Minnesota Senate District 32 – Local Decision 2026

In 2026, voters will elect someone to serve as State Senator for District 32. The candidates are:

CHRIS FORD (DFL)

About:

My name is Chris Ford, and I’m a lifelong public servant. I am a retired firefighter of 21 years. For 10 of those years, I was union president, and served as Captain for 13. A large part of my professional career has been spent fighting and advocating for fair wages and benefits for firefighters. It’s been about making sure everyone has a voice. Now, I have the honor of working at Blaine High School as a paraprofessional, while serving on the Blaine City Council since 2024. In these roles, I prioritize being someone people can come to with their concerns. Whether that’s students or neighbors, I want people to know they can count on me to hear their concerns and do what I can to help. I’ve spent my whole life taking care of others. As a firefighter and educator, and also as a dad and grandpa. I love getting to be “dad’ and “grandpa,” and some of my favorite hobbies include spending time with the people I love.

Important Issues:

I’m very focused on bringing down the cost of living. Life is too unaffordable for everyday Minnesotans, and our wallets are feeling the consequences. It’s everywhere–in our healthcare, at the gas pump, and at the grocery store. Making sure that dollars stay in our pockets while ensuring bad actors are not getting a break is a major priority of mine. I’m also passionate about investment in education. As a paraprofessional, I know how important a strong, comprehensive education system is to a student’s success and to expanding their opportunities to thrive. Strong, supported schools mean strong, supported teachers, which means strong, supported students. We must also make sound investments in public safety, government accountability, housing accessibility, and so much more.

Goals if Elected:

If elected, my goals are:

Pass legislation to reduce health care costs and increase transparency in pricing.
Overhaul public education funding so it’s stable, equitable, and keeps pace with actual costs of educating kids.
Invest in infrastructure — roads, water systems, and broadband — that keeps Minnesota communities safe and competitive.
Pass a Manufactured Housing Bill of Rights to protect residents in one of our most affordable housing options.
Pass common-sense gun legislation that protects Second Amendment rights while keeping schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Endorsements:

Minnesota Associate of Professional Employees (MAPE)
Minneapolis Firefighters Local 82
Hennepin County Association of Paramedics and EMTs (HCAPE)
St. Paul Firefighters Local 21
Minnesota Professional Firefighters
Minnesota DFL Feminist Caucus
Minnesota DFL Senior Caucus
International Association of Firefighters
Duluth Firefighters Local 101
Minnesota DFL Environmental Caucus
FairVote Minnesota
Minnesota DFL Rural Caucus
Friends of the Boundary Waters Action Network
Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation
AFL-CIO
Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund
Twin Cities Carpenters 322
Inter Faculty Org
Sierra Club
Save the Boundary Waters Action Fund
AFSCME Council 5
Clean Water Action
Teamsters Joint Council 32
SEIU Minnesota State Council
Minnesota Nurses Association
NASW-MN
Education Minnesota
LiUNA!
Pro-Choice Minnesota
Gender Justice Action PAC
Care for MN
Coon Rapids Fire Department

Connect with Me:

Facebook: Chris Ford for Minnesota
Instagram: chrisfordformn
Website: chrisfordformn.com
Email: chrisfordformn@gmail.com

Candidate Interview:

MICHAEL KREUN (R)

About:

I am a lifelong Minnesotan who has lived in Blaine for 24 years with my wife, Laura, where we have raised our three children. I was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2022 to represent Blaine, Ham Lake, Columbus, and Lexington.

During my first term, over 25 of my bills became law. I have worked to find common ground and deliver results. I was the lead Republican author of legislation creating an independent Office of Inspector General to combat fraud in Minnesota and authored and successfully passed bipartisan legislation protecting children from harmful and addictive social media features that passed the Senate unanimously.

Before serving in the Senate, I served on the Spring Lake Park School Board and the Coon Creek Watershed Board of Managers. Outside the Legislature, I am an attorney practicing real estate litigation and corporate litigation management. I have also been a longtime youth sports coach in the Blaine and Spring Lake Park communities. I continue to volunteer with the Children’s Law Center of Minnesota, representing children in foster care at no cost to them or their families.

I am a pragmatic legislator who believes public service should be defined by professionalism, civility, collaboration, and results.

Important Issues:

Combating Fraud: Minnesota taxpayers deserve accountability for every dollar spent. Fraud in public programs hurts taxpayers, takes resources from those who legitimately need them, and erodes trust in government. I helped lead efforts to create an independent Office of Inspector General and will continue pursuing reforms to prevent fraud and hold perpetrators accountable.

Increasing Affordability: Minnesota families are paying more for everything. We need to make Minnesota more affordable by reducing the cost of government. I support capping property tax increases at inflation unless voters approve more, cutting vehicle registration fees, reducing income taxes and the metro sales tax, and eliminating the tax on Social Security benefits.

Keeping Communities Safe: Safe communities require law enforcement and accountability. I will support police, firefighters, first responders, and school resource officers while working to strengthen penalties, improve sentencing transparency, end catch-and-release, and repeal early-release policies allowing offenders to serve only half their sentences.

Goals if Elected:

Combat Fraud and Restore Responsible Budgeting: I will continue pushing legislation requiring automatic audits when programs exceed budget projections by 5% and pausing funding the following fiscal year when they exceed budgets by 10%, requiring legislative review and approval before funding is restored. Social services programs can no longer operate on “auto-pilot.” We must also prioritize needs over wants, exercise fiscal discipline and responsible budgeting, and provide tax relief to hard-working Minnesotans.
Improve Education: As a former school board member, Minnesota children must receive a world-class education and graduate with the skills and opportunities to succeed. That means adequate funding, a focus on high academic standards, and strong behavioral expectations.

Keep Communities Safe: I will support repealing the 2023 law allowing felony offenders to serve only half their sentences and I will pursue other policies that strengthen accountability, support law enforcement, and make Minnesota communities safer.

Endorsements:

∙ Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association
∙ International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Locals 110 and 292
∙ International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49
∙ Minnesota Pipe Trades Association
∙ Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters
∙ Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Leadership PAC
∙ National Federation of Independent Business
∙ Housing First Minnesota
∙ Minnesota Farm Bureau
∙ Minnesotans for Health and Parental Rights
∙ Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life
∙ MetroNorth Chamber Leadership Fund
∙ Minnesotans for Affordable Health Insurance