Trina Swanson
D
Won the August 11, 2026 Democratic primary with 76.8% of the vote.
Swanson is a former federal immigration official from the Duluth area running as the Democratic nominee against incumbent Pete Stauber, campaigning on affordability, government accountability, and rural community investment.[3]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Positions on the issues
- SupportsExpand public health coverage
Supports lowering prescription drug prices and expanding rural health care access.[3]
“I will focus on lowering prescription drug prices, expanding rural health care access, protecting Medicare and Social Security”
- MixedExpand immigration enforcement and deportations
Supports 'responsible immigration reform that protects our borders while upholding our values,' without specifying enforcement or deportation policy.[3]
“ensuring responsible immigration reform that protects our borders while upholding our values”
In their words — priorities
- Affordability: lowering prescription drug prices, expanding rural health care access, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and supporting jobs in mining, manufacturing, and the skilled trades.[3]
- Government stability and accountability, including opposing stock ownership or trading by members of Congress.[3]
- Community presence, including in-person town halls in every county, infrastructure investment, and responsible mineral extraction that protects the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.[3]
Background
- Grew up in Duluth and Hermantown, graduating from Hermantown High School; earned degrees from the University of St. Thomas and Mitchell Hamline School of Law.[3]
- Spent 25 years in federal government service, beginning at the Bankruptcy Court at age 18, then working for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services running immigration operations in three countries.[3]
- Says she left her federal career rather than compromise her oath, and returned to northern Minnesota to run for Congress.[3]
Campaign money
Raised $317K · spent $226K · $90K cash on hand (through 2026-07-22) FEC filing ↗