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.
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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 Senate District 6 includes portions of Cass, Crow Wing and Itasca counties, including the cities of Remer, Baxter, Brainerd, Breezy Point, Crosby, Crosslake, Cuyuna, Deerwood, Emily, Fifty Lakes, Garrison, Ironton, Jenkins, Manhattan Beach, Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Riverton, Trommald, Cohasset, Grand Rapids and La Prairie.
Republican Sen. Keri Heintzeman is running for reelection after winning a special election for the seat in 2025.
The winner of the election will begin their four-year term in January.
Click the tabs below to learn more about the candidates
Incumbent
Website: HeintzemanForSenate.com
Party: Republican
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Website: slipy4senate.com
Party: Dual Endorsed by the Forward Independence Party
Age on Election Day: 52
Community: Breezy Point
Employment: Slipy Consulting Partner
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
I am not a politician. I am a community organizer that cares about the needs of the community.
Why are you running?
I am running to be the change. Politics has been too polarized and common sense has been left out of the conversations. I want to collaborate and deliver for this district and set the example for the rest of the state to follow.
Why should voters elect you?
I am an independent voice for the people. When I am in St. Paul, I will be looking at what is best for the district and the people of the district, not towing the party line. People want their elected leaders to be accountable to the people not the party. Servant leaders, not self-serving!
What are your top three priorities, if elected? Please describe specific policy goals.
Economic issues are on the forefront of everyone’s minds in this district, from small businesses to our school teachers. Prices keep going up faster than our wages and everyone is struggling. Meanwhile local governments, hit with the same increased cost of goods are forced to levy higher taxes to support both mandated and necessary services to our community. Everything comes back to working people struggling to provide for their families and live the American dream of home ownership and a 40 hour work week. I’m going to fight for our district and the people who live here. I will make sure St. Paul gives us the resources we need to thrive without assuming that regulation is the answer to every problem.
Name a public leader you admire and explain why.
Desmond Tutu. It's not enough to keep pulling folks out of the river, at some point we must go up the river and find out why people keep falling in. He was focused on Root Causes rather than just keeping the status quo. As your State Senator, I will focus on the root cause of every socio-economic policy, and deliver solutions.
What natural resources policies do you support?
Protecting Ecosystems-Policies must prioritize the defense of vital habitats, wetlands, and water quality against degradation.
Sustainable management-Science-based approaches ensure that renewable resources support future generations without facing overuse.
Local and Regional Value- Effective frameworks balance responsible resource use with community input and economic resilience.
What policies do you support to address concerns of widespread fraud in state-run programs?
No monies will be awarded to any agency without strict guidelines and guardrails in place. Anyone signing or allowing fraudulent applications to proceed through will be prosecuted along with the person who applied. Audits, not just paper, physical audits of business and persons receiving stated monies.
What policies would you champion to help alleviate growing property tax burdens on residents at the local government level?
Return Surpluses- Mandate that state budget surpluses be refunded to taxpayers rather than absorbed by new government programs.
Halt New Taxes- Oppose legislative efforts to expand sales taxes to essential services or impose wealth and excise fees.
Curb Spending Growth- Align local and state budget increases closer to the rate of inflation to relieve surging property tax pressures.
What does representative democracy mean to you?
It means that I answer to you, the people of SD6, not the party. It means being accessible, accountable and willing to hear from everyone. I will be a representative that will stand up for what is right, even if I stand alone. It means your voice matters! I am working to earn your trust to be your voice in St. Paul. Someone who listens, works with others, tells the truth and never forgets who sent me to St. Paul.
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.
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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.
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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.
