Who is running for State Senate District 36 in Minnesota in 2026?

Heidi Heino (R), Heather Gustafson (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 Senate District 36

State Senate District 36 — 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

BHeidi HeinoRepublican

Candidate for State Senator, District 36 (Republican).

LifeAFamilyBReligious libertyB2nd AmendmentBLimited gov’tBFiscalB

Non-incumbent Republican; no legislative voting record in the scored roll calls. MCCL questionnaire: 11 pro-life of 11 answered. Party default applied for marriage/gender, religious liberty, Second Amendment, limited government, and fiscal. iVoterGuide rates Conservative.

Life: MCCL 2026 questionnaire: 11 of 11 answered questions given the pro-life answer (all pro-life answers).
Family: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Conservative.
Religious liberty: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Conservative.
2nd Amendment: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Conservative.
Limited gov’t: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Conservative.
Fiscal: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Conservative.

Sources: [1] [2]

Ballotpedia

FHeather GustafsonDemocratic

Incumbent state senator, Senate District 36; DFL.

LifeFFamilyFReligious libertyC2nd AmendmentFLimited gov’tFFiscalF

Incumbent DFL; voted the conservative way on scored roll calls: pro-life 0/2, marriage/gender 0/3, Second Amendment 0/3, limited government 0/2, fiscal 0/2. Did not respond to MCCL's questionnaire; NRA-PVF grade F; Giffords PAC endorsed; Women Winning endorsed; EMILY's List endorsed. Party default applied for religious liberty. iVoterGuide rates Verified Liberal.

Life: Voted the conservative way on 0 of 2 recorded votes (0%). Liberal: voted for the 2023 PRO Act (HF 1) and the 2023 health bill repealing abortion restrictions (SF 2995).
Family: Voted the conservative way on 0 of 3 recorded votes (0%). Liberal: voted for the 2023 trans refuge law (HF 146), the 2023 conversion-therapy ban (HF 16), and the 2023 ERA constitutional amendment (SF 37).
Religious liberty: No specific position found; DFL; iVoterGuide rates Verified Liberal.
2nd Amendment: Voted the conservative way on 0 of 3 recorded votes (0%). Liberal: voted for 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: Voted the conservative way on 0 of 2 recorded votes (0%). Liberal: voted for the 2023 ERA constitutional amendment (SF 37) and the 2023 paid-leave mandate (HF 2).
Fiscal: Voted the conservative way on 0 of 2 recorded votes (0%). Liberal: voted for the 2023 omnibus tax bill (HF 1938) and the 2024 tax omnibus (HF 5247).

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

Ballotpedia

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