Andrea Zupancich is running for the Minnesota Senate District 3 seat with hopes that voters in the district are fed up with high taxes, fraud and the overall direction of the state.
“Hopefully, people will come forward and vote,” Zupancich said. “This can’t keep going on. We can’t continue to have taxes go up and all the fraud.”
Zupancich, mayor of Babbitt, is taking her second run at the seat.
Zupancich, a Republican, lost in 2022 by 703 votes to Grant Hauschild the Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate from Hermantown.
This time, Zupancich said issues the region and state are facing, are leading her to seek the seat again.
“I see where everything is going right now in the state,” Zupancich, owner of zUpNorth Realty said. “I see people vacating the state. I see no businesses coming in. We need to turn this stuff around and now with all this additional fraud in the billions, which literally makes me sick. What’s going to happen with that? We’re obviously not going to recoup that money, but we’re going to be on the hook for all of it. Things need to change, but they don’t seem to have any urgency of changing anything, so that’s why I decided to run again.”
Multiple fraud investigations into food, autism, housing, and health programs within the state have led to charges against 90 people and 61 convictions to date.
Federal investigators say the amount of fraud could reach billions.
The fraud, increasing taxes, mining, and jobs are among Zupancich’s top concerns.
“We had to impose a higher levy,” Zupancich said of Babbitt. “We weren’t the only one, but it’s difficult for us to have to impose a higher levy when everyone’s purse strings are tightening up as it is.”
Support for taconite and precious metals mining is another issue, along with Pulsar Helium’s proposed helium project near Babbitt, Zupancich said.
“Pulsar is an issue since Minnesota hasn’t decided how to tax it yet," Zupancich said. "If it is too high, they’re not going to be able to do it feasibly. And it’s the industry and the jobs that we need desperately here. We need jobs coming to the state, not jobs vacating the state like they have been.”
On state taxes, Zupancich highlighted a proposed foraging tax.
“For all these additional taxes they’re talking about imposing—a foraging tax—are you kidding?” Zupancich said. “That’s just unbelievable. They’re starting to make it hard for tourists to come to our area as it is, but now you’re just going to tell us the gas tax is going up and we’re also going to tax you if you go blueberry picking. It's just ridiculous. Next, we’ll be taxed to breathe or something.”
Zupancich also supports reforms to a governor’s emergency powers, the Second Amendment, law enforcement, and local government control, according to her campaign website.
Zupancich said she learned a lot from the 2022 campaign.
A lot of lies were spread about her by PAC’s (Political Action Committees), Zupancich said.
But Zupancich said she gained thick skin from the experience.
As she launches her campaign, Zupancich said she will getting around the district personally and fundraisers will be held.
Zupancich said she is up against bigger money.
But Zupancich said she will work hard to win the seat and improve the region and the state.
A strong voter turnout in November would help, Zupancich said.
If enough people who are tired of what’s been happening in the state come forward to vote, Zupancich said she can win the seat.
A new direction is needed, Zupancich said.
"I see a lot of strife in the state," Zupancich said. "I think the parties need to work together better. I don't think it’s a my-way-or-the-highway type of position. You need to listen to people and you need to work across the aisle because it doesn’t matter—you’re working for the good of the state.”
Senate District 3 includes a large swath of northeastern Minnesota, from Hoyt Lakes to the North Shore, north to Grand Portage, west to International Falls, south through Ely, Orr, Cook, Tower, and Babbitt, and into Itasca County, including Bigfork, Big Falls, Effie and Marcell.
