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U.S. House District 8
2026 Minnesota U.S. House — District 8 — General Election · November 3, 2026
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Last reviewed September 15, 2026Policy statements from campaign-controlled sources are labeled candidate positions; they are not independently presented as proven outcomes.
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0111;Trina Swanson;0111;U.S. Representative District 8;88;DFL;NOT REQUIRED;; ;;PO BOX 1063;DULUTH;MN;55810;2183208525;www.trinaforcongress.com;[email protected];;;
Certified August 18, 2026 primary nominee: Trina Swanson
Votes: 54413; Percent: 77.24%
The Minnesota State Canvassing Board certified the August 11, 2026 State Primary results on August 18, 2026.
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Turning 25 years of public service into opportunity at home.
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Turning 25 years of public service into opportunity at home.
Now, after 25 years of service around the world, she’s come home. Because the families she grew up with—the nurses, the carpenters, the millworkers, the miners, the teachers—deserve a representative who actually knows what their lives look like.
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Now, after 25 years of service around the world, she’s come home. Because the families she grew up with—the nurses, the carpenters, the millworkers, the miners, the teachers—deserve a representative who actually knows what their lives look like.
Trina Swanson didn’t grow up in politics. She grew up in Hermantown, Minnesota—in a house where her mother worked as a nurse and her father built things with his hands, first in construction, then at the paper mill. The kitchen table conversations weren’t about policy papers. They were about making ends meet, looking out for neighbors, and believing that if you worked hard enough, you could build a good life.
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Trina Swanson didn’t grow up in politics. She grew up in Hermantown, Minnesota—in a house where her mother worked as a nurse and her father built things with his hands, first in construction, then at the paper mill. The kitchen table conversations weren’t about policy papers. They were about making ends meet, looking out for neighbors, and believing that if you worked hard enough, you could build a good life.
Trina spent 25 years working across Republican and Democratic administrations to get things done. She believes in showing up, listening, and finding solutions together—because the problems facing the 8th District aren’t partisan. They’re personal.
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Trina spent 25 years working across Republican and Democratic administrations to get things done. She believes in showing up, listening, and finding solutions together—because the problems facing the 8th District aren’t partisan. They’re personal.
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Every position I take is grounded in the pillars that drive this campaign, practical solutions for the people of Minnesota’s 8th District. I am out in the district listening. I understand what people are facing and what’s at stake. I take it seriously, and I will carry that with me representing MN-08.
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Every position I take is grounded in the pillars that drive this campaign, practical solutions for the people of Minnesota’s 8th District. I am out in the district listening. I understand what people are facing and what’s at stake. I take it seriously, and I will carry that with me representing MN-08.
Basic health care is shrinking in northern and central Minnesota. A routine appointment turns into a day off work and a full tank of gas. A specialist means months of waiting. A 911 call doesn’t bring immediate help. Clinics cut services piece by piece until the building is still there, but the care is gone. Premiums keep climbing for farmers, small business owners, and people who buy coverage on their own. Meanwhile every increase lands on the kitchen tables where gas, grocery, and utility bills are stacking up.
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Basic health care is shrinking in northern and central Minnesota. A routine appointment turns into a day off work and a full tank of gas. A specialist means months of waiting. A 911 call doesn’t bring immediate help. Clinics cut services piece by piece until the building is still there, but the care is gone. Premiums keep climbing for farmers, small business owners, and people who buy coverage on their own. Meanwhile every increase lands on the kitchen tables where gas, grocery, and utility bills are stacking up.
Taconite, timber, and the people who show up every morning to do the hard work in the Iron Range helped build Minnesota. When people in the district talk about mining, they are not debating a policy position. They are talking about their grandfather’s legacy, a paycheck that pays the bills, a pension, and jobs that will allow their kids to stay on the Range. We choose to call Minnesota home because of the lakes we fish, the lands we hunt, the clean water we drink, the wild rice we harvest, and the woods we camp in. We want our future generations to enjoy this same land and clean water. Washington politicians act like you must pick one side or the other, as if a miner and a guide on the Gunflint cannot both care about the same place. People here know better because we live both sides of that reality every day.
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Taconite, timber, and the people who show up every morning to do the hard work in the Iron Range helped build Minnesota. When people in the district talk about mining, they are not debating a policy position. They are talking about their grandfather’s legacy, a paycheck that pays the bills, a pension, and jobs that will allow their kids to stay on the Range. We choose to call Minnesota home because of the lakes we fish, the lands we hunt, the clean water we drink, the wild rice we harvest, and the woods we camp in. We want our future generations to enjoy this same land and clean water. Washington politicians act like you must pick one side or the other, as if a miner and a guide on the Gunflint cannot both care about the same place. People here know better because we live both sides of that reality every day.
