Who's running in Minnesota's 6th congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Tom Emmer currently holds this seat
High confidenceHigh confidenceBacked by government records or the candidate's own official statements, with agreement across several independent sources.What would raise it: Nothing missing — this is the strongest evidence tier.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Supporting the America First agenda and extending the 2025 tax cuts.
Energy independence to lower grocery, gas and electricity costs.
Requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, through the SAVE Act.
Border security, including the H.R. 2 border bill.
School choice and ending the US Department of Education.
Ending waste, fraud and abuse in federal programmes.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Minnesota's 6th District since January 2015; House majority whip since 2023.
Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, 2018–2022.
Minnesota state representative, 2005–2010; Republican nominee for governor in 2010.
Says his office brought back more than $40 million for infrastructure projects in the district in 2025.
Told a Faith & Freedom Coalition event in June 2026 that Somali immigrants who do not assimilate 'should go the hell back to where they came from'.
Won the August 11, 2026 Republican primary with 80.9%; endorsed by President Trump and the Republican Party of Minnesota.
Missed the August 2026 Farmfest candidate forum; Rep. Pete Stauber's office said he had recently undergone foot surgeries.
Arguments in favor
Congress has had 'an historic year and a half passing permanent tax cuts, closing the southern border, and combating waste, fraud, and abuse', with more work to do alongside President Trump.
— Tom Emmer, candidate questionnaire for St. Cloud LIVE
He delivers for the district — casework help for more than 500 people in a year and more than $40 million for infrastructure in St. Cloud, Blaine, Foley and Big Lake — and is 'not afraid to stand up for what is right' on Minnesota's fraud scandals.
— Tom Emmer, candidate questionnaire for St. Cloud LIVE
Arguments against
'Using your position of authority to make statements dehumanizing an entire community makes you a racist' — a response to Emmer telling Somalis who don't assimilate to 'go the hell back'.
— Doug Chapin, DFL opponent, statement reported by St. Cloud LIVE
He stays in Washington and away from constituents, has not held an in-person town hall 'in thousands of days', and has let Congress become 'nothing more than a rubber stamp for the White House'.
— Doug Chapin, DFL opponent, at Farmfest (MinnPost) and to the Delano Herald Journal
He has not spent time in person with constituents, relying on telephone town halls where questions may be prescreened, and ignored a serious concern raised by a constituent.
— Mike Foley, Republican primary opponent, to St. Cloud LIVE
What we couldn’t verify
Emmer's spokesperson did not respond to St. Cloud LIVE's request for comment on the June 2026 remarks.
Whether the candidates will debate had not been reported.
Economic opportunity: good jobs, livable pay, fair taxes and open markets.
Health care that puts patients before insurers, including extending Affordable Care Act premium tax credits; he has also backed a single-payer system.
A Congress independent of the White House rather than 'a rubber stamp'.
Cutting ICE funding and raising its recruitment standards.
Protecting Social Security, Medicare and reproductive rights.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Elections counsel to Democrats on the US Senate Rules Committee; led the Pew Charitable Trusts' elections team for more than a decade; founded electionline.org.
Taught election administration at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Won the 6th District DFL endorsement with about 90% on the first ballot in April 2026 and was unopposed in the August 11 primary.
Has not held elected office.
Moved to Minnesota in 2022.
Arguments in favor
'When your government is broken, you hire an election nerd. I am that nerd!' — decades of work improving elections from the inside prepare him to fix Congress.
— Doug Chapin, at the 6th District DFL convention, reported by the Elk River Star News
'The people of central Minnesota deserve someone in Congress who works for them.' Chapin has been all over the district listening, and would be a congressman 'that will be present and bring back common sense to Washington'.
— Richard Carlbom, Minnesota DFL Party chair
Arguments against
His criticism of Emmer for missing Farmfest was out of line: 'You have no idea what Congressman Emmer is dealing with right now. If you did, you would have never made that comment.'
— Rep. Pete Stauber, Republican of the 8th District, at Farmfest, reported by MinnPost
He is relatively new to the 6th District, having moved to Minnesota only in 2022.
— Anson Amberson, rival for the DFL endorsement, at a January 2026 debate reported by the West Central Tribune
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Chapin by Emmer's campaign or the NRCC could be found.
Chapin's current fundraising total was not found beyond his own earlier figure of about $200,000.
Whether the candidates will debate had not been reported.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Minnesota held its primaries on August 11, 2026; November 3 is the general election, decided by plurality with no runoff. The district uses the map adopted in 2022; no redistricting or map litigation affecting 2026 was found. Two candidates are on the ballot: Republican incumbent Tom Emmer, the House majority whip, who won his primary with 80.9% over Mike Foley and Chris Corey, and DFL nominee Doug Chapin, who was unopposed in the primary. Ballotpedia lists two unaffiliated candidates, Kelly Doss and Austin Winkelman, as not having made the ballot. Roster from Wikipedia, Ballotpedia, MPR News and St. Cloud LIVE. The district runs from St. Cloud through Wright, Sherburne and Carver counties and the northern and western Twin Cities suburbs.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
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Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Minnesota Secretary of State.