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 1

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.The Greater Grand Forks LWV is holding a forum for this race on September 13, 2026, at 7:00 pm at the East Grand Forks City Council Chamber.

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  • Candidate picture

    Mark Johnson
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Bjorn Solberg
    (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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-Rural healthcare and childcare: protect and strengthen the services families need close to home and address the workforce shortages that threaten them. -Affordability and accountability: lower unnecessary costs, cut waste and fraud, and protect investments that work. I’ll hold the federal and state government accountable—no matter the party. -Rural economic growth (Localization of systems): support family farms, local food and agricultural processing, small businesses, manufacturing, and infrastructure so more value STAYS in Minnesota communities.

I’ll have a simple approach: cut what doesn’t work/isn’t necessary and INVEST in needed programs.
Revising unfunded mandates, INVESTING in local programs as well as targeted workforce development. I would support family farms and strengthen LOCAL marketing abilities--as well as for manufacturing and other small businesses. To address inflation, the state government should avoid adding unnecessary costs and regulations, pursue efficiencies in our systems, and target investments that increase supply and productivity. Measure costs AND results. LOCALIZATION of our systems to recirculate money.
I would support legislation with measurable outcomes that target disparities, but raises EVERYONE up: improve access to healthcare, mental-health care, childcare, housing, and quality education; strengthen culturally responsive services; and improve collection and public reporting of data. Policy should address barriers, while ensuring rural, tribal and urban communities have a meaningful voice in designing solutions to their own local problems.
Yes. I support giving Minnesotans the opportunity to vote on an Equal Rights Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution. Equal protection under the law should be a basic constitutional principle. It should be clearly written and sensible. I believe voters--not politicians--should have the final say on a constitutional amendment. Other major decisions should also regularly be on the general ballot too.
Clean water is, and will soon especially be, a VITAL resource soon. I would support strong protections for clean air and water (including science-based standards) PFAS bans, corporate financial accountability upfront, and funding for drinking-water and wastewater infrastructure. Minnesota should protect watersheds, lakes, and groundwater. BUT economic development and environmental protection should work TOGETHER. I am endorsed by Save the Boundary Waters.
Happy communities are safe communities. Besides what’s been mentioned, I'd support reliable state funding for local law enforcement, rural emergency services, and first responders. Revise mental-health crisis responses, substance-use treatment and violence-prevention efforts. SUPPORT VICTIMS, hold repeat offenders accountable, and revise our laws and/or punishments to keep nonviolent people OUT of jails. I want police going after traffickers, child molesters, and violent criminals, not speeders.
Redefine “corporation” to having their same rights as now minus having financial political giving abilities. The last 3 months before an election should each have their own financial report. The goal should be a system where voters can clearly see WHO is funding political activity and WHERE spending goes. There should be a cap on campaign spending and limited PAC involvement. And MANDATORY debates/forums in each district.
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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.