Minnesota State Senate District 63 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Minnesota, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Minnesota State Senate District 63 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Minnesota State Senate District 63

Zaynab Mohamed defeated Shawn Holster in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 63 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Zaynab Mohamed (D)	85.6	39,063
		Shawn Holster (R)	14.1	6,449
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	106

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 45,618
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

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Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Shawn Holster (R)

Systems are a fail-safe, not a lifestyle. When people are dependent upon systems, they are just that - dependent. Systems foster dependency. Real change happens from the inside out. I encourage community participation, not systemic control.

Personal agency, ownership of self, is the first step in creating strong individuals. You cannot build a strong community without strong individuals. We, as a community need to encourage the means of building and promoting individual strengths, not systemic dependence.

Innovation and progress are hampered by regulatory agencies and process more often than not. By removing these regulatory barriers, we can see real experimentation and innovation that can alleviate the negative social forces wearing at our social fabric.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Shawn Holster (R)

Public safety, mental health, community building and approaches, cutting regulatory and legal redundancies, tax relief, the right to self defense, an all of the above approach to energy policy, and improving the business climate in Minneapolis and Minnesota.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Shawn Holster (R)

The Writings of Madison

The Letters of Paul The Road to Serfdom - F.A Hayek

Various writings of Aquinas

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Shawn Holster (R)

Humility, transparency, blunt honesty, and humor.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Shawn Holster (R)

After 30 years of being a physical problem solver, I've spent the last three working with damaged minds and spirits. To work with this population that is in physical, mental, and chemical crisis, one must be able to not only problem solve, but more importantly listen to what is going on with those individuals. One does not control a crisis situation, one works through it with available resources and the humility to realize that one is indeed not in control. Mitigation and management, yes, control, no. Working with my clients I see the real world effects of legislation aimed at providing assistance, but instead end up trapping people in cycles of systemic dependency for all things large and small.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Shawn Holster (R)

The core responsibility of a State Senator is to be a conduit of and for the constituency of the district. A conduit of information and communication between the citizen and every other level of government. To work in the common interest of the district in the proposal and promotion of policy.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Shawn Holster (R)

A legacy of reform and repeal.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Shawn Holster (R)

I remember being on the living room rug as a 5 year old watching the helicopter on the roof in Saigon on the giant console black and white television.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Shawn Holster (R)

Life is struggle, that's what makes it fun.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Shawn Holster (R)

One in which each branch recognizes their roles, responsibilities, and restraints under the MN Constitution and operates within those guidelines, while holding the other accountable.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Shawn Holster (R)

Reasonable energy and natural resources policy. Reform of education spending and school choice, the entire public education structure and operation, actually.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Shawn Holster (R)

No, just the opposite. Private sector experience, being a part of how commerce and other aspects of our civil society operates on a practical and logistical level before going into governance is the preferable experience set. Practice over theory.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Shawn Holster (R)

As close to a grid as possible.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Shawn Holster (R)

No.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Shawn Holster (R)

An incident that stands out to me is that of a gentleman who spent days during the riots defending the neighborhood grocery store, armed with a baseball bat. He and others took shifts to keep the store from being looted. When he was relaying the part of his experience where they were being shot at, another individual asks him if, "Did you get shot? No? Then what's the problem?" That callousness floored me. Is this how far we have become divided as neighbors?

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Shawn Holster (R)

Absolutely. The abuse of emergency powers under the Walz administration and DFL leadership were devastating for Minnesota and need never be repeated.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Shawn Holster (R)

Reasoned compromise is absolutely necessary for the crafting of sound policy. The importance lies in having a shared vision of what a legislative solution to a problem looks like.

See also

More about these elections:

• Minnesota State Senate elections, 2022

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