Candidates vie for state seats
By Tim Spitzack | Editor | February 2026

West Sider Sebastian Ellefson is one of the candidates now vying for the Minnesota House of Representatives District 65B seat. Born and raised in the Twin Cities, Ellefson earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago, a master’s degree in public policy from Loyola University Chicago and a law degree from the University of Minnesota. He is co-founder of BallotReady, a nonprofit that provides free, nonpartisan online voter guides, and currently works for the Volunteer Lawyers Network, where he represents and advises working-class Minnesotans on issues including wage theft, eviction defense and housing habitability.

“Every day, I see how state policies directly affect people’s stability and opportunity,” said Ellefson in a statement. “I’m running to make sure our community has a strong, thoughtful advocate at the Capitol who understands what people are facing and works to make government more responsive to their needs.”

Ellefson served on the board of the West Side Community Organization (WSCO) and is a board member of Cherokee Park United Church. He is also the troop leader for Girl Scout Troop 58484. Wife Sarah is an ESL teacher with St. Paul Public Schools, and their two children attend public school in St. Paul. For more information, visit teamellefson.com.

Dan Lund, former Mayor of Newport, has entered the race for the Minnesota Senate District 53 seat. He will seek the DFL endorsement. Lund served as mayor of Newport from 2017 to 2020 and was a former city council member. He said accountability is central to his leadership style.

“Public service means showing up, doing the work and taking responsibility for results,” he said in a statement. “That’s what I’ve done as mayor, and that’s exactly what I’ll bring to the State Senate…. My focus has always been on the basics – the things that affect people’s lives every day: clean water, safe neighborhoods and a government that listens and delivers. These aren’t abstract policies, they’re the decisions that show up in your tap water, your bills, and your daily life.”

For more information, visit DanLund.org.