REGIONAL- In 2026, outside groups have spent more than three times as much as the candidates themselves in the Minnesota Senate District 3 race, where independent expenditures have topped $229,000 compared with $66,139 spent by the campaigns. This comes as Andrea Zupancich and Grant Hauschild face off for a second time after Hauschild won a narrow victory in 2022. It’s a key race that could determine control of the Minnesota Senate.
An independent expenditure is money spent by outside groups or individuals to support or oppose a specific candidate without coordinating with the candidate or campaign. Independent expenditures can include political advertising and other communications advocating for or against a candidate. As long as the spender does not coordinate with a campaign, the spending is not subject to state campaign spending limits. Independent expenditures allow outside groups to exert outsized influence over campaign outcomes.
So far, as a candidate, Hauschild has significantly outraised and outspent Zupancich, yet the independent expenditures, which generally fall along partisan lines, slightly favor Zupancich.
According to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, Hauschild began 2026 with a cash balance of $218,770.61 after raising $173,394.95 in 2025. As of July 20 (the date of the most recent pre-primary finance report), he had raised another $77,172.11 and disbursed $61,867.83 in campaign expenditures.
Zupancich began 2026 with a cash balance of $52,393.60 after raising $9,041.06 in 2025. As of July 20, she had raised another $31,213.22 and spent $4,272 on the campaign.
Compare that to independent expenditures, where $108,891.63 was spent in ways that benefit Grant Hauschild (ads in favor of Hauschild or attacking Zupancich) and $120,910.81 which was spent in ways that benefit Zupancich.
Where the money comes from
Independent spending in favor of Grant Hauschild, totaling $38,891.63, has come from the DFL Senate Caucus and the DFL State Central Committee.
Independent expenditures attacking Zupancich have come entirely from a group calling itself the Political Committee for the Future of the Iron Range, which has spent $70,000 in this campaign cycle so far.
The committee also bought the domain name www.andreazupancich.com and turned it into a list of Zupancich’s alleged misdeeds.
Notably, the largest individual donation to the Political Committee for the Future of the Iron Range was from Brian Solsrud, who is involved as a financial backer in the West Babbitt Development project.
Independent expenditures supporting Zupancich have come from Renew Minnesota, both directly and through Build Minnesota, a group that has received funding from Renew Minnesota. Renew Minnesota is funded primarily by the Minnesota Private Business Council, Pro Jobs Majority and GOPAC.
Attack ads against Hauschild have been funded through Empower Minnesota, another committee that has received funding from Renew Minnesota.
As the two campaigns enter their final few months, spending is likely to continue, both from the campaigns and from independent groups.