About Rick

Rick Olson is a dedicated and experienced leader running for the Minnesota State Senate in District 54, which includes Shakopee, Prior Lake, Jordan, Jackson, Louisville, Sand Creek, and Spring Lake. With a diverse background spanning law, business, education, and public service, Rick brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to serving the community.

A Lifetime of Experience & Service

Rick has an impressive resume that reflects his lifelong dedication to learning and leadership. He graduated from Michigan State University and later earned a law degree from Stanford Law School. His professional journey includes serving as a Michigan State Representative from 2011 to 2012, working as an attorney for both the Washington State Legislature and the Washington Governor’s Office, and gaining experience as a Certified Financial Planner. His passion for education led him to complete coursework for a Ph.D. in K-12 Education Administration (all but dissertation), while his background in agriculture includes another Ph.D. program in Agricultural Economics (ABD) and roles as an agricultural economist and president of a corn grower cooperative. See Gallery for more.

Beyond his professional career, Rick has a global perspective, having traveled to 49 countries and serves as a discussion leader in Global Minnesota’s Great Decisions Series on Foreign Policy. His diverse experiences have shaped his vision for Minnesota and the policies he hopes to champion.

A Personal Story Rooted in Hard Work & Resilience

Rick’s journey is deeply personal and shaped by the values instilled in him from an early age. Losing his father at just two months old, he was raised by his mother, who worked tirelessly to provide for six children in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Her mantra, “Work hard and get an education,” became the foundation of Rick’s life.

Throughout his life, Rick has embodied the belief that “the measure of a man is what he does when things go wrong.” He has faced challenges head-on, seized opportunities, and pursued continuous education to expand his impact. Along with his wife of 54 years, Linda, he has raised two successful sons and remains committed to giving back to the community.

Why He’s Running for Senate

Living in Prior Lake since 2014, Rick is committed to protecting the state’s high quality of life, strong education system, thriving businesses, and beautiful lakes and natural resources. He recognizes that these assets face challenges, like skyrocketing inflation and the cost of living. Rick is eager to get to work, to find solutions to protect and strengthen them for future generations.

Rick believes that leadership is about service. He has spent his career in both public and private sectors helping others, and now he sees running for the Minnesota Senate as his next step in giving back. His focus is on preserving the state’s strengths while addressing the pressing issues that Minnesotans face.

Evolution from Republican to a DFLer

One of the most notable aspects of Rick’s candidacy is his evolution from being a Republican to a DFLer. He grew up believing in hard work, individual responsibility, and the power of capitalism to drive economic prosperity. However, through a lifetime of experience, he has come to understand that success is not solely an individual effort—societal systems, access to resources, and government policies all play a role.

Rick believes that thoughtful government intervention is sometimes necessary to create fairness and opportunity for all. His values—free speech, economic freedom, the rule of law, adherence to the Constitution, and transparent government—align with classic liberal principles that he feels are no longer represented by today’s Republican Party. This shift has led him to the DFL, where he sees an opportunity to advocate for balanced, evidence-based