Trina Swanson Enters Race for Minnesota's 8th Congressional District Seat

Trina Swanson, a Hermantown native who spent her federal career moving between Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., Germany, and Kenya for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on Jan. 7 to challenge Republican Rep. Pete Stauber in Minnesota's 8th Congressional District.

Swanson launched her campaign around the message of "dignity, competence, and showing up for working families," and kicked off her campaign with an event at Ivy Black Weddings & Events in Saginaw on Jan. 12. Stauber has held the seat since 2019.

"I'm running because too many people here feel unheard and left behind," Swanson said. "Work should buy you a life with dignity. You shouldn't go bankrupt if you get sick. You shouldn't have to drive hours to get care or to have a baby. And you deserve a representative who actually shows up."

Her policy priorities include affordable health care with an explicit focus on rural access, protecting working families, and building education-to-career pathways. She grew up working class and has framed her candidacy around the economic realities facing Iron Range and northeastern Minnesota communities specifically.

"Mining built this region. Union jobs built the middle class here," she said. "People who do this work deserve respect, not lectures. We can protect good jobs and protect our land and water at the same time — if we're serious about it."

At USCIS, Swanson held senior leadership roles across multiple postings and led on-the-ground operations during national emergencies in the United States, according to her campaign press release. The breadth of that federal experience, spanning four countries and domestic emergency deployments, is central to how her campaign is positioning her against Stauber.

Swanson faces a contested DFL primary before she can advance to the November general election. Three other Democrats have declared for the Aug. 11, 2026 primary: Emanuel Anastos, Cyle Cramer, and John-Paul McBride. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026, and Minnesota's official state candidate filing period opens May 19, 2026.

The district covers much of northeastern and north-central Minnesota, including Lake County. The Duluth-based campaign lists its mailing address as PO Box 1063, Duluth, MN 55810.