Rep. Dave Pinto, DFL-St. Paul, is seeking a sixth term representing House District 64B, against Republican challenger Peter Donahue. House District 64B includes St. Paul’s Highland Park neighborhood.

General information about the Nov. 5, 2024, election is online at twincities.com/news/politics/elections including information on candidates for races in Ramsey, Dakota and Washington counties. To find out what’s on your ballot, where to vote and other election information, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s elections page at sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting.

Peter Donahue (did not respond to questionnaire)

Party: Republican

Dave Pinto

Dave Pinto. (Courtesy of the candidate)

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Age: 52

What would your top priorities be if elected?

My top priority continues to be getting every Minnesota child off to a great start. The best way to help kids to thrive is to help their families and communities to do so – through a strong public education system, living-wage jobs, affordable housing and health care, clean water and air, and racial and gender justice.

What qualifies you to hold this position?

I’ve dedicated my life to public service. Outside of the House, I work as a prosecutor of domestic and sexual violence. At the Capitol, I’ve led on issues impacting kids and families; community safety, including gun violence prevention; and policies impacting our city. I’ll continue to push for an agenda that helps all Minnesotans to thrive.

What do you think is the primary role of government?

Government is all of us, coming together to solve problems and build our future. Government helps provide the infrastructure – physical and societal – to enable all of us to thrive: learning and development when we’re young, a dignified retirement when we’re older; a fair economy; an impartial justice system; and more.

How do you work to understand, and then learn from, opinions that differ from your own and people who disagree with you?

There are grave injustices in our society and real threats to our democracy; it is right to call these out. But we must never confuse the idea with the person, nor lose sight of our broader obligations to one another. For my part, I seek out other views – in my reading and in my conversations, both at the Capitol and in the community. For many years, I hosted a bipartisan quarterly forum on early childhood issues. I hope and believe that I have earned the respect of my Republican colleagues.

Website or contact information: www.davepinto.com

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