Hauschild and Zupancich Debated District 3 Senate Seat
Minnesota state senate candidates met in Duluth to discuss policy positions ahead of the upcoming election.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Elections
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Incumbent Senator Grant Hauschild and challenger Andrea Zupancich squared off in a candidate forum hosted by the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce and the News Tribune. The event provided a platform for the candidates to debate their legislative priorities for Minnesota's District 3.
Why it matters
The forum allowed voters to compare the records of the incumbent and the mayor of Babbitt as they compete for a seat decided by a narrow margin in the last election cycle.
Grant Hauschild currently serves as vice chair of the Senate Taxes Committee and has voted with the DFL party 95% of the time. Andrea Zupancich brings 10 years of experience serving as the Mayor of Babbitt to the contest.
The players
Grant Hauschild
He is the incumbent State Senator for Minnesota District 3 and serves as the vice chair of the Senate Taxes Committee.
Andrea Zupancich
She currently serves as the Mayor of Babbitt and is challenging the incumbent for the District 3 state senate seat.
The details
The candidates discussed legislative actions including the creation of an independent inspector general for state government and the expansion of prosecutorial powers for the Minnesota attorney general. They also addressed recent legislative efforts to regulate data center water usage and energy payments, which includes a proposed 35-year tax break for such facilities.
Timeline
The candidates faced off in 2022 when Hauschild won by less than 2%.
The District 3 state senate forum took place on September 28, 2026.
Political Context
Opponents of the current administration argue that recent legislative expansions, such as increased prosecutorial power for the attorney general, centralize too much authority in state government. These dissenting voices advocate for a shift toward more localized oversight and restrictive fiscal policies.
The legislative differences debated by the candidates directly impact how state tax policy and energy regulations will affect the local cost of doing business. Voters should consider how the proposed changes to data center tax breaks and oversight functions could alter regional economic growth and state spending.
The takeaway
The candidates highlighted diverging visions for the future of District 3, ranging from fiscal policy to regulatory oversight. Voters can evaluate these platforms by reviewing the candidates' past legislative actions and municipal governance records.
Further reading
For more on the current state legislative races, visit Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Duluth News Tribune.
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