Who is running for State Senate District 35 in Minnesota in 2026?

Angela Nelson (D), Jim Abeler (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 Senate District 35

State Senate District 35 — 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.

See this race on your own ballot — with your county, city and school races.
Build my ballot →
 Download the iPhone app

Candidates

DAngela NelsonDemocratic

Candidate for State Senator, District 35 (DFL).

LifeFFamilyDReligious libertyC2nd AmendmentFLimited gov’tDFiscalD

Non-incumbent DFL; no legislative voting record in the scored roll calls. Did not respond to MCCL's questionnaire; NRA-PVF grade F; Women Winning endorsed; EMILY's List endorsed. Party default applied for marriage/gender, religious liberty, limited government, and fiscal. iVoterGuide rates Liberal.

Life: Endorsed by Women Winning (pro-choice PAC) and EMILY's List (pro-choice PAC) in 2026; did not respond to MCCL's questionnaire.
Family: No specific position found; DFL; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.
Religious liberty: No specific position found; DFL; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.
2nd Amendment: NRA-PVF 2026 grade F.
Limited gov’t: No specific position found; DFL; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.
Fiscal: No specific position found; DFL; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.

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

Ballotpedia

AJim AbelerRepublican

Incumbent state senator, Senate District 35; Republican.

LifeAFamilyAReligious libertyB2nd AmendmentALimited gov’tBFiscalA

Incumbent Republican; voted the conservative way on scored roll calls: pro-life 2/2, marriage/gender 2/2, Second Amendment 3/3, fiscal 2/2. MCCL questionnaire: 11 pro-life of 11 answered; NRA-PVF grade A (NRA-PVF Endorsed). Party default applied for religious liberty and limited government. iVoterGuide rates Leans Conservative.

Life: Voted the conservative way on 2 of 2 recorded votes (100%). Conservative: voted against the 2023 PRO Act (HF 1) and the 2023 health bill repealing abortion restrictions (SF 2995).
Family: Voted the conservative way on 2 of 2 recorded votes (100%). Conservative: voted against the 2023 trans refuge law (HF 146) and the 2023 conversion-therapy ban (HF 16).
Religious liberty: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Leans Conservative.
2nd Amendment: Voted the conservative way on 3 of 3 recorded votes (100%). Conservative: voted against the 2023 public safety bill with red-flag/background-check provisions (SF 2909), the 2024 binary-trigger/straw-purchase bill (HF 2609), and the 2026 assault-weapons sales ban package (SF 4067).
Limited gov’t: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Leans Conservative.
Fiscal: Voted the conservative way on 2 of 2 recorded votes (100%). Conservative: voted against the 2023 omnibus tax bill (HF 1938) and the 2024 tax omnibus (HF 5247).

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

Ballotpedia

More Minnesota 2026 races