Meet Your Candidate
Trina Swanson Candidate for Congress
Minnesota’s 8th District
25 years defending American values abroad. Now she’s coming home to fight for the families who raised her.
A Fighter for Northern and Central Minnesota
Trina Swanson is running for Congress to protect the future of northern and central Minnesota — and the people who call it home.
She understands what’s at stake. Minnesotans are working hard, but rising costs, economic uncertainty, and decisions made far from here are making it harder to build a stable life in the communities they love.
Trina believes District 8 deserves leadership focused on affordability, stability, and strong local communities — so the next generation can live, work, and thrive right here at home.
She’s running to bring practical, steady leadership that puts northern and central Minnesota first.
Northern Minnesota Roots
Trina Swanson didn’t grow up in politics. She grew up in Hermantown, Minnesota—in a house where her mother worked as a nurse and her father built things with his hands, first in construction, then at the paper mill. The kitchen table conversations weren’t about policy papers. They were about making ends meet, looking out for neighbors, and believing that if you worked hard enough, you could build a good life.
Those lessons stayed with her. When other kids dreamed of leaving northern Minnesota behind, Trina carried it with her—through every post, every country, every crisis. Northern Minnesota taught her that unions strengthen our middle class, that communities thrive when people show up for each other, and that honest work should buy you a life with dignity, not constant insecurity.
Now, after 25 years of service around the world, she’s come home. Because the families she grew up with—the nurses, the carpenters, the millworkers, the miners, the teachers—deserve a representative who actually knows what their lives look like.
A Career of Service
Answering the Call to Serve
Trina began her federal career at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Duluth, where she started out filing papers, working her way up to assisting attorneys and the public. After law school, she continued her federal service when she joined U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services in Bloomington, where she quickly distinguished herself as a leader who combined deep legal knowledge with genuine compassion for the people she served. She built her reputation on doing things right—following the law, protecting the borders and the vulnerable, and never cutting corners.
Representing America Overseas
Her expertise earned her posts in Germany and Kenya, where she represented the United States Government on the world stage. In these roles, she led international operations, combated national security and criminal threats, and ensured immigration benefits were granted lawfully—all while working across administrations of both parties to keep Americans safe.
Director of International Operations, USCIS
Trina rose to become Director of International Operations for USCIS—overseeing offices across the globe, managing national emergency responses, and leading one of the most critical functions of the Department of Homeland Security. For nearly 20 years, she served with distinction, earning two DHS Secretary’s Award for exceptional service to the nation.
Standing Up and Coming Home
When the new administration asked her to carry out directives she believed were unethical, Trina did what she’s always done: she stood on principle. She walked away from her career rather than compromise her oath. She started an immigration law firm to fight for people’s rights—and then she made a bigger decision. She came home to run for Congress, because the people of northern and central Minnesota deserve someone in Washington who won’t back down.
What Drives Trina
Healthcare for Everyone
When her mother lost her hospital nursing job of 42 years from a stroke—and the healthcare she needed —Trina saw firsthand how fragile employer-provided coverage can be. She’s fighting for affordable, accessible healthcare—especially in rural communities where the nearest hospital can be hours away.
Working Families First
“Mining built this region. Union jobs built the middle class here.” Trina believes economic development and environmental stewardship can coexist—and that the people who build, mine, teach, and heal deserve an economy that works for them.
Education to Career
Every young person deserves an affordable pathway—whether that’s college, trade school, or apprenticeship. Trina is committed to building education-to-career pipelines that keep talent in northern and central Minnesota and grow our communities.
Community Over Politics
Trina spent 25 years working across Republican and Democratic administrations to get things done. She believes in showing up, listening, and finding solutions together—because the problems facing the 8th District aren’t partisan. They’re personal.