The Ballot Brief
St. Louis County, Minnesota

Minnesota House District 8B

2 candidates are tracked for Minnesota House District 8B on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Shawn Savela and Liish Kozlowski. Candidate information follows official St. Louis County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Shawn Savela (Republican), Liish Kozlowski (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) are on the November 3 ballot for Minnesota House District 8B; Liish Kozlowski is the sitting member, per the Minnesota House of Representatives's official member directory (house.mn.gov). Nominees were chosen at the August 11, 2026 primary (where contested) or qualified directly for the general ballot. The field is the Secretary of State's certified candidate table; Minnesota prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Liish Kozlowski, is on the ballot.

Minnesota › St. Louis County › Minnesota House District 8B

Shawn Savela

Republican

Top priorities
  • Supports balanced budgets and eliminating government waste and fraud
  • Supports responsible resource development, including mining, while protecting the region's natural beauty

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Shawn Savela is a software consulting business owner who has led the company for more than 25 years, per his campaign site. Savela holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota Duluth, per his campaign site. Savela is running for Minnesota House District 8B, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Liish Kozlowski

Liish Kozlowski

Democratic-Farmer-Labor Incumbent

Top priorities
  • Supports higher wages and worker protections
  • Supports guaranteed access to health care and housing
  • Prioritizes protection of the region's land and waters

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Kozlowski, who uses they/them pronouns, was born and raised in Duluth and is a first-generation graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth with an MBA from the College of St. Scholastica, per the campaign site. They previously served as a Community Relations Officer for the City of Duluth and are serving their second term representing District 8B, where they are vice chair of Housing Finance and Policy, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
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Questions about this race

Who is running for Minnesota House District 8B in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Minnesota House District 8B on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Shawn Savela and Liish Kozlowski. Candidate information follows official St. Louis County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Minnesota House District 8B election in Minnesota?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Minnesota are on the Minnesota election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact St. Louis County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official St. Louis County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Minnesota election office, or see the full St. Louis County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your St. Louis County ballot

27 tracked races in St. Louis County, Minnesota. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Judge, Minnesota 6th Judicial District Court, Seat 1Judge, Minnesota 6th Judicial District Court, Seat 2Judge, Minnesota 6th Judicial District Court, Seat 4See all 27 St. Louis County races
Candidate profiles
Shawn Savela, full profileLiish Kozlowski, full profileOfficial Minnesota election office