I will focus on the levers that actually move costs. We need antitrust laws enforced so a handful of companies can’t drive up the cost of food, fuel, and everyday essentials. This isn’t socialism. These are the kinds of systems Republicans used to understand that keep capitalism healthy. We need investment in new industries like clean energy, steel, and batteries to store renewable energy, industries that will create jobs that keep up with the cost of living. We need steady, predictable policies so families and small businesses can plan ahead, not react to chaos in Washington driven by partisan politics and corporate profiteering.
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I will focus on the levers that actually move costs. We need antitrust laws enforced so a handful of companies can’t drive up the cost of food, fuel, and everyday essentials. This isn’t socialism. These are the kinds of systems Republicans used to understand that keep capitalism healthy. We need investment in new industries like clean energy, steel, and batteries to store renewable energy, industries that will create jobs that keep up with the cost of living. We need steady, predictable policies so families and small businesses can plan ahead, not react to chaos in Washington driven by partisan politics and corporate profiteering.
Protect our wilderness
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Protect our wilderness
Like most Minnesotans, I reject the violence, cruelty, and chaos we have seen from immigration enforcement in recent years. After two decades at DHS, with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, I know we can secure our borders while upholding the rule of law that has defined this country for generations. We do not have to choose between security and our values.
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Like most Minnesotans, I reject the violence, cruelty, and chaos we have seen from immigration enforcement in recent years. After two decades at DHS, with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, I know we can secure our borders while upholding the rule of law that has defined this country for generations. We do not have to choose between security and our values.
Investing in Tribal Communities
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Investing in Tribal Communities
Agriculture in northern and central Minnesota is diverse, including dairy, soybeans, beef, hay, wild rice, small grains, specialty crops, and smaller family farms. I will fight for a farm bill that reflects that diversity and works for Minnesota, not only the largest producers in other parts of the country.
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Agriculture in northern and central Minnesota is diverse, including dairy, soybeans, beef, hay, wild rice, small grains, specialty crops, and smaller family farms. I will fight for a farm bill that reflects that diversity and works for Minnesota, not only the largest producers in other parts of the country.
Keeping care close means stabilizing hospitals and clinics so services stop disappearing. It means doctors and nurses that live here provide the care, not a revolving door of travelling staff. It means demystifying insurance rules that feel like a second job to navigate. Most importantly, affordable and accessible healthcare means universal healthcare. Care only works when every person can walk through the door without hesitation or financial fear. A diagnosis should not be your family’s financial death sentence.
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Keeping care close means stabilizing hospitals and clinics so services stop disappearing. It means doctors and nurses that live here provide the care, not a revolving door of travelling staff. It means demystifying insurance rules that feel like a second job to navigate. Most importantly, affordable and accessible healthcare means universal healthcare. Care only works when every person can walk through the door without hesitation or financial fear. A diagnosis should not be your family’s financial death sentence.
I support mining and miners. I will fight for investment and technology that keep these jobs union-strong while protecting our environment. I believe in science and the regulatory process. I will support environmentally safe copper-nickel mining when impartial scientists and engineers say it can be done safely. We need these minerals in our cell phones, EVs, and to build the clean energy grid of the future. We need to reduce reliance on other nations, but not by letting foreign corporations take these minerals and ship them overseas. Mining must benefit our communities, prioritize our workforce, and protect our environment. In the long-run, doing things the cheapest way becomes the most expensive way for local communities. Corporations must use the best technology available, even if it costs more.
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I support mining and miners. I will fight for investment and technology that keep these jobs union-strong while protecting our environment. I believe in science and the regulatory process. I will support environmentally safe copper-nickel mining when impartial scientists and engineers say it can be done safely. We need these minerals in our cell phones, EVs, and to build the clean energy grid of the future. We need to reduce reliance on other nations, but not by letting foreign corporations take these minerals and ship them overseas. Mining must benefit our communities, prioritize our workforce, and protect our environment. In the long-run, doing things the cheapest way becomes the most expensive way for local communities. Corporations must use the best technology available, even if it costs more.
