MADISON LAKE — Republican state Sen. Rich Draheim of Madison Lake will not seek reelection in 2026.
“After careful consideration and discussion with my family, I’ve decided not to seek reelection after my term ends in 2026,” Draheim stated in a press release posted Monday morning on the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus website. “I believe in term limits, and after 10 years in the Senate, it’s time to give others the opportunity to serve in the Legislature.”
The businessman was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2016 and has been reelected twice since then.
“Everyone has something to offer, and there needs to be fresh voices in St. Paul,” he stated. “I’m proud of the things I got done, but I’ll also remember the things that didn’t make it across the finish line and the impact they could have had. ”
He has served on a variety of committees, starting as vice chair of the Higher Education Committee, then as vice chair of Health and Human Services, chair of the Housing and Homelessness Prevention Committee, and finally, as co-chair and Republican Lead of the Jobs and Economic Development Committee.
In 2022, he was the chief author of an omnibus mental health package that appropriated $92.7 million to fund mental health programs and initiatives. The bill funded school-linked mental health grants to increase access for children and youth who are uninsured or underinsured and improved the identification of mental health issues for children and youth. It also expanded mobile crisis service teams that provide rapid responses to individuals in crisis and appropriated funding for mental health resources in schools, including incentives to ease barriers to entering the mental health profession.
Part of his work included establishing a standalone Housing and Homelessness Prevention Committee in the Senate. He was recognized with the Legislative Housing Leadership Award in 2025, 2022, 2021, and 2017 for his efforts to advance housing affordability and expand opportunities for homeownership.
Draheim said his top priorities next session are public safety, addressing rising health care costs and term limits at the Legislature.