A rural legislator since 2011, Ghent farmer says it’s time to focus on family
Chris Swedzinski and Gary Dahms started their political journey in the Minnesota Legislature the same year — the former, a state representative in the Minnesota House, the latter, a state senator — and are leaving St. Paul at the same time as well.
Swedzinski (R-Ghent) announced Saturday that he will not be seeking reelection to the Minnesota House of Representatives at the conclusion of his current term. The announcement came two months after Dahms announced his retirement from politics.
“My 9-year-old (Friday night) was crying, saying, ‘Dad, don’t do it, keep serving,’” Swedzinski told the Tracy Area Headlight Herald Saturday. “The kids get to go to the Capitol, they get to make cool friends — we all traveled (to St. Paul) together, we rented a house here. There was one night during session where my girls had a basketball game in Granite; I got done with session, drove two hours, went to their game, gave them a hug and drove back to St. Paul.”
SWEDZINSKI
Swedzinski, who sits on the Taxes and Ways and Means committees and is co-chair of Energy Finance and Policy, called serving the people of District 15A the greatest professional honor of his life. He said after much prayer and reflection with his wife, Jessica, and children — he has five — he decided it’s time for a new chapter, even as his passion for his community and the issues facing rural Minnesota remain as strong as ever.
“My second born was born a week after we were endorsed and now she’s 15 — for her entire life, we’ve been in public service,” Swedzinski said. “We all believe in public service, but at the end of the day, I want to make sure I’m rendering my ambition to my family and also to God’s call.”
Swedzinski has been an ardent advocate for rural Minnesota throughout his tenure, championing issues related to agriculture, energy policy, and tax relief, according to a news release from his office. As a steady member of the House, he has served in various leadership roles, always prioritizing the unique needs of the farmers, small business owners, and families of Lyon, Redwood, Lac qui Parle, Yellow Medicine and Chippewa counties.
The Representative emphasized that his years of service were only possible due to the unwavering support of those closest to him.
“Being a legislator is never a solo mission; it is a team effort,” Swedzinski said. “I want to specifically thank my wife, Jessica, and our five fantastic children. They have been a truly great team throughout this journey. Their sacrifices, patience, and encouragement allowed me to head to St. Paul each week to fight for our values. I am so incredibly proud of them, and I am excited to be more present for all the milestones ahead.”
During his weekend announcement, Swedzinski took a moment to recognize his partner in the Minnesota Senate, who hails from nearby Redwood Falls.
“I want to extend a special thanks to Senator Gary Dahms,” said Swedzinski. “Gary has been more than just a colleague; he has been an incredible Senator for our region and a true friend. Working alongside him to represent Southwest Minnesota has been a privilege, and I value the guidance and partnership we’ve shared over these many years.”
Swedzinski will serve out the remainder of his current term, continuing his work on behalf of his constituents through the end of the current legislative session. He remains committed to ensuring a smooth transition for the district’s next representative.
“My goal always has been — as a farmer — to serve agriculture in rural Minnesota,” he said. “I focused a lot of my work on taxes, energy, commerce, and I did some stuff with the environment.”
One of Swedzinski’s early success in the House was strengthening DWI laws for repeat offenders. This came after the tragic death of SMSU men’s basketball coach Brad Bigler’s 5-month-old son, Drake, on July 28, 2012, the result of the Bigler’s car being hit by a drunk driver near Starbuck. The driver, Dana Schoen, already had two drunk driving offenses since 2000.
He was sentenced to just four years in prison.
Swedzinski and Dahms co-authored the bill, and Drake’s Law increased the maximum sentence to 15 years for someone who commits vehicular homicide while driving drunk within 10 years of a previous 1st degree or 2nd degree DWI conviction.
