Brian Cohn

Brian Cohn was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Rochester in 1980, a graduate degree from the University of Rochester in 1982, and a graduate degree from the University of Minnesota in 1996. His career experience includes working as a consultant, engineer, project manager, and product manager. Cohn has been affiliated with Minnesota Masters Swimming, Lakeville Lions, Project Management Institute, and Product Development and Management Association.[1]

Brian Cohn has not yet completed [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

If you are Brian Cohn, click here to fill out [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out the candidate survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete [the profile publisher]'s Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's [the profile publisher] profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 32,000 candidates have taken [the profile publisher]'s candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.

You can ask Brian Cohn to fill out this survey by using the button below.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Hello, I’m Brian Cohn and I’m excited to be running to represent the people of district 57B in the state house. My wife and I have been residents of Lakeville for 10 years. We have four adult children who were raised in Northfield and one granddaughter. I’ve had two volunteer passions for many years – Masters Swimming and professional organizations supporting excellence in Product Development.

I am running for our children and grandchildren - we need to work to make the world a better place for them. It begins by investing in our tremendous public education system to give them a great start.

We also need to help our young adults to deal with the increased stress and often reduced satisfaction with their situation by making mental health and addiction care services more accessible.

For all of us, we need to work to reduce gun violence, address climate change, and enhance the infrastructure that makes Minnesota a great place to be in business.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I've spent my career in product development seeking out solutions to customer problems. I will take this mindset to St. Paul and work with all stakeholders to help make all our lives better.Great public schools help everyone in the community. They boost the economy and improve our democracy. As a father I know that a quality education can give our children a lifelong foundation to build on.Ensuring the safety of our communities is a top priority. We all want and deserve to feel safe in our community and I will work to implement common sense solutions that will effectively reduce gun violence and increase public safety.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Financing our education system, making health care (including mental health and addiction care) more affordable and accessible, and reducing gun violence

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

We are elected to represent the people, so it is imperative that we make the time to listen to our constituents. As public leaders, we must set an example of ethical and caring behavior. Finally, we must be responsible stewards of the people's money - investing it where it will do the most good.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Passing legislation requires many people to align on a solution they can accept. It won't be ideal for many but needs to be acceptable more than half of each chamber of the legislature.

My job today is to help companies improve the way that they develop new products. Part of that role is facilitating teams as they decide what next best steps to take on their improvement journey. There are always many opinions on what to do, but I successfully help them find a step that moves them forward.

Creating legislation is a similar process. We have many ideas for how the government can help improve our lives and I will work with my fellow legislators to prioritize the ideas and align on the practical steps forward we can take.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event I remember is the assassination of John F. Kennedy when I was 5 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was as an optical engineer working for a large aerospace company. I primarily developed novel solutions for aircraft and helicopter avionics systems, but also worked on the same technology that helps align the mirror on the James Webb Space Telescope. I worked for this company for five years.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

It takes 68 votes in the MN House and 43 votes in the MN Senate to pass any bill. Getting this many people to agree requires building relationships with them. The relationships will be based on our common values and reaching consensus on steps forward to achieve that vision.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

My focus is on this race and this office. I do not have plans to seek any different office in the future.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I have been endorsed by MAPE, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, Teamsters, 3.14 Action Network, Climate Cabinet, and Boundary Waters Action Network. I have also picked up badges of support from Moms Demand Action and Fairvote Minnesota

What committees interest you?

I am most interested in serving on the Education Finance, Ethics, Workforce Develpment Finance & Policy, and Sustainable Infrastructure committees.