Biography
Dan Kessler is the Democratic candidate for the Minnesota State Senate, District 48, in the November 3, 2026 general election, running against incumbent Julia Coleman (R).[1][2] In a Ballotpedia survey, he described himself as a psychologist, small business owner and longtime Chaska resident.[3]
Dan Kessler said in a Ballotpedia survey that he has been a practicing psychologist for 30 years, including 15 years in a primary care clinic as well as work in hospital, community mental health and private practice settings, before starting his own business.[3] He said he is a public school parent and that Carver County has been his home for two decades.[3]
Kessler was the Democratic nominee for Minnesota House District 47B in 2020, when he lost to incumbent Greg Boe (R), 48.3 percent to 51.5 percent.[2] In 2022 he won the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 48 and lost the general election to incumbent Julia Coleman (R), 45.6 percent to 54.3 percent.[2]
In the 2026 survey, Kessler listed affordability, holding people who commit fraud accountable, and public safety including gun violence as campaign messages.[3] He said he wants to make health care and prescription drugs more affordable, citing his own health experience, and that he would vote for any good anti-fraud bill regardless of its sponsor's party.[3]
- 1.Minnesota State Senate elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Dan Kessler · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.Dan Kessler - Candidate Connection survey responses · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Minnesota Senate District 48
Dan Kessler is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Minnesota Senate District 48 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.
