REDWOOD FALLS, MN — Minnesota Sen. Gary Dahms of Redwood Falls has announced he will not seek re-election when his current term ends in 2026, according to a January newsletter from his office.
Dahms was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2010 and has been re-elected four times. He has served a total of 16 years in the Senate, including eight years in the majority. Prior to his legislative service, Dahms was a Redwood County commissioner.
During his tenure, Dahms held several leadership roles, including chair, co-chair, or minority lead of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee. He also served as vice-chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Economies Committee and the Senate Education Finance Committee, and held leadership positions within his caucus.
His legislative work included involvement in health insurance reinsurance policy, funding for rural nursing homes and assisted living facilities, wastewater infrastructure projects in small communities, and support for agricultural education programs at Southwest Minnesota State University.
Dahms said he plans to complete his current term, with the 2026 legislative session scheduled to begin February 17.
