Who is running for State House District 5A in Minnesota in 2026?

Dan S. Mitchell (D), Krista Knudsen (R)

When is the Minnesota 2026 general election?

Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Minnesota › Races › State House District 5A

State House District 5A — Minnesota 2026

2 candidates on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot (official Minnesota Secretary of State files, as of October 29, 2026). Grades reflect each candidate's public record on life, family, religious liberty, the Second Amendment, limited government and fiscal responsibility.

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Candidates

DDan S. MitchellDemocratic

Candidate for State Representative, District 5A (DFL).

LifeDFamilyDReligious libertyC2nd AmendmentDLimited gov’tDFiscalD

Non-incumbent DFL; no Minnesota legislative voting record. Did not answer MCCL's questionnaire. iVoterGuide rates Liberal.

Life: No specific position found; DFL; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.
Family: No specific position found; DFL; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.
Religious liberty: No specific position found; DFL; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.
2nd Amendment: No specific position found; DFL; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.
Limited gov’t: No specific position found; DFL; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.
Fiscal: No specific position found; DFL; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.

Sources: [1]

Ballotpedia

AKrista KnudsenRepublican

Incumbent state representative, District 5A; Republican.

LifeAFamilyAReligious libertyB2nd AmendmentALimited gov’tAFiscalA

Voted the conservative way on every recorded abortion, gender-identity/girls'-sports, gun-control, paid-leave/ERA and 2023-24 tax roll call scored. MCCL questionnaire: 11/11 pro-life answers. NRA-PVF grade A (endorsed). iVoterGuide rates Verified Conservative.

Life: Voted no on HF 1 (2023 PRO Act, abortion as a fundamental right) and SF 2995 (2023 health omnibus repealing statutory abortion restrictions); voted yes on HF 25 (2025 pregnancy resource center grants) and the 2026 motion to take up HF 5084 (preborn right-to-life constitutional amendment) (4 of 4 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).
Family: Voted no on HF 146 (2023 'trans refuge' law), HF 16 (2023 conversion-therapy ban) and SF 37 (2024 Equal Rights Amendment); voted yes on HF 12 (2025 girls' sports bill), the 2026 motion to take HF 12 (girls' sports) from the table, the 2026 motion to take HF 1233 (women's athletics exemption) from the table and the 2026 motion to take up HF 2685 (sex-based athletic teams) (7 of 7 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).
Religious liberty: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Verified Conservative.
2nd Amendment: Voted no on SF 2909 (2023 public safety omnibus with red-flag law and expanded background checks), HF 2609 (2024 binary-trigger ban/straw-purchase penalties), HF 4300 (2024 firearm safe-storage mandate), HF 601 (2024 lost/stolen firearm reporting), the 2026 motion to advance HF 3433 (assault-weapons possession ban) and the 2026 motion to take up HF 5140 (assault-weapons/magazine regulation) (6 of 6 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).
Limited gov’t: Voted no on SF 37 (2024 Equal Rights Amendment) and HF 2 (2023 paid family/medical leave mandate) (2 of 2 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).
Fiscal: Voted no on HF 1938 (2023 omnibus tax bill) (1 of 1 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Ballotpedia

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