Being a Representative means bringing resources back to Minnesota – investing in infrastructure, schools, special education, early childhood care and programs, and healthcare. Corporations shouldn’t reward CEOs with millions while they brag about paying no taxes and their workers are forced to rely on food stamps and Medicaid. A tax break on overtime doesn’t fix the problem. It proves it. You shouldn’t need to work overtime just to get by. Minnesotans deserve jobs close to home with livable wages, strong union protections, and stability.
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Being a Representative means bringing resources back to Minnesota – investing in infrastructure, schools, special education, early childhood care and programs, and healthcare. Corporations shouldn’t reward CEOs with millions while they brag about paying no taxes and their workers are forced to rely on food stamps and Medicaid. A tax break on overtime doesn’t fix the problem. It proves it. You shouldn’t need to work overtime just to get by. Minnesotans deserve jobs close to home with livable wages, strong union protections, and stability.
Protect the economy it supports
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Protect the economy it supports
Effective immigration policy starts with security. If we do not control our land, air, and sea borders, the system breaks down. However, what we are missing is capacity. We need the ability to vet people fairly and quickly. That means hiring more immigration judges and officers who make decisions on applications, expanding processing resources, and placing more trained experts overseas to screen applicants before they ever reach our borders. When people see a clear legal pathway and a system that works, they are far more likely to follow it. That strengthens security, supports industries like agriculture, construction, and hospitality, and helps stabilize costs for everyday essentials.
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Effective immigration policy starts with security. If we do not control our land, air, and sea borders, the system breaks down. However, what we are missing is capacity. We need the ability to vet people fairly and quickly. That means hiring more immigration judges and officers who make decisions on applications, expanding processing resources, and placing more trained experts overseas to screen applicants before they ever reach our borders. When people see a clear legal pathway and a system that works, they are far more likely to follow it. That strengthens security, supports industries like agriculture, construction, and hospitality, and helps stabilize costs for everyday essentials.
Minnesota’s 8th District is home to all seven sovereign Ojibwe Nations, who collectively represent over 45,000 tribal citizens. I am committed to upholding the federal trust responsibility and a direct government-to-government relationship with all Tribal Nations.
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Minnesota’s 8th District is home to all seven sovereign Ojibwe Nations, who collectively represent over 45,000 tribal citizens. I am committed to upholding the federal trust responsibility and a direct government-to-government relationship with all Tribal Nations.
Pete Stauber has had years to stand with Minnesota’s farmers, but when it counts, he chooses corporate interests over rural communities. Farmers deserve a Representative who will put family farms, local producers, and rural communities first.
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Pete Stauber has had years to stand with Minnesota’s farmers, but when it counts, he chooses corporate interests over rural communities. Farmers deserve a Representative who will put family farms, local producers, and rural communities first.
I will fight for universal healthcare. I will protect health insurance tax credits so 90,000 Minnesotans don’t see costs jump $177 a month, on average. I will fight to lower prescription prices and cap prices of life-saving medications. Lastly, healthcare decisions should be made between patients and their providers, not by judges and politicians. It is time for a Representative who fights to make sure Americans have the same affordable, high-quality healthcare as Congress has.
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I will fight for universal healthcare. I will protect health insurance tax credits so 90,000 Minnesotans don’t see costs jump $177 a month, on average. I will fight to lower prescription prices and cap prices of life-saving medications. Lastly, healthcare decisions should be made between patients and their providers, not by judges and politicians. It is time for a Representative who fights to make sure Americans have the same affordable, high-quality healthcare as Congress has.
The Boundary Waters is not a place on a map. It is a national treasure. It is where we paddle at sunrise, where outfitters make a living season by season, and where clean water drives a tourism economy that supports thousands of jobs. It is clean water, quiet woods, and a place people go to reset. It is part of a connected system of lakes, forests, and rivers that people depend on and enjoy each day.
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The Boundary Waters is not a place on a map. It is a national treasure. It is where we paddle at sunrise, where outfitters make a living season by season, and where clean water drives a tourism economy that supports thousands of jobs. It is clean water, quiet woods, and a place people go to reset. It is part of a connected system of lakes, forests, and rivers that people depend on and enjoy each day.
For undocumented immigrants already in the United States, we need a lawful and realistic approach. That means expanding vetting, bringing people into a known system, and focusing enforcement on real threats. Our priority should be violent criminals and those who pose a genuine risk to public safety, while respecting due process and using resources where they have the greatest impact.
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For undocumented immigrants already in the United States, we need a lawful and realistic approach. That means expanding vetting, bringing people into a known system, and focusing enforcement on real threats. Our priority should be violent criminals and those who pose a genuine risk to public safety, while respecting due process and using resources where they have the greatest impact.
