Who is running for State House District 8B in Minnesota in 2026?

Shawn Savela (R), Liish Kozlowski (D)

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 8B

State House District 8B — 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

AShawn SavelaRepublican

Candidate for State Representative, District 8B (Republican).

LifeAFamilyAReligious libertyA2nd AmendmentALimited gov’tAFiscalA

Non-incumbent Republican; no Minnesota legislative voting record. MCCL questionnaire: 11/11 pro-life answers. iVoterGuide rates Leans Conservative. Evidence pass: marriage, religiousLiberty, secondAmendment, limitedGov, fiscal graded from iVoterGuide questionnaire/endorsement listing and campaign site.

Life: MCCL 2026 questionnaire: 11 pro-life, 0 pro-choice answers (all pro-life).
Family: Answered iVoterGuide questionnaire: Strongly Agree that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.
Religious liberty: Answered iVoterGuide questionnaire: Strongly Disagree that individuals and businesses should be required to provide services that violate their moral or religious beliefs.
2nd Amendment: Campaign site: 'strongly supports the Second Amendment'; iVoterGuide: 'We need constitutional carry in Minnesota.'
Limited gov’t: iVoterGuide answers (all conservative): free enterprise essential, eliminate U.S. Department of Education, healthcare option C, opposes medical database. Campaign site supports 'reducing unnecessary regulations.'
Fiscal: Campaign site: 'Lower Taxes & Reduce Red Tape' and keep taxes 'as low as possible'; iVoterGuide: opposes the minimum wage, wants to eliminate property taxes.

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

Ballotpedia

FLiish KozlowskiDemocratic

Incumbent state representative, District 8B; DFL.

LifeFFamilyFReligious libertyC2nd AmendmentFLimited gov’tFFiscalF

Voted against the conservative position on every recorded abortion, gender-identity/girls'-sports, gun-control, paid-leave/ERA and 2023-24 tax roll call scored. Did not answer MCCL's questionnaire. NRA-PVF grade F. Women Winning endorsed. iVoterGuide rates Verified Liberal.

Life: Voted no on HF 25 (2025 pregnancy resource center grants) and the 2026 motion to take up HF 5084 (preborn right-to-life constitutional amendment); voted yes on HF 1 (2023 PRO Act, abortion as a fundamental right) and SF 2995 (2023 health omnibus repealing statutory abortion restrictions) (0 of 4 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).
Family: Voted no 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); voted yes on HF 146 (2023 'trans refuge' law), HF 16 (2023 conversion-therapy ban) and SF 37 (2024 Equal Rights Amendment) (0 of 7 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).
Religious liberty: No specific position found; DFL; iVoterGuide rates Verified Liberal.
2nd Amendment: Voted yes on SF 2909 (2023 public safety omnibus with red-flag law and expanded background checks), HF 2609 (2024 binary-trigger ban/straw-purchase penalties), the 2026 motion to advance HF 3433 (assault-weapons possession ban) and the 2026 motion to take up HF 5140 (assault-weapons/magazine regulation) (0 of 4 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).
Limited gov’t: Voted yes on SF 37 (2024 Equal Rights Amendment) and HF 2 (2023 paid family/medical leave mandate) (0 of 2 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).
Fiscal: Voted yes on HF 1938 (2023 omnibus tax bill) and HF 5247 (2024 tax and state government omnibus) (0 of 2 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).

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

Ballotpedia

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