30 Facts About Dave Lislegard

Dave Lislegard is an American politician who served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025.

Dave Lislegard studied at Mesabi Range College for two years and later attended the University of Minnesota Duluth, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and communications.

Dave Lislegard worked as a steelworker at the LTV steel plant in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota, until he was laid off in 2001.

Dave Lislegard served on the Aurora City Council for 14 years and as mayor from 2017 until he was elected to the state legislature.

Dave Lislegard opposed efforts to insert language into the DFL party platform that would "oppose sulfide-ore mining" in the state, and served as a member of the pro-mining Jobs for Minnesotans' board of directors.

Dave Lislegard was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018 and has been reelected every two years since.

Dave Lislegard first ran after three-term DFL incumbent Jason Metsa announced he would not seek reelection and would run for Minnesota's 8th Congressional District.

Dave Lislegard defeated the party-endorsed candidate, Shaun Hainey, in the DFL primary.

Dave Lislegard chaired the Property Tax Division in the 93rd legislature and sat on the Taxes, Environment and Natural Resources, and Veterans and Military Affairs committees in his term.

Dave Lislegard is a vocal supporter of the mining industry in the Iron Range, and has been called "arguably the most pro-mining legislator" in the state.

Dave Lislegard co-authored legislation to officially declare Minnesota a "mining-friendly" state.

Dave Lislegard has supported the PolyMet and Twin Metals mining proposals, and criticized Mesabi Metallics for failing to meet state deadlines for its taconite mining project.

Dave Lislegard has argued mining can be done safely, boost the local economy, and create good-paying jobs and that opponents of mining would force the outsourcing of materials to countries with looser environmental standards.

Dave Lislegard has said that if the companies fail to show they can meet environmental standards, he would oppose their permits.

Dave Lislegard authored legislation for a $10 million extension of unemployment benefits for 400 miners laid off from Cleveland-Cliffs Northshore Mining operations in May 2022.

Dave Lislegard introduced a bill that would provide $25 million in state funds to renovate power lines in Northern Minnesota.

Dave Lislegard supported a major expansion of a solar manufacturing plant in the Iron Range, saying the materials for the plant should be mined in Minnesota.

Dave Lislegard raised concerns over the reestablishment of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's citizen's board and the impact it would have on the mining industry.

Dave Lislegard supported a full elimination of state taxes on Social Security benefits, and authored legislation to repeal the tax.

Dave Lislegard later supported a full repeal for couples earning less than $100,000 annually.

Dave Lislegard supported the DFL's 2023 tax proposal, including raising taxes on the top 0.8 percent of earners and corporate income.

Dave Lislegard has supported efforts to permanently increase local and county government aid.

Dave Lislegard, who played an extra in the 2005 film "North Country" filmed in the Iron Range, has led efforts to give tax incentives and rebates to the entertainment industry to increase film and TV production in Minnesota.

Dave Lislegard co-authored legislation in 2022 to propose a gas tax holiday due to rising costs and inflation.

Dave Lislegard has opposed "right to work" laws and called himself a "labor Democrat".

Dave Lislegard has supported the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association priorities on pensions, labor agreements, local government aid, and frontline worker pay, and was one of a handful of DFL candidates earning their endorsement in 2022.

Dave Lislegard authored legislation that delivered money for a public safety center in Virginia, Minnesota.

Dave Lislegard was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund in 2022.

Dave Lislegard voted for the PRO Act, which established a fundamental right to an abortion in state law in accordance with a 1995 Minnesota State Supreme Court ruling.

Dave Lislegard authored legislation to build a facility in St Louis County to treat PFAS chemicals.