Friends and neighbors,
The 2026 legislative session begins today, February 17. As I prepare to head back to St. Paul, I am thinking about exactly what we are walking into and more importantly what we must fix.
When Democrats had total control of state government, they turned an $18 billion surplus into a projected $6 billion deficit. They raised more than $10 billion in new taxes and fees. They piled on mandates that crushed small businesses, strained school districts, and drove up costs for families across Minnesota.
Now families are paying the price.
Groceries cost more. Energy bills are higher. Property taxes keep climbing. It is no surprise that a recent Tax Foundation report once again ranks Minnesota among the least tax friendly states in the country. I hear it every day from constituents who are frustrated and fed up with how expensive it has become to live here.
At the very same time that your bills are rising, Minnesotans are watching billions of tax dollars siphoned off by fraudsters. Instead of taking responsibility, Governor Walz and legislative Democrats have downplayed it, deflected, and in some cases tried to convince the public that it is not that serious.
It is serious.
Minnesota taxpayers deserve clear answers about how they will be made whole after documented fraud and waste. Accountability means recovering stolen funds, prosecuting criminals, fixing the systems that allowed the abuse, and putting real guardrails in place so it never happens again. Oversight bodies exist to protect public funds, not rubber stamp failure. Taxes require trust. That trust is broken when waste goes unanswered and reforms are delayed.
The absolute minimum expectation of government is that it protects the money you worked hard to earn.
This session, my focus is straightforward:
- Strong guardrails and verification measures to stop fraud before it starts
- Real oversight of state agencies and leadership accountability
- Transparency so taxpayers can see exactly where their dollars go
- Meaningful relief to address Minnesota’s crushing cost of living
- Fighting for northern Minnesota’s economic engine, including responsible mining that supports good paying jobs, strengthens our supply chains, and protects our Iron Range communities.
Mining built northern Minnesota. It supports our schools, our small businesses, and our families. We will continue pushing back against reckless restrictions that lock up our resources and undermine our economy.
You deserve a government that respects your work, your values, and your tax dollars. That is what I will fight for every day.
If you plan to visit the Capitol this session, please note that new security screening procedures will begin February 17 at both the Capitol and the Minnesota Senate Building. Visitors will go through screening similar to what you would experience at a professional sporting event. Please allow extra time when planning your visit.
Permit holders may still carry in the Capitol. However, Senate Democrats recently adopted an additional rule requiring extra screening to enter the Senate gallery, including a prohibition on lawful carry for permit holders in that space. We believe this conflicts with state statute and are challenging it. I will keep you informed.
Thank you for the trust you have placed in me. I work for you. Please continue to reach out with your concerns, ideas, and feedback. Your voice matters and it guides my work.
We are heading back to St. Paul ready to fight for Minnesota families.
Sincerely,