MARSHALL, Minn. — Republican Braxton Seifert is headed to the Minnesota Senate after defeating DFL candidate Andrea Boettger in the Senate District 15 race.
Speaking with Marshall Radio on election night from a joint campaign headquarters in Ghent with Republican House candidate Brad Hennen, Seifert said improving opportunities for young people and families in Minnesota motivated him to run.
“I look at it as a young person and opportunity is being driven out of Minnesota, whether it’s high taxes, high fees, nine billion dollars in fraud, an education system where 28% of the eighth graders in the state are reading at grade level,” Seifert said.
Seifert identified agriculture, affordable health care, child care and infrastructure as priorities for Southwest Minnesota. He specifically pointed to water and wastewater projects in rural communities, including Russell and Wood Lake.
In Wood Lake, Seifert said aging water infrastructure creates challenges for firefighters responding to emergencies. He said the city cannot use certain fire hydrants without risking damage to underground water lines.
“Those are basic things that the government should be providing for our communities and for our citizens,” Seifert said, adding that he hopes to work with Democrats to secure state bonding dollars for local projects.
Seifert also said he wants to address child care shortages by reviewing state regulations that he believes increase costs and limit availability. He suggested giving providers more flexibility in the number of infants they can care for.
Despite the possibility of Republicans being in the minority at the Capitol, Seifert said he plans to work across party lines.
“Getting those pieces put together to work together to get good solutions for the state of Minnesota is what it’s all about,” Seifert said.
Seifert said he expects to be the youngest state senator in Minnesota in modern history and potentially the youngest currently serving state senator in the country.
