Who is running for State Senate District 42 in Minnesota in 2026?

Kevin Peterson (R), Bonnie Westlin (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 42

State Senate District 42 — 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

BKevin PetersonRepublican

Candidate for State Senator, District 42 (Republican).

LifeCFamilyBReligious libertyB2nd AmendmentCLimited gov’tAFiscalA

Non-incumbent Republican; no voting record or group ratings found. iVoterGuide rates Conservative. Evidence pass: pro-life, Second Amendment, limited government, fiscal now graded from campaign-site statements. Party default still applied for marriage/gender, religious liberty.

Life: Campaign site: 'women's health matters to me'; notes Minnesota 'already has strong statutory and judicial protections' and wants to avoid 'turning every personal decision into a legislative battleground.' Mixed.
Family: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Conservative.
Religious liberty: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Conservative.
2nd Amendment: Campaign site: 'Public safety first, with respect for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens'; prefers enforcement over broad new restrictions. Nuanced.
Limited gov’t: Campaign site: supports 'repealing rigid 100% renewable mandates' and relaxing energy-related rules; 'Government should live within its means.'
Fiscal: Campaign site: proposes cutting state income tax rates and will 'oppose unnecessary tax increases.'

Sources: [1] [2]

Ballotpedia

FBonnie WestlinDemocratic

Incumbent state senator, Senate District 42; DFL.

LifeFFamilyFReligious libertyC2nd AmendmentFLimited gov’tFFiscalF

Voted liberally on the scored abortion, gender-identity/ERA/girls'-sports, gun-control, paid-leave/ERA and DFL tax bills. NRA-PVF F; Giffords PAC endorsed; Women Winning endorsed (2026). iVoterGuide rates Verified Liberal.

Life: Voted yes on HF 1 (2023 PRO Act); SF 2995 (2023 repeal of statutory abortion restrictions). 0 of 2 recorded votes went the conservative way (0%).
Family: Voted yes on HF 16 (2023 conversion-therapy ban); HF 146 (2023 trans refuge law); SF 37 (2023 Equal Rights Amendment). 0 of 3 recorded votes went the conservative way (0%).
Religious liberty: No specific position found; DFL; iVoterGuide rates Verified Liberal.
2nd Amendment: Voted yes on SF 2909 (2023 red-flag/background-check public safety bill); HF 2609 (2024 binary-trigger ban); SF 4067 (2026 assault-weapons sales ban). 0 of 3 recorded votes went the conservative way (0%).
Limited gov’t: Voted yes on HF 2 (2023 paid-leave mandate); SF 37 (2023 Equal Rights Amendment). 0 of 2 recorded votes went the conservative way (0%).
Fiscal: Voted yes on HF 1938 (2023 DFL tax bill); HF 5247 (2024 DFL tax bill). 0 of 2 recorded votes went the conservative way (0%).

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

Ballotpedia

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