Photo by Deb Gau State Sen. Gary Dahms, left, and State Rep. Chris Swedzinski hold a town hall in January. Swedzinski announced Saturday he will not be seeking rellection to the House. Meanwhile, Dahms announced in January he also will be seeking reelection to his Minnesota Senate seat

ST. PAUL — Rep. Chris Swedzinski,R-Ghent, announced Saturday that he will not be seeking reelection to the Minnesota House of Representatives at the conclusion of his current term.

Swedzinski, who has represented Southwest Minnesota since 2011 in District 15A, cited a desire to spend more time with his family and return to a more private life. He said will serve out the remainder of his current term, according to his press release.

“Serving the people of our district has been the greatest professional honor of my life,” Swedzinski said. “After much prayer and reflection with my family, I have decided that it is time for a new chapter. While my passion for our community and the issues facing rural Minnesota remains as strong as ever, I am looking forward to being home more consistently and focusing on my family, my business and new endeavors.”

As a senior member of the House, Swedzinski served in various leadership roles. In his release, He emphasized that his years of service were only possible due to the unwavering support of those closest to him.

“Being a legislator is never a solo mission; it is a team effort,” Swedzinski said. “I want to specifically thank my wife, Jessica, and our five fantastic children. They have been a truly great team throughout this journey. Their sacrifices, patience, and encouragement allowed me to head to St. Paul each week to fight for our values. I am so incredibly proud of them, and I am excited to be more present for all the milestones ahead.”

Swedzinski also took a moment to recognize his partner in the Minnesota Senate.

“I also want to extend a special thanks to Senator Gary Dahms,” added Swedzinski. “Gary has been more than just a colleague; he has been an incredible Senator for our region and a true friend. Working alongside him to represent Southwest Minnesota has been a privilege, and I value the guidance and partnership we’ve shared over these many years.”

Dahms announced in January that he also was not seeking reelection and would be stepping down at the end of his Senate term after 16 years in the Minnesota Senate.

Swedzinski expressed deep gratitude to the constituents who returned him to office over seven consecutive terms.

“To the people of the district: thank you for trusting in my abilities to represent you,” Swedzinski said. “Whether we met at a town hall, a county fair, or on the doorstep, your stories and your concerns were always at the forefront of my mind in the Capitol. I have always tried to be a common-sense voice for our corner of the state, and I am humbled by the confidence you placed in me for over a decade.”