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Chris Swedzinski

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Chris Swedzinski
Image of Chris Swedzinski

Republican Party

Minnesota House of Representatives District 15A
Tenure

2023 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

2

Predecessor
Prior offices
Minnesota House of Representatives District 21A
Minnesota House of Representatives District 16A
Successor: Dean Urdahl

Compensation

Base salary

$51,750/year

Per diem

$66/day

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Personal
Profession
Farmer
Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Official Twitter

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal Facebook

Personal Twitter

Personal Instagram

Chris Swedzinski (Republican Party) is a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 15A. He assumed office on January 3, 2023. His current term ends on January 12, 2027.

Swedzinski (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives to represent District 15A. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Chris Swedzinski earned a B.S. in history and political science from Minnesota State University at Mankato.[1] Swedzinski's career experience includes owning a welding business and working as a farmer.[1][2]

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

Swedzinski was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Swedzinski was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Swedzinski was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Minnesota committee assignments, 2017
• Commerce and Regulatory Reform
• Environment and Natural Resources
• Government Operations and Elections
• Rules and Legislative Administration

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Swedzinski served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Swedzinski served on the following committees:

Minnesota committee assignments, 2013
• Capital Investment
• Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy
• Higher Education Finance and Policy

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Swedzinski served on the following committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2024

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 15A

Incumbent Chris Swedzinski defeated Anthony Studemann in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 15A on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Chris Swedzinski
Chris Swedzinski (R)
 
71.7
 
16,111
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Anthony Studemann (D)
 
28.2
 
6,347
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
18

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 22,476
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Anthony Studemann advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 15A.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Chris Swedzinski advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 15A.

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Swedzinski in this election.

2022

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 15A

Incumbent Chris Swedzinski defeated Keith VanOverbeke in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 15A on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Chris Swedzinski
Chris Swedzinski (R)
 
70.4
 
12,446
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Keith VanOverbeke (D)
 
29.5
 
5,225
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
11

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 17,682
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Keith VanOverbeke advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 15A.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Chris Swedzinski advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 15A.

2020

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 16A

Incumbent Chris Swedzinski defeated Doria Drost in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 16A on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Chris Swedzinski
Chris Swedzinski (R)
 
69.1
 
13,930
Image of Doria Drost
Doria Drost (D) Candidate Connection
 
30.8
 
6,200
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
16

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 20,146
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Doria Drost advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 16A.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Chris Swedzinski advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 16A.

Campaign finance

2018

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 16A

Incumbent Chris Swedzinski defeated Tom Wyatt-Yerka in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 16A on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Chris Swedzinski
Chris Swedzinski (R)
 
67.6
 
10,854
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Tom Wyatt-Yerka (D)
 
32.4
 
5,198
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
13

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 16,065
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 16A

Tom Wyatt-Yerka advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 16A on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Tom Wyatt-Yerka

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 16A

Incumbent Chris Swedzinski advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 16A on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
✔
Image of Chris Swedzinski
Chris Swedzinski

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 31, 2016.

Incumbent Chris Swedzinski defeated Al Kruse in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 16A general election.[3][4]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 16A General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Chris Swedzinski Incumbent 68.16% 13,048
     Democratic Al Kruse 31.84% 6,096
Total Votes 19,144
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State


Al Kruse ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 16A Democratic primary.[5][6]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 16A Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Al Kruse  (unopposed)


Incumbent Chris Swedzinski ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 16A Republican primary.[5][6]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 16A Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Chris Swedzinski Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election was held on August 12, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 3, 2014. Laurie Driessen was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Chris Swedzinski was unopposed in the Republican primary. Swedzinski defeated Driessen in the general election.[7][8][9]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 16A General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngChris Swedzinski Incumbent 61.7% 8,642
     Democratic Laurie Driessen 38.2% 5,355
     Write-in Write-in 0% 5
Total Votes 14,002

2012

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2012

Swedzinski won re-election in the 2012 election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 16A. He was unopposed in the Republican primary on August 14 and defeated Al Kruse (D) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[10][11]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 16A, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngChris Swedzinski Incumbent 56.8% 10,991
     Democratic Al Kruse 43.2% 8,363
Total Votes 19,354

2010

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2010

Swedzinski won election to the District 21A seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition. He defeated Ramona Larson (DFL) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[12]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 21A (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Ramona Larson (DFL) 4,721 36.39%
Green check mark transparent.png Chris Swedzinski (R) 8.245 63.55%
Write-In 9 0.07%

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Chris Swedzinski did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Chris Swedzinski did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Chris Swedzinski did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2016

Swedzinski's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[13]

“ Fighting for Rural Minnesota

As a farmer and a resident of rural Minnesota, it has been a priority of mine to ensure the needs of Greater Minnesota are heard at the Capitol. Thanks to the efforts of myself and colleagues in the House, rural Minnesota was front and center in St. Paul:

  • Historic funding for broadband internet expansion
  • Strengthening 2nd Amendment rights
  • Protecting the unborn
  • Enabling school districts in Greater Minnesota to repair school buildings and property with additional facilities maintenance funding
  • Fought the avian flu epidemic and invested in programs to prevent such events from occurring in the future
  • Prioritized agriculture education in local colleges to prepare the next generation of farmers and special education paraprofessionals with licenser.
  • Transportation – invest $700 million in roads and bridges across the state as well as critical public works projects
  • Education[14]
 ”

2012

Swedzinski's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[15]

  • Excerpt: "Minnesota is currently ranked the 4th worst state in terms of taxation. Because of this, we are losing jobs. Businesses, farms and families cannot survive, let alone thrive."
  • Excerpt: "Reducing the number of government jobs and government regulation will revive the private sector by creating job opportunities that do not depend on government funding. It is estimated that for every dollar taken for taxes, three dollars is lost in economic growth in the private sector."
  • Excerpt: "I believe that you know best how to spend your hard-earned dollars. Whether to save or spend should be your choice. You should have the opportunity to attend the school of your choice, select your own doctor, and run your farm or business without government interference."

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Chris Swedzinski campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Minnesota House of Representatives District 15AWon general$31,180 $22,632
2022Minnesota House of Representatives District 15AWon general$29,985 $40,875
2020Minnesota House of Representatives District 16AWon general$45,896 N/A**
2018Minnesota House of Representatives District 16AWon general$45,893 N/A**
2016Minnesota House of Representatives, District 16aWon $38,752 N/A**
2014Minnesota House of Representatives, District 16aWon $54,090 N/A**
2012Minnesota State House, District 16AWon $36,171 N/A**
2010Minnesota State House, District 21AWon $31,010 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Minnesota

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states.  To contribute to the list of Minnesota scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.


2024


2023


2022


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012


2011

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Swedzinski and his wife, Jessica, have two children.

See also

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External links

Candidate

Minnesota House of Representatives District 15A
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    Officeholder

    Minnesota House of Representatives District 15A
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    Personal

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Minnesota House of Representatives, "Rep. Chris Swedzinski," accessed April 23, 2023
    2. ↑ Re-elect Chris Swedzinski, "Meet Chris," accessed April 23, 2023
    3. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
    4. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
    5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Primary: Tuesday, August 9, 2016," accessed August 9, 2016
    7. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2014 general election results," accessed November 5, 2014
    8. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "State Canvassing Board Report," August 19, 2014
    9. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2014 State General Election Candidate Filings," accessed July 25, 2014
    10. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2012 State General Election Candidate Filings," accessed June 18, 2012
    11. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Canvassing Report - State Primary - Tuesday, August 14, 2012," accessed April 23, 2014
    12. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2010 Election Results," accessed March 9, 2014
    13. ↑ Campaign site, "Issues," accessed October 11, 2016
    14. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    15. ↑ "chrisswede," Official Campaign Website

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    Sondra Erickson (R)     		Minnesota House of Representatives District 15A
    2023-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    -     		Minnesota House of Representatives District 16A
    2013-2023    		 Succeeded by
    Dean Urdahl (R)
    Preceded by
    -     		Minnesota House of Representatives District 21A
    2011-2013    		 Succeeded by
    -


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