MAZEPPA, Minn. — The unpredictable, sometimes whacky state Senator Steve Drazkowski will not seek re-election. In a written statement, Drazkowski listed what he sees as his legacy as a legislator but didn’t explain his decision. He is 61 years old. Drazkowski, a Republican, is in his first term from sprawling Senate District 20, which includes Wabasha and Goodhue counties and slivers of Dakota, Olmsted and Winona counties. Earlier he served eight terms in the House. Drazkowski occasionally has had national attention. In 2023 he argued against free breakfasts and lunches for school children. Drazkowski said he had “yet to meet a person in Minnesota that is hungry.” He lost the argument when sponsors of free meals ridiculed him by noting by that one of five students in his own District 20 qualified for free and reduced lunches. “Draz,” as friend call him, has been a loyal Trump supporter. Last March he co-sponsored a plan to create a new official state classification for mental illness — “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” he called it . The classification was for Trump critics. Was he joking? Was it a publicity stunt? He kept a straight face as television networks taped interviews for prime time.
Drazkowski. In state Legislature since 2007, most recently from Sente District 20.
Verbatim
Drazkowki: “Serving the people of southeastern Minnesota in the House of Representatives and Senate has been a great honor. I have fought to secure our constitutional freedoms, promote fiscal responsibility, improve economic opportunity for families and small businesses, strengthen Minnesota’s agricultural and rural economies, and advance policies that increase transparency and accountability in state government. Rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in government has been a central issue for me. It is gratifying to end my service when awareness of Minnesota’s fraud problem is high, and leaders are focused on finding solutions to stop it.”
Electoral profile
2006: Dtazkowski lost Minnesota Senate District 28 to incumbent Steve Murphy, a Democrat, 54% to 45%.
2007: Won special election for House 28-B over Linda Pfeilsticker, a Democrat, 53% to 47%.
2008: Won House District 28-B over Pfeilsticker 55% to45%.
2010: Won District 28-B over Mark Schneider, a Democrat, 65% to 35%.
2012: Won renumbered District 21-B over Bruce Montplaisir, 58% to 42%.
2014: Won 21-B over M.A. Schneider, a Democrat, 63% to 36%.
2016: Won 21-B over Elise Diesslin, a Democrat, 64% to 36%.
2018: Won 21-B over Jonathan Isenor, a Democrat, 64% to 36%
2020: Won 21-B over Diesslin, 66% to 33%.
2022: Won Senate District 20 over Bradley Drenckhahn, a Democrat, 62% to 32%.
Drazkowski profile
Drazkowski grew up on a farm and graduated from Cochrane-Fountain City High School. He earned a degree in agriculture atUW-River Falls and a master’s in education at the University of Minnesota. He was later a firearms instructor for the state Natural Resources Department in Wabasha. He was a 4-H volunteer jn Wabasha and president of the Minnesota Forage and Grassland Council. Later in Mazeppa he operated a gift shop. He inherited Baker Shoes in Winona, the last downtown shoe store, and traveled 60 miles every couple weeks to check on the business. He closed the shop in 2024. In the Legislature his record was consistently against organized labor.