Who is running for State Senate District 56 in Minnesota in 2026?

Raymond David Petersen (R), Erin Maye Quade (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 56

State Senate District 56 — 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

BRaymond David PetersenRepublican

Candidate for State Senator, District 56 (Republican).

LifeBFamilyBReligious libertyB2nd AmendmentALimited gov’tAFiscalA

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

Life: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Insufficient Information.
Family: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Insufficient Information.
Religious liberty: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Insufficient Information.
2nd Amendment: Campaign site: '"god created men, Samuel Colt made them equal." You can choose Freedom or Subservience.'
Limited gov’t: Campaign site criticizes 'more government involvement in health care,' saying current involvement drives administrative cost.
Fiscal: Campaign site: 'you should be able to keep as much of what you create as possible'; proposes raising the income-tax standard deduction to the median wage.

Sources: [1] [2]

Ballotpedia

FErin Maye QuadeDemocratic

Incumbent state senator, Senate District 56; 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; Women Winning endorsed; EMILY's List 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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