Who is running for State Senate District 48 in Minnesota in 2026?

Julia Coleman (R), Dan Kessler (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 48

State Senate District 48 — 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

BJulia ColemanRepublican

Incumbent state senator, Senate District 48; Republican.

LifeAFamilyCReligious libertyB2nd AmendmentALimited gov’tCFiscalA

Voted mostly conservatively on the scored abortion, gender-identity/ERA/girls'-sports, gun-control, paid-leave/ERA and DFL tax bills. MCCL questionnaire 11Y/0N; NRA-PVF A (NRA-PVF Endorsed) (2026). iVoterGuide rates Conservative.

Life: Voted no on HF 1 (2023 PRO Act); SF 2995 (2023 repeal of statutory abortion restrictions). 2 of 2 recorded votes went the conservative way (100%).
Family: Voted yes on SF 37 (2023 Equal Rights Amendment). Voted no on HF 146 (2023 trans refuge law). 1 of 2 recorded votes went the conservative way (50%).
Religious liberty: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Conservative.
2nd Amendment: Voted no on SF 2909 (2023 red-flag/background-check public safety bill); HF 2609 (2024 binary-trigger ban); SF 4067 (2026 assault-weapons sales ban). 3 of 3 recorded votes went the conservative way (100%).
Limited gov’t: Voted yes on SF 37 (2023 Equal Rights Amendment). Voted no on HF 2 (2023 paid-leave mandate). 1 of 2 recorded votes went the conservative way (50%).
Fiscal: Voted no on HF 1938 (2023 DFL tax bill). 1 of 1 recorded votes went the conservative way (100%).

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

Ballotpedia

DDan KesslerDemocratic

Candidate for State Senator, District 48 (DFL).

LifeFFamilyDReligious libertyC2nd AmendmentFLimited gov’tDFiscalD

Non-incumbent DFL; no voting record. NRA-PVF F (2026). iVoterGuide rates Liberal. Evidence pass: pro-life now graded from campaign-site statements. Party default still applied for marriage/gender, religious liberty, limited government, fiscal.

Life: Campaign site: supports 'Protecting access to reproductive healthcare'; medical decisions belong to patients, 'not politicians'.
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]

Ballotpedia

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