ELECTION 2026
Marshall resident David Sturrock knows how much Republican experience the Minnesota House and Senate is losing this year — more than 80 years clout to be exact. That’s a big reason why he has announced his intention to fill at least one of those gaps by running for the House District 15A seat, currently held by Republican Chris Swedzinski, who recently announced he won’t be seeking reelection.
“We’ve got these five incumbents who are leaving at the same time for their own reasons, and one thing I offer is experience in working with statewide organizations, being at the Legislature, working on issues that affect our region,” said Sturrock, who said he was surprised by Swedzinki’s announcement.
Sturrock called this batch of retirements a challenge for the region, but also an opportunity to “start over and rebuild. I’m excited to have a chance to be part of that.”
Sturrock is by no means a stranger to politics and public service. In 2004, he ran unsuccessfully against Democratic veteran U.S. House Rep. Collin Peterson. On a more local level, the political science professor at Southwest Minnesota State University has served on the Marshall City Council Council, and has been an ardent advocate for transportation improvements in the region with the Marshall Area Transportation Group. He has also served as a member of the Governor’s Academic Standards Committee and was treasurer of the 7th Congressional District GOP.
STURROCK SMSU photo
The transportation issue is something of a pet project for Sturrock, and he said many improvements have been made in the area, including on highways 14, 23 and 212. In 2017, he wrote the application that resulted in a grant for Hwy. 23 Sturrock said the most important issues in the next session will be to impose accountability for the numerous areas of fraud in the state and build firewalls to make sure they do not happen again; balance the state budget to head off the deficit which is forecast for the near future; and reverse Minnesota’s declines in economic growth, educational performance and public safety.
Sturrock has been a delegate to the congressional district and state Republican Party conventions, an alternate to the Republican National Convention, a member of the Minnesota Republican State Central Committee, and a steering committee member in Minnesota for President Bush, Gov. Pawlenty and Congressman Kennedy.
• Sturrock isn’t the only one who feels he’s ready to fill Swedzinski’s shoes. Brad Hennen, who lives on a family farm near Ghent, has also announced his candidacy. Hennen has served for 10 years on the Minnesota Pork Board — two as President — and 15 years with the Lyon County Farm Bureau, where has served as treasurer for the past eight years.
Hennen describes himself as a principled conservative, farmed for 26 years and has spent the last 13 years working in ag sales.
Hennen says too many young families feeling squeezed despite being hard workers. He said it needs to be made easier to build a life here. His focus is lowering the cost of living for families; supporting agriculture and small businesses; and strengthening rural communities so the next generation can stay and succeed.
The third candidate is Hunter McFall of Granite Falls. McFall has a background in emergency medical services, having worked as an EMT from 2019 to 2022 and currently serving as a paramedic with Avera Granite Falls Ambulance and CentraCare Ambulance in Willmar since 2022. He also an EMS educator at Ridgewater College.
McFall’s top priorities if elected include strengthening rural healthcare and ambulance services through proper funding and resources, increasing accountability and transparency in state government, and working alongside community leaders to promote economic development and population growth in rural Minnesota.
Party control in Minnesota House is currently split — 67 Republicans and 67 Democrats.
• Nathan Schmidt of Minneota is running for the District 15A seat for the DFL. Other Democratic hopefuls are Keith Klawitter of Morgan (House District 15B) and Andrea Boettger (Senate District 15).
• Chris Knoll won the Republican Party endorsement Saturday for Minnesota Senate District 21 at the party’s district convention, positioning him as the GOP-backed candidate in the 2026 general election. Knoll secured the endorsement from delegates representing the district’s Republican base, succeeding retiring Senator Bill Weber.
• The party also endorsed Krist Wollum in House District 21A and Marj Fogelman in House District 21B.
