DFL

Dan Kessler

Minnesota State Senate District 48 2026 · 2026

↗ Official Website

Policy Positions

52%

Avg Confidence

Issue Areas

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Policy Positions

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Criminal Justice

1 position

Do you believe that repeat violent offenders should face longer mandatory minimum prison sentences than current law requires?

Neutral

Party InferenceCandidate's campaign website contains no stated position on mandatory minimum sentences for repeat violent offenders; position inferred from DFL party baseline on criminal justice, which typically emphasizes rehabilitation and sentencing reform over mandatory minimums. Fact-check this →

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Drug Policy

1 position

Do you believe local governments should have the authority to prohibit cannabis retail businesses from operating within their jurisdictions?

Neutral

Party InferenceNo direct evidence on local cannabis retail authority found in campaign website; position inferred from DFL party baseline, which generally supports legalization but shows mixed positions on local control provisions. Fact-check this →

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Education

1 position

Would you support creating education savings accounts that give families the option to apply their share of state school funding toward tuition at a private school?

Oppose

Party InferenceNo direct evidence on education savings accounts found in campaign website; position inferred from DFL party baseline opposition to education privatization policies and candidate's stated focus on 'Strong Schools' as public institution priority. Fact-check this →

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Environment

1 position

Do you believe Minnesota should keep its current law requiring all electricity delivered by utilities to come from carbon-free sources by 2040?

Support

Party InferenceCampaign website lists 'Affordable Healthcare, Strong Schools & Community Leadership' as platform priorities but does not explicitly address the 2040 carbon-free electricity standard; position inferred from DFL party baseline support for clean energy mandates. Fact-check this →

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Gun Policy

1 position

Do you believe courts should have the authority to temporarily remove firearms from people determined by a judge to be a danger to themselves or others?

Support

Party InferenceNo direct evidence on this specific issue found in candidate's campaign website; position inferred from DFL party baseline support for extreme risk protection order (red flag) laws, which are standard Democratic gun safety policy. Fact-check this →

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Healthcare

1 position

Do you believe residents should have the option to purchase health coverage directly through a state-run insurance program if they choose?

Support

Campaign PlatformCampaign website lists 'Affordable Healthcare' as a platform priority, consistent with DFL support for public health insurance options, though the specific state-run program option is not explicitly addressed in available materials. Fact-check this →

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Housing

1 position

Would you support requiring cities to allow more than one housing unit on lots where only single-family homes are currently permitted by zoning rules?

Support

Party InferenceDFL party platform consistently supports zoning reform and housing density; candidate's campaign site emphasizes 'Affordable Healthcare, Strong Schools & Community Leadership' but contains no explicit statement on this specific zoning question, requiring party-based inference with modest confidence. Fact-check this →

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Immigration

1 position

Would you support a policy that allows residents to obtain a driver's license regardless of their immigration status?

Support

Party InferenceNo direct evidence on driver's license policy for undocumented immigrants found in campaign website; position inferred from DFL party baseline support for immigrant-inclusive policies and candidate's stated focus on community leadership. Fact-check this →

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Infrastructure

1 position

Would you support a policy that dedicates metro-area sales tax revenue specifically to funding public transit expansion and operations?

Support

Party InferenceCampaign website lists 'Strong Schools & Community Leadership' as a platform pillar but contains no explicit statement on transit-specific sales tax policy; position inferred from DFL party baseline support for public transit infrastructure funding. Fact-check this →

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Labor

1 position

Would you support continuing a state-run paid leave program that allows workers to receive benefits funded by employer and employee payroll taxes?

Support

Party InferenceCampaign website lists 'Affordable Healthcare' as a priority but does not explicitly address paid leave policy; position inferred from DFL party baseline support for worker-funded benefits programs and labor protections. Fact-check this →

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Social Security

1 position

Would you support a policy that fully exempts all Social Security benefits from Minnesota state income tax, regardless of how much income a recipient earns?

Neutral

Party InferenceNo direct evidence on Social Security tax exemption policy found in campaign website; position inferred from DFL party baseline support for senior tax relief, but lack of specific candidate statements on this issue limits confidence. Fact-check this →

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Taxes

1 position

Do you believe the state should establish an additional income tax bracket with a higher rate for income earned above one million dollars per year?

Support

Party InferenceCampaign website lists 'Affordable Healthcare, Strong Schools' as priorities suggesting progressive fiscal stance, but contains no explicit statement on millionaire tax brackets; position inferred from DFL party platform on progressive taxation and candidate's apparent focus on public investment. Fact-check this →