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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Minnesota State Senate District 4

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 candidate forum for this race recorded on September 22, 2026.

Click a candidate icon to find more information about the candidate. To compare two candidates, click the "compare" button. To start over, click a candidate icon.

  • Candidate picture

    Rob Kupec
    (DFL)

  • Candidate picture

    Austin Peterson
    (Rep)

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)

Campaign Website http://kupec4mnsenate.com
Facebook (Full URL) http://www.facebook.com/Kupec4MN
Campaign Email kupec4mnsenate@gmail.com
If re-elected, I will continue the work I began in my first term to combat fraud, lower costs, and make life more affordable for Minnesotans. I led the effort to establish an independent Office of Inspector General to oversee how the state distributes funds; protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring public money is spent wisely. More safeguards are still needed, and I will keep working to enact them. I will also keep pushing back against federal policies, like tariffs, that raise prices for Minnesota families, farmers, and businesses, and work to shield our state from the chaos in Washington. Finally, I will champion policies that help Minnesotans afford their lives, including our historic Child Tax Credit, which makes raising a family more
At the state level, we must lower costs, empower businesses, and support agriculture, the backbone of our local economy. Inflation is driven largely by federal actions on tariffs and high oil prices. At the state level we must avoid adding to the burden on families and businesses. We can grow our economy by opening new markets, expanding permitting reform, and supporting education and research that helps Minnesota businesses bring new products to market.
We’ve made progress in addressing racial and ethnic disparities, but there is more to do. I’ll keep investing in early education so every child gets a strong start, and in affordable child care. I’m proud of investments we’ve made in workforce training and career development to connect people to critical sectors like healthcare and tech.

I’ll also continue fighting for affordable, quality health care for every Minnesotan. Federal cuts threaten coverage and could deepen existing disparities.
Equality is a basic tenet of our country, yet at times the law does not provide that. I would support putting the question of the Equal Rights Amendment to Minnesotans at the ballot box. Minnesotans deserve to have a voice, and this proposal would stand to create stronger legal resources against discrimination and violations of equal protection.
I will continue to push for battery and electronic waste recycling. This will keep toxic material out of landfills, extending their life and protecting ground water. It will also compensate counties for their expenses in recycling these items, lowering the burden on property taxes.

I will also continue funding for the removal of lead water pipes and protecting our drinking water.
I helped deliver $300 million in public safety aid to Minnesota cities, counties, and Tribal governments to use for local needs. In our district, one example is how Barnesville used this funding to support purchasing a new ambulance. I’ll keep pursuing aid that empowers local communities and puts their needs first.

We’ve also invested in law enforcement training on crisis response, use of force, conflict management, and autism. I’ll continue supporting that training to strengthen public safety.
Already, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent by outside groups to influence how you vote in this race. For a state senate race that is unacceptable. Local elections should be decided by local residents, not outside PACs with donors who have never stepped foot in the district.
My priorities are affordability, accountability, and growing Greater Minnesota. Families and businesses are being asked to do more with less while state government continues to spend more. I want to lower taxes, reduce unnecessary regulation, and make Minnesota a place where businesses want to invest and create jobs. We also need to restore trust by taking fraud seriously and holding government accountable for how taxpayer dollars are spent. Finally, I’ll fight for rural communities by focusing on housing, childcare, healthcare, infrastructure, and workforce needs so our communities can continue to grow.
Minnesota needs to become a more competitive place to live, work, and do business. I’ll work to reduce taxes and unnecessary regulations, support small businesses and agriculture, and invest in infrastructure and workforce development. State government cannot control inflation, but it can stop making it worse. We can lower the cost of living by controlling state spending, reducing tax burdens, and addressing the rising costs of housing, energy, childcare, and healthcare.
I believe every Minnesotan deserves a fair opportunity to succeed. I would support policies that improve access to quality education, affordable housing, healthcare, workforce training, and good-paying jobs in communities where those opportunities are lacking. I also believe state programs should be measured by results. Our focus should be on removing barriers, expanding opportunity, and ensuring every person has a chance to build a successful future.
I support equal rights and equal protection under the law for every Minnesotan. However, I would not support the proposed amendment as written. It goes beyond simply guaranteeing equal rights and includes language involving abortion, gender identity, and other issues that deserve their own public debate. Constitutional amendments should be clear, focused, and written so voters understand exactly what they are being asked to approve.
Clean air and clean water are part of what makes Minnesota a great place to live. I would support common-sense legislation that protects our drinking water, lakes, rivers, and groundwater. We also need to work with farmers, landowners, businesses, and local communities rather than simply adding more mandates. Protecting our natural resources and supporting a strong economy should go hand in hand.
I believe people deserve to feel safe in their homes, schools, businesses, and communities. I will support our law enforcement officers and make sure they have the resources they need to do their jobs. We also need to hold violent and repeat offenders accountable, while doing a better job addressing mental health, addiction, and other issues that contribute to crime.
I believe in protecting political speech while making sure voters know who is behind it. I would support strong transparency and disclosure requirements for political spending, with the same rules applying to everyone regardless of party or candidate. Outside groups will participate in elections, but voters should be able to clearly see who is funding the message and make their own judgment.

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.