Austin Peterson for Minnesota Senate

10/10/2026

As a father of 3 who has had kids in childcare, I know how important this issue is to families.

Recently, I was asked about childcare regulations at the Chamber debate. My position is simple

Every regulation has a cost. If it doesn’t make a child safer, why are we making providers and families pay for it?

Protect our kids. Cut unnecessary red tape. Make childcare more affordable and accessible.

Families need solutions, not more bureaucracy.

See the full article attached as we cover variety of topics important to this region.

MOORHEAD, Minn. — Candidates seeking seats in the Minnesota Legislature offered competing visions for the state’s future during a legislative debate hosted by the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce, with affordability, government accountability, business regulations,

10/06/2026

Stopped at the Red Hen in Moorhead to meet the campaign team for a late lunch.

As we sat there, multiple complete strangers stopped us and said, “Austin, I’m voting for you.”

There is excitement in the air in Moorhead.

We’ve knocked 30,000 doors, had thousands of conversations, and our campaign advertisements are reaching people all across the district.

Is this an official poll? Absolutely not.

But when complete strangers go out of their way to stop you and say they’re with you, you feel it.

30,000 doors. Thousands of conversations. And we’re just getting started.

30 days. Let’s go.

Austin Peterson for Senate

10/06/2026

I was getting my hair cut today when one of the barbers had a young boy with autism who was extremely fearful of getting his hair cut.

His mom and the barber worked their butts off to help him overcome that fear. It took patience, compassion and a lot of work.

Watching that got me thinking about how many real struggles families are facing every single day.

Autism is real. The challenges these families face are real. When a family needs help, they should be able to get it.

At the same time, we've seen too many people abuse programs that were created to help those who actually need them. Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar that can't go toward helping someone who truly needs it.

As your Senator, I will fight to protect your tax dollars, but I will fight just as hard to protect the people who need us most.

Because our community is strongest when we take care of our people.

Austin Peterson for Senate

10/05/2026

I do some of my best thinking while mowing and today I was able to catch up on some yard work.

While mowing, I kept thinking about this race.

30 sleeps, as my Kindergartener will say.

In 30 days, we have a chance to win a seat that hasn’t been held by a Republican since 1950s.

Republicans in District 4 are fired up, but so are Independents. People who vote for the person, not the party. We have met so many energized Independents that are supporting Austin4MN.

The other side can send postcards and put labels on me, but they don't know me.

We've spent months knocking doors and having real conversations.

And what I'm hearing over and over is this,

Everything costs too damn much in Minnesota.

Property taxes. Car tabs. Housing. Childcare, the list goes on..

People don't need another politician telling them why it isn't their fault.

They need someone willing to fight to make Minnesota more affordable.

30 sleeps.

You get to decide what Minnesota you want for your future.

Austin Peterson for Senate

10/02/2026

Today I attended the BIA RRV candidate forum and spoke with industry leaders in person and online.

As a BIA member, this industry is personal. Construction creates jobs, housing, small businesses and economic growth across our region.

As the Housing First Minnesota and Minnesota Chamber of Commerce endorsed candidate, I spoke about the lack of common sense coming from St. Paul.

We discussed regulations that drive up costs, Paid Leave and its impact on job creators, and the contradiction of claiming to support affordable housing while making it more expensive to build thru costly added regulations.

Unfortunately, our current senator didn’t show up to have that conversation with the very industry that generates millions of local construction investment in our region.

The construction industry deserves a seat at the table and legislators who listen.

I’ll keep showing up, listening and fighting for common-sense policies that help our region grow.

Austin Peterson for Senate

10/01/2026

Coffee this morning at Roasted Rail in Dilworth with Holly Oster-Klinnert, a local community member concerned about the direction of our community and especially our local economy.

Holly and I don’t agree on everything. She leans one way, I lean the other. And that’s OK. Our district needs balance, not division.

Then Jesus Vega from Lupe’s Tacos walked in for his morning coffee. He’s a North Dakotan, not a Republican, and not even a Minnesota voter. He came over and said:

I’m not a Republican. I’m not a Minnesotan. But if I lived here, I’d vote for you because you treat me with respect and you’re relatable to my needs.

That stuck with me.

I’m not wavering on my Republican principles. But I’m listening. Every day, we’re hearing from people who may disagree with me on some issues but are finding common ground on others.

Today, that common ground was local businesses, local investment and our local economy.

We don’t have to agree on everything to move this district forward.

Austin Peterson for Senate

10/01/2026

I’m proud to be the NRA-endorsed candidate in Senate District 4 with an A rating.

Let’s be clear about something

Law-abiding gun owners aren’t the problem.

They’re often the first people who want criminals who misuse fi****ms arrested, prosecuted, and held accountable by the law enforcement officers we proudly support.

You don’t have to choose between protecting the Second Amendment and protecting our schools, families, and communities.

We can do both.

I’ll always stand with our law-abiding gun owners, hunters, sportsmen and women while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the men and women in law enforcement who keep our communities safe.

https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/Minnesota/