For too long, Tribal Nations in the 8th District have been ignored by our current Member of Congress. Promises of engagement and consultation were broken, priorities disregarded, rights and resources put at risk, and Congressman Stauber led the Republican party’s opposition to Deb Haaland’s historic Cabinet nomination rather than listening or even talking to the Tribes in the District.
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For too long, Tribal Nations in the 8th District have been ignored by our current Member of Congress. Promises of engagement and consultation were broken, priorities disregarded, rights and resources put at risk, and Congressman Stauber led the Republican party’s opposition to Deb Haaland’s historic Cabinet nomination rather than listening or even talking to the Tribes in the District.
I will protect dairy farms and the milk economy with reliable milk testing, a strong animal-disease response, and a safety net that reflects today’s feed, fuel, and equipment costs. Farmers should be able to count on federal programs that respond to the real costs and risks they face.
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I will protect dairy farms and the milk economy with reliable milk testing, a strong animal-disease response, and a safety net that reflects today’s feed, fuel, and equipment costs. Farmers should be able to count on federal programs that respond to the real costs and risks they face.
I will protect the Boundary Waters. Decisions need to follow hydrology, geology, and long-term impact, not short-term pressure. We must not risk this unique, precious wilderness. We should invest in conservation that supports local jobs and keeps the clean-water economy strong. Protecting the BWCA is not about choosing scenery over livelihoods. It is about protecting a resource that people’s livelihoods depend on and making sure it is still here for the next generation.
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I will protect the Boundary Waters. Decisions need to follow hydrology, geology, and long-term impact, not short-term pressure. We must not risk this unique, precious wilderness. We should invest in conservation that supports local jobs and keeps the clean-water economy strong. Protecting the BWCA is not about choosing scenery over livelihoods. It is about protecting a resource that people’s livelihoods depend on and making sure it is still here for the next generation.
We absolutely need immigration reform. We need visas for the students studying at our great universities that may come up with the next cure. We must have seasonal visas for the critical workforce our farmers rely upon. We want to attract the greatest talent from around the world to continue to be a leader in development and technological advancement. We cannot do that without immigrants. We are a nation built by immigrants. We can both protect our border and uphold our values.
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We absolutely need immigration reform. We need visas for the students studying at our great universities that may come up with the next cure. We must have seasonal visas for the critical workforce our farmers rely upon. We want to attract the greatest talent from around the world to continue to be a leader in development and technological advancement. We cannot do that without immigrants. We are a nation built by immigrants. We can both protect our border and uphold our values.
I will meet regularly with each Nation, not only in times of crisis or for photo opportunities. Tribal leaders are the experts on the federal policies that affect their Nations, and I will consult directly with them on all matters impacting Tribal Nations.
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I will meet regularly with each Nation, not only in times of crisis or for photo opportunities. Tribal leaders are the experts on the federal policies that affect their Nations, and I will consult directly with them on all matters impacting Tribal Nations.
I will invest in local meat and dairy processing, so producers are not hauling animals and products hundreds of miles or waiting months for processing dates. I will also fight to restore local food purchasing programs so schools, hospitals, senior facilities, and food shelves can buy Minnesota-raised meat, milk, produce, and grains, including restoring USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Food for Schools funding. USDA offices must also stay staffed and accessible so farmers can get loans processed, conservation contracts approved, and help during disease outbreaks without waiting months.
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I will invest in local meat and dairy processing, so producers are not hauling animals and products hundreds of miles or waiting months for processing dates. I will also fight to restore local food purchasing programs so schools, hospitals, senior facilities, and food shelves can buy Minnesota-raised meat, milk, produce, and grains, including restoring USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Food for Schools funding. USDA offices must also stay staffed and accessible so farmers can get loans processed, conservation contracts approved, and help during disease outbreaks without waiting months.
Stauber’s plan allows a London-based company, controlled by a Chilean billionaire, and backed by Washington lobbyists, to extract Minnesota’s minerals for foreign profit. Current BWCA watershed mining proposals would rely heavily on automation, and outside consultants, limiting the direct benefits to local communities. Their plan is to ship the minerals to China for smelting, forcing Americans to buy back our own minerals WITH TARIFFS. This plan will not reduce American dependence on other countries for these critical minerals, and our BWCA may be permanently damaged by a company with a long record of noncompliance with environmental controls.
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Stauber’s plan allows a London-based company, controlled by a Chilean billionaire, and backed by Washington lobbyists, to extract Minnesota’s minerals for foreign profit. Current BWCA watershed mining proposals would rely heavily on automation, and outside consultants, limiting the direct benefits to local communities. Their plan is to ship the minerals to China for smelting, forcing Americans to buy back our own minerals WITH TARIFFS. This plan will not reduce American dependence on other countries for these critical minerals, and our BWCA may be permanently damaged by a company with a long record of noncompliance with environmental controls.
As a former federal official, I understand the federal budgeting process, and I know that supporting stable funding for Indian Country programs is crucial, including health care, schools, law enforcement, housing, broadband, infrastructure, and basic government services. I support the bipartisan Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act, because Tribal governments should not have essential services cut off every time Congress fails to pass a budget.
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As a former federal official, I understand the federal budgeting process, and I know that supporting stable funding for Indian Country programs is crucial, including health care, schools, law enforcement, housing, broadband, infrastructure, and basic government services. I support the bipartisan Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act, because Tribal governments should not have essential services cut off every time Congress fails to pass a budget.
Farmers deserve fair markets and the freedom to repair the equipment they own. I will fight corporate concentration and protect Right to Repair so farmers have more choices in meatpacking, fertilizer, seed, equipment, and repair services.
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Farmers deserve fair markets and the freedom to repair the equipment they own. I will fight corporate concentration and protect Right to Repair so farmers have more choices in meatpacking, fertilizer, seed, equipment, and repair services.
I also know that upholding treaty rights means protecting the clean water that sustains these resources, such as manoomin, fish, and wildlife. I will also support new opportunities for Tribal economic development, food sovereignty, broadband, and infrastructure.
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I also know that upholding treaty rights means protecting the clean water that sustains these resources, such as manoomin, fish, and wildlife. I will also support new opportunities for Tribal economic development, food sovereignty, broadband, and infrastructure.
Strong farms depend on strong rural communities. I will invest in the roads, bridges, broadband, electricity, rail service, and the Port of Duluth-Superior that northern and central Minnesota farmers rely on. And, I will support a legal, reliable, year-round agricultural workforce by fighting to fix our broken immigration system.
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Strong farms depend on strong rural communities. I will invest in the roads, bridges, broadband, electricity, rail service, and the Port of Duluth-Superior that northern and central Minnesota farmers rely on. And, I will support a legal, reliable, year-round agricultural workforce by fighting to fix our broken immigration system.
My work at the Department of Homeland Security included efforts to stop human trafficking, and in Congress, I will make Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Relatives, and Children a serious federal priority.
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My work at the Department of Homeland Security included efforts to stop human trafficking, and in Congress, I will make Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Relatives, and Children a serious federal priority.
I will make it possible for the next generation to stay on the farm by lowering health care costs, while fighting for universal health care, expanding beginning-farmer credits, and protecting family farm succession. Minnesota farmers deserve a Representative who listens to them, understands the challenges they face, and works to keep family farming strong for the next generation.
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I will make it possible for the next generation to stay on the farm by lowering health care costs, while fighting for universal health care, expanding beginning-farmer credits, and protecting family farm succession. Minnesota farmers deserve a Representative who listens to them, understands the challenges they face, and works to keep family farming strong for the next generation.
Tribal Nations deserve a Representative who listens, learns, and works in partnership with Tribal leaders on a government-to-government basis. That’s how I will serve Native Nations in the U.S. Congress.
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Tribal Nations deserve a Representative who listens, learns, and works in partnership with Tribal leaders on a government-to-government basis. That’s how I will serve Native Nations in the U.S. Congress.
Every young person deserves an affordable pathway—whether that’s college, trade school, or apprenticeship. Trina is committed to building education-to-career pipelines that keep talent in northern and central Minnesota and grow our communities.
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Every young person deserves an affordable pathway—whether that’s college, trade school, or apprenticeship. Trina is committed to building education-to-career pipelines that keep talent in northern and central Minnesota and grow our communities.
Make decisions based on science
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Make decisions based on science
I support permanent legal status for Dreamers who grew up here and contribute to our communities. An earned path to citizenship is both fair and practical.
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I support permanent legal status for Dreamers who grew up here and contribute to our communities. An earned path to citizenship is both fair and practical.
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Minnesota Secretary of State
Open Minnesota Secretary of StateTrina Swanson campaign
Open Trina Swanson campaignLink checked September 15, 2026.
Trina Swanson campaign
Open Trina Swanson campaignLink checked September 15, 2026.