Minnesota and North Dakota Voter's Guide

Forum Communications Co., in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Minnesota and of North Dakota, is providing this voter guide to help keep you informed ahead of the 2024 election.

  • Learn where candidates running for office in your community stand on the issues.
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Voter Guide

Minnesota State Senate District 48

What your state legislature does affects many facets of your life—the taxes you pay, the highways on which you drive, public schools, the state-supported colleges and universities you or your children might attend, the state parks that provide recreation for you and your family, social programs, funding for the judicial system.Senate - “Upper chamber” with 67 districts (redistricting takes place every 10 years following the census). Senators typically serve 4 year terms.Watch a forum for this race, recorded on September 17, 2026.

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  • Candidate picture

    Julia Coleman
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Dan Kessler
    (DFL)

Biographical Information

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (750 characters)

What will you do to support a vibrant economy across Minnesota and to address inflation? (500 character)

What legislation, if any, would you support to address racial or ethnic disparities in Minnesota? (500 characters)

Do you support the adoption of a ballot issue to add the Equal Rights Amendment into the Minnesota State Constitution - why or why not? (500 characters)

What legislation, if any, would you support to protect clean air and water in Minnesota? (500 characters)

What legislation, if any, would you support to meet the need for safe communities? (500 characters)

What changes to legislation would you support to reduce the influence of big money in elections? (500 characters)

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My top three priorities are affordability, accountability, and safe, strong public schools. First, I’ll work to lower costs for families, especially health insurance, prescription drugs, child care, and housing. Second, I’ll take a zero-tolerance approach to fraud by strengthening oversight, protecting taxpayer dollars, and holding criminals accountable. Third, I’ll fight for safe, fully funded public schools where students can learn without fear and teachers have the resources they need to help every child succeed.
Minnesota should be a top-five state to start and grow a business. I’ll support a pro-growth agenda that lowers barriers to entrepreneurship and investment, streamlines permitting, expands housing, and strengthens our workforce. State government can’t control inflation, but we can lower costs that hit families and businesses hardest, including health care, child care, housing, and taxes, while making Minnesota more competitive for investment and job creation.
Every Minnesotan should have a fair opportunity to build a good life. I’ll support policies that address barriers to quality education, homeownership, health care, and economic opportunity wherever disparities persist. I believe the best approach is to focus on measurable outcomes: strong schools, pathways to good-paying jobs and business ownership, affordable housing and health care, and equal treatment under the law.
Yes. Voters should be able to decide whether we enshrine equal protections under the law in our state constitution. We’ve seen that rights which depend on which party controls the legislature or how courts interpret statute are not secure.
Clean air and safe drinking water are basic responsibilities of government. I’ll support protecting Minnesota’s lakes, rivers, and groundwater from pollutants, while investing in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. We should prevent pollution before taxpayers are left paying to clean it up, hold polluters accountable, and work with farmers, businesses, and communities on practical solutions that protect our natural resources for the next generation.
Everyone deserves to feel safe at home, at school, and in their neighborhood. I’ll support well-trained law enforcement and first responders, stronger mental health and crisis-response resources, and practical measures to prevent gun violence and keep guns away from people who pose a danger to themselves or others. Public safety also requires action: when our communities face threats, elected leaders should work across differences, show up, and solve problems rather than simply talk about them.
Elections should be decided by voters, not whoever can spend the most money. I support strong transparency requirements so Minnesotans can see who is funding campaigns and independent political spending, rigorous enforcement of campaign finance laws, and strengthening Minnesota’s public campaign financing system so candidates can run competitive campaigns without relying on large donors. Voters should always be able to follow the money behind political advertising.
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The League of Women Voters of Minnesota and North Dakota crafted the questions sent to the candidates in the Spring of 2024. They reached out to candidates based on contact information in their public candidate filings. Candidates with email addresses were invited and reminded with emails. Candidates with only mailing addresses were sent a letter. Candidates with phone numbers received a phone call as well.

Candidate responses are published as they responded and have not been edited, except when responses were longer than the given character limit. In those cases, the responses are truncated.

VOTE411 is brought to you by the League of Women Voters Education Fund and League of Women Voters of Minnesota Education Fund. The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any political party or candidate for office.