people and to better the livelihood of their constituents through bills, policy and sharing of information.