Issues
Key Issues in MN Senate District 48
What are the key issues in Senate District 48 and where does Dan Kessler stand?
Answer: Dan Kessler is running for Minnesota State Senate District 48 focused on the issues that matter most to families across Carver County: affordability, strong public schools, accessible healthcare, protecting Minnesota's natural resources, and creating communities where people can build a secure future.
Dan's priorities include:
Making Minnesota more affordable
Addressing rising costs of housing, healthcare, childcare, and everyday expenses.
Supporting policies that help working families live, work, and thrive in Minnesota.
Strengthening public education
Fully funding public schools and supporting teachers.
Expanding career and technical education opportunities for students.
Improving healthcare access and affordability
Protecting patients' ability to make their own healthcare decisions.
Expanding access to affordable physical and mental healthcare.
Protecting Minnesota's environment
Preserving clean water, lakes, and natural resources.
Supporting clean energy solutions that create jobs and strengthen Minnesota's economy.
Keeping communities safe
Supporting responsible gun ownership while advancing reasonable safety measures.
Making schools and neighborhoods safer places to live, work, and learn.
Healthcare
What does Dan Kessler believe about healthcare?
Answer:
Dan Kessler believes access to affordable, quality healthcare is essential for Minnesota families. Medical decisions should be made by patients and their healthcare providers, not politicians or insurance companies.:
Dan supports:
Protecting access to reproductive healthcare
Expanding access to mental healthcare
Improving healthcare affordability
Preventing unnecessary barriers to care
Protect Our Democracy
What does Dan Kessler believe about protecting democracy?
Answer:
Dan Kessler believes a healthy democracy depends on free, fair, and secure elections where every eligible voter can participate and have confidence in the results. We must protect our democracy from false election narratives and efforts to interfere with our democratic election process.
Dan supports:
Protecting the integrity of Minnesota's elections and ensuring voters can trust the democratic process.
Supporting Ranked Choice Voting to encourage more civil, inclusive, participatory, and representative outcomes.
Making Election Day a state holiday to remove barriers and allow more Minnesotans to participate in our democracy.
Energy Independence
What is Dan Kessler's position on clean energy and energy independence?
Answer: Dan Kessler believes Minnesota can build a stronger economy while protecting the environment by investing in clean energy, emerging technologies, and innovative solutions that create jobs and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Minnesota has an opportunity to lead the transition to a cleaner energy future while creating good-paying jobs and strengthening our communities.
Dan supports:
Providing incentives for consumers and businesses to adopt clean energy technologies and improve energy efficiency.
Creating jobs and economic opportunities through investments in emerging technologies that strengthen both Minnesota's economy and environment.
Supporting legislation that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, rewards the adoption of clean technologies, and holds major polluters accountable.
Accelerating the transition to clean, renewable energy sources to increase energy independence and reduce reliance on foreign energy.
Better Education, Better Economy
What does Dan Kessler believe about public education?
Answer: Dan Kessler believes strong public schools are the foundation of thriving communities and a pathway to opportunity. Education and workforce training help Minnesotans build successful futures, strengthen our economy, and ensure communities remain vibrant places to live. Quality schools are also a key driver of economic growth, helping attract families, businesses, and investment while supporting strong communities and property values.
Dan supports:
Fully funding Minnesota's public education system so students and educators have the resources they need to succeed.
Supporting teachers and educators as they work to provide students with a high-quality education.
Ensuring schools remain focused on helping every student learn, grow, and prepare for the future.
Making technical education, workforce training, and career pathways accessible and affordable for Minnesotans.
Investing in education as a foundation for economic opportunity and long-term prosperity.
Gun Violence Prevention
What is Dan Kessler's position on gun safety?
Answer: Dan Kessler believes we can protect the rights of responsible gun owners while also taking reasonable steps to prevent gun violence and keep our communities safe. Every Minnesotan deserves to feel safe in their homes, neighborhoods, and schools. Protecting public safety and respecting responsible gun ownership can and should go together.
Dan supports:
Expanding reasonable gun safety measures, including universal background checks for firearm purchases.
Supporting responsible gun ownership and ensuring gun owners have access to firearm safety education and training.
Protecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners while addressing preventable risks and keeping communities safe.
Making schools safe places for students, educators, and staff to learn and work.
Supporting common-sense solutions that reflect the concerns of the vast majority of Minnesotans, including many responsible gun owners.