Gadisa Berkessa

Gadisa Berkessa is the Democratic candidate for Minnesota State Senate District 31 in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1] In a Ballotpedia survey, he described himself as an engineer, project manager and small business owner, and listed school funding, public safety and affordability as his main messages.[2]

Berkessa's Ballotpedia profile lists a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota in 2012 and a graduate degree from Arizona State University in 2022, and gives his profession as project manager.[1] In the survey, he said he was born in Nedjo, Oromiya, Ethiopia, has lived in Minnesota for more than 20 years, much of that time in Andover, and is raising two children there with his wife.[2]

Berkessa said his priorities include reliable school funding, fair pay for teachers and support staff, and better educator pensions, along with support for police, sheriffs and first responders and for mental health care and prevention.[2] He also said he wants to make housing, health care and child care more affordable, and he named Education Minnesota, AFSCME Council 5 and the 314 Action Fund among his endorsers.[2] His Democratic primary was canceled, and he advanced to the general election without appearing on the primary ballot.[1]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.