In May 2024, Lislegard announced that he would not seek reelection to a fourth term.
Early life, education, and career
Lislegard attended Babbitt-Embarrass High School. He 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.[2]
Lislegard worked as a steelworker at the LTV steel plant in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota, until he was laid off in 2001. He worked in business relations for Lakehead Constructors.[2][4]
Lislegard served on the Aurora City Council for 14 years and as mayor from 2017 until he was elected to the state legislature.[2] As a council member and mayor, Lislegard long supported the mining industry in the Iron Range, saying he was confident mining could be done responsibly despite environmental concerns.[4][5] He 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.[6][7][8]
Lislegard chairs the Property Tax Division and sits on the Taxes, Environment and Natural Resources, and Veterans and Military Affairs Committees. From 2019 to 2022 he served as vice chair of the Taxes Committee.[2]
Mining and environmental regulations
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.[9][10] He co-authored legislation to officially declare Minnesota a "mining-friendly" state.[11] He has supported the PolyMet and Twin Metals mining proposals, and criticized Mesabi Metallics for failing to meet state deadlines for its taconite mining project.[5][12][13]
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.[4][12] He has said that if the companies fail to show they can meet environmental standards, he would oppose their permits.[12]
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.[14] The bill passed the house with broad bipartisan support and was signed by Governor Tim Walz on January 24, 2023.[15][16] He introduced a bill that would provide $25 million in state funds to renovate power lines in Northern Minnesota.[17]
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.[18][19] He 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.[20] His and other rural DFL members opposition led to the proposal being scaled back to only include the seven-county metro and other large cities.[21]
Taxes
Lislegard supported a full elimination of state taxes on Social Security benefits, and authored legislation to repeal the tax.[22][23][24] He later supported a full repeal for couples earning less than $100,000 annually.[25] Lislegard supported the DFL's 2023 tax proposal, including raising taxes on the top 0.8 percent of earners and corporate income.[26] He has supported efforts to permanently increase local and county government aid.[27]
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.[28][29][30] He co-authored legislation in 2022 to propose a gas tax holiday due to rising costs and inflation.[31][32]
Other political positions
Lislegard has opposed "right to work" laws and called himself a "labor Democrat".[33][34] He has supported the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) 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.[35] He authored legislation that delivered money for a public safety center in Virginia, Minnesota.[34] He was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) in 2022.[36][37]
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.[38] He authored legislation to build a facility in St. Louis County to treat PFAS chemicals.[39] During the COVID-19 pandemic, he voted with House Republicans attempting to rescind Governor Walz's emergency powers in November 2020.[40]
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