Senate District 7 2026 Election Guide

Contributed

Incumbent

Website: robfarnsworth.org

Party: Republican

Age on Election Day: 48

Community: Hibbing

Employment: MN State Senate and Hibbing School District

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

I am currently in my first term in the Minnesota State Senate. I have been a teacher for over 25 years. I am also a licensed real estate agent in Hibbing. In the Senate, I serve on the Education Finance, Higher Education, and Transportation committees. I am also board share of the IRRR.

Why are you running?

I am running to continue to fight for the values we all share in the Northland. We all saw the damage done by the DFL trifecta in 23 and 24, that included higher taxes, tab fees, and mandate on our schools and businesses. We cannot go back to that, but must move forward as a more business friendly state that does not burden our schools, counties, and cities with unfunded mandates.

Why should voters elect you?

My experience in the Senate demonstrates that I have kept my word to fight for a lower cost of living, capital improvements in our region, and flexibility for our schools. In addition, I have worked across the party lines for the Good of our region.

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

I would like to see true permitting reform that would allow our current mines as well as a proposed mines to get on track for job creation in our region. I would like to see reform in education by reducing mandates on our school districts, but also addressing the grad standards that are not preparing many of our students for the life they will live beyond high school. We also need to address the cost of living issues, and the way we can do that at the state level is through tax relief and other financial relief such as car tab and boat registration fees. This should have included returning the $18 billion surplus to the taxpayers in 2023, but that did not happen and I will work to return future surplus to the taxpayers.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Historically, I admire the impact Abraham Lincoln had on the nation and the determination he had to keep the country together. Today, I admire the professionalism with which Marco Rubio conducts his business as Secretary of State.

What natural resources policies do you support?

I support expanding our mining industry do not only include taconite, but non-ferrous mining as well. In addition, I support pursuing the new helium industry that is developing in our state. This will create a tax base, jobs, and overall economic development in our region.

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

I have supported the creation of the new Office of Inspector General, as well as other policies, such as full repayment by those convicted of fraud and extending the statute of limitations. In addition, we need to change the policy that the DFL trifecta changed in 2023 regarding the confirmation process for commissioners. Commissioners who do not do their job and allow fraud to go on should be held accountable and removed by the Senate.

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

The best thing we can do to alleviate property tax burdens is to remove the numerous mandates imposed upon our counties and cities by the state. Particularly, during the DFL trifecta, numerous mandates were put on our local units of government, which is forcing them to raise taxes in order to pay for it. We need to either repeal the mandates or allow counties and cities to opt out.

What does representative democracy mean to you?

It means that voters elect representatives to make legislative decisions that best reflects the values of the district. Legislators should always consider their district when making these decisions and do the best they can to represent their constituents.

Contributed

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Emily Law - Flom Designs and Photo

Website: kimforsd7.com 

Party: DFL

Age on Election Day: 64

Community: Hibbing, Minnesota

Employment: Minnesota North College - Business Manager

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

I am Northland rooted. I’m a proud native raised in a working-class union family and a diverse immigrant community built on shared values. Thirty years ago, my husband Paul and I chose to raise our daughter in Hibbing.

A first-generation college graduate of Hibbing Community College and the University of Minnesota Duluth, I’ve spent nearly 28 years serving Minnesota’s public higher education system as an internal auditor and business manager. I'm a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner.

I have served on the Hibbing Fire Civil Service Commission, the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools, the Boys & Girls Club, and other local organizations. In my third term on the Hibbing School Board and as a member of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, I bring experience, transparency, and a commitment to serving the Northland. I’m ready to be your State Senator and be a strong voice for our communities.

Why are you running?

I’m running to be a strong voice for the Northland in St. Paul and to ensure that our communities have the representation they deserve. I’m running so that the people here have a seat at the table.

As a proud Iron Range native raised in a hardworking union family, I learned the values of integrity, respect, hard work, and showing up for neighbors. I live in this community and I understand the challenges that families face, from stretching a paycheck to accessing the services they rely on. Throughout my career in public service and local leadership, I have worked to make government accountable, responsive to the people, and overall more efficient.

Our area needs a State Senator who puts people over politics, who works collaboratively, who actually delivers results that strengthen northern Minnesota, and who moves the Northland and its families forward.

Why should voters elect you?

I humbly believe that the experience and skills I bring to the table are exactly what Minnesotans need in our state legislature, now more than ever. I’m an accountant, fraud examiner, and school board director with experience in ensuring public dollars work for the people.

I’m a collaborative problem solver. As your senator, I’ll deliver results. I’ll bring people together to work toward solutions, leveraging the expertise of the people here. Together, we’ll work for things that matter to our region including strong public schools, affordable healthcare, good-paying jobs, lower costs, and safe communities.

I believe in transparent, accountable governance that works for the people. I have experience as a local elected official, currently serving on the Hibbing School Board, on the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, and as a Minnesota School Board Association delegate.

It would be an honor and privilege to serve as your State Senator.

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

Trust and integrity in government and getting money out of politics are woven into the fabric of nearly every voter conversation. People want a government they can trust and a lawmaker who puts people first. I’m listening and my priorities are aligned with what constituents say. We'll fight for:

- Healthcare: Affordable high-quality physical and behavioral healthcare services right here in greater Minnesota, including affordable prescription drugs.

- Public Education: Fully funded public education. This includes general education, career and technical education, and special education and related opportunities. In supporting public education, we need to ensure that costs don't fall on the backs of local taxpayers.

- Strong Communities: Supporting small businesses, EMS, and affordable childcare, senior services, and housing.

I prioritize people over politics. I believe zip code should never define or limit opportunity. I will fight to ensure the people of the Northland receive the resources we deserve.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

I admire everyone in the Northland who works hard each and every day to make our communities the best they can be.

The two public servants I most admire were my late mother and father, John and Florence “Charlie” Kotonias. Raised in hard-working immigrant families on the Iron Range, they instilled in me the values I carry every day.

My mom was a self-taught business manager who served the Chisholm schools for 38+ years. My dad worked in sales, traveling throughout northern MN. He also devoted his time and talents as a Knight of Columbus, always leading with a heart for giving back to the community, especially to those in need.

They worked hard, stood up for what they believed in, helped those in need, and worked across differences for the greater good.

That is who they raised me to be, and that is how I will work for you.

What natural resources policies do you support?

In northern Minnesota, we can have both a strong economy and a healthy environment.

Our natural resources support our way of life, our livelihoods, and our communities.

Our natural resources make the Northland strong.

Mining is a major economic driver and should continue to be. At the same time, we can and must protect our people, water, and land.

This means when projects move forward they should do so through rigorous, transparent processes grounded in sound science, with meaningful public input and independent evaluation. We need standards that protect workers and the environment. We need to have all stakeholders at the table.

The people of northern Minnesota - not big money or corporate interests - must have the strongest voice in decisions about our future.

As your State Senator, I will fight for responsible economic development and make sure the people of the Northland get a good deal, every time.

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

The misuse of $1 of public funds is $1 too much.

Minnesota needs a CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner in our legislature. I’m exactly that.

I bring decades of experience as an internal auditor and business manager in the Minnesota State College system. I serve on a public school board. In each role, I’ve worked to address fraud, strengthen controls, and ensure accountability.

I’ll fight for stronger whistleblower protections, rigorous grant administration, systems integration, protection of vulnerable adults from financial exploitation, and laws that prevent kickbacks and improper financial incentives.

Unlike my opponent, I’ll vote for transparency. Elected officials shouldn’t use NDAs to hide business from the public.

Government shouldn’t operate in silos. The OLA, OIG, the State Auditor, BCA, prosecutors and other oversight bodies must effectively coordinate their efforts, while preserving their independence.

Minnesotans deserve to know their hard-earned dollars are protected. They deserve a government they can trust.

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

Using a multi-faceted approach, I’ll champion policies that reduce property taxes.

Short term, I’ll work for direct taxpayer relief through expansion of the homestead market value credit and renters’ credit. I’ll also propose a task force to study the 1970s “Minnesota Miracle” to determine whether an updated version could reduce increased reliance on local property taxes to fund essential services.

Our government must provide necessary services, including education, healthcare, and infrastructure, but we must not place undue burden on property taxpayers.

I’ll prioritize tax relief for working and middle-class Minnesotans before giving tax breaks to the wealthiest.

We need to ensure taxpayers are getting the greatest value from every dollar. Increased transparency, effective oversight, regular audits, and community input can help local governments control costs and make responsible decisions about levies and spending.

My goal is straightforward: provide meaningful property-tax relief while protecting the essential services our communities depend on.

What does representative democracy mean to you?

Quoting Abraham Lincoln, I believe representative democracy means government “of the people, by the people, for the people.”

I believe an elected official’s first responsibility and obligation is to the people. An elected official should be responsive to and accessible by the people.

Serving on the Hibbing School Board, I've learned that public service means listening, studying issues, asking hard questions, being willing to have difficult conversations, and weighing various perspectives. At times it requires making difficult decisions. It means always doing what you believe is right for the greater good and being accountable to the public.

As your State Senator, my job will be to listen to the people, understand local challenges, represent your voices, and work to make decisions that best serve our communities.

As your senator, my vote will belong to you, the people, above party or any other special interest. That, I believe, is representative democracy.