Dustin DuFault

Dustin DuFault earned a high school diploma from Argyle High School, a bachelor's degree from the University of North Dakota in 1997, and a law degree from the William Mitchell College of Law in 2000. His career experience includes working as an attorney at law.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm Dustin DuFault, a lifelong Minnesotan running for Senate in District 49. I grew up on a farm in the Red River Valley in northwest Minnesota, where I learned the value of hard work and self-reliance early on. I have lived in the Twin Cities for nearly the past 30 years. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and earned my law degree at William Mitchell College of Law. I'm a registered patent attorney and have practiced law for more than 25 years, the last 20-plus running my own law practice. I've lived in Minnetonka for the past 16 years with my wife Carolina, who herself grew up in Chile. I serve on the board of a local nonprofit, having previously spent over a decade on another, and do volunteer work in prison ministry. I'm running because I believe Minnesota deserves better, with accountable government, spending discipline, and safe, affordable communities for families like mine.

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?

Minnesota needs accountable government. I support standing up the Office of Inspector General's law enforcement division now, not waiting until 2028, so that fraud against state programs is investigated and prosecuted instead of tolerated. Taxpayers deserve to know their money is being spent honestly, and I'll push for stronger, faster oversight rather than more bureaucracy that arrives years too late.Spending discipline is economic policy. I oppose new state taxes and fees, and I believe the Legislature should control costs directly rather than shifting the burden onto property tax bills. That includes keeping zoning and development decisions with local cities instead of one-size-fits-all mandates from the Capitol, so Eden Prairie and Minnetonka can make choices that fit their own communities.Safe communities require follow-through. I support funding public safety so resources reach local police, holding repeat violent offenders accountable, and enforcing the gun laws already on the books against prohibited possessors. Families in District 49 deserve to feel safe at home, at school, and in their neighborhoods, without new mandates that don't address the actual problem.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I'm most passionate about government accountability and fraud prevention, ensuring taxpayer dollars in state programs are protected rather than lost to waste or abuse. I also care deeply about spending discipline and affordability, keeping the cost of living manageable for Minnesota families. Public safety is another priority close to me, making sure offenders are actually held accountable by prosecutors and courts, so lax enforcement doesn't allow them to become repeat offenders, while ensuring police departments have the funding they need. I also care about local control, letting cities like Eden Prairie and Minnetonka make their own zoning, development, and community decisions instead of having them dictated from the Capitol.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I have not actively sought endorsements from organizations or advocacy groups, and I don't sign pledge cards binding my votes in advance. I'd rather voters judge me on my record and my stated positions than on endorsements traded for commitments made before the facts, the session language, or a fiscal note even exist.