Grant Hauschild

Over the last few weeks, I wrapped up my Northland Strong Town Hall tour, holding open conversations in every corner of Northeast Minnesota — from Hermantown, International Falls, and Grand Marais to Two Harbors, Ely, and Grand Rapids.
Because of the size and distinct regions of our district, I believe it’s critical to show up, face-to-face, to listen. That’s why I traveled across the Northland to hear directly from working families, small business owners, seniors, farmers, and local leaders about the challenges and opportunities facing our communities.
At every stop, folks didn’t bring up political talking points — they raised real concerns about real issues.
We talked about the rural child care shortage that’s forcing too many parents to drive hours for work. We talked about the urgent need to fix an unfair policy made back in 2001, when seasonal recreational properties — like cabins and second homes — were removed from contributing to local school levies. In communities like ours, where seasonal properties make up a large portion of the tax base, this change put an unfair burden on year-round residents and took away critical funding from rural schools. I’m working to bring back a fair share from seasonal properties to make sure every child, no matter their zip code, has access to a strong education.
We also talked about protecting our nursing homes, defending our rural hospitals from devastating Medicaid cuts at the Federal level, and investing in outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship that strengthens our local economies and protects our beautiful outdoors for generations to come.
Beyond the town halls, I’ve been working hard to stay connected with the people that make the Northland what it is. I recently visited Mark and Melinda Spinler’s Maple Hill Sugarbush & Farm, where generations of Minnesotans have kept alive the outdoor traditions of maple syrup tapping. I toured the Silver Bay Veterans Home and saw firsthand the incredible work being done to give our veterans the quality of life they deserve. I met with laid-off Steelworkers in Virginia, listening to their stories and recommitting myself to fighting for good-paying union jobs on the Iron Range.
I also visited the Pulsar Helium project site outside of Babbitt, where new opportunities could help fuel the next generation of Northland jobs. And I toured Ely-Bloomenson Hospital, talking with local health care leaders about the real challenges rural hospitals are facing — and how we must do more to protect health care access in every corner of our region.
These visits remind me that leadership isn’t about sitting behind a desk in St. Paul — it’s about showing up, listening, and taking action.
As we enter the final month of the legislative session, I’m proud to be an Assistant Majority Leader in the Senate, where we are focused on balancing the budget, protecting our most vulnerable, and standing up for rural communities like ours. That’s a sharp contrast to what we’re seeing from Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Springs) and the State House, where their budget plan leaves a $1.3 billion deficit on the bottom line. In the Northland, families have to balance their checkbooks — and we should expect the same from state government.
Instead of deficit spending, we’re working to be fiscally responsible in the Senate: balancing our budget while still investing in what matters — our seniors, our young families, our rural schools, and the future of the Northland.
In every conversation, every handshake, and every town hall, I learn something new. But what holds true throughout is that the Northland expects our leaders to stay grounded, stay accessible, and stay focused on results. I’ll continue to keep my head down, stay focused, and, ‘Just Deliver’ for the Northland — because that’s what I’ve always promised you I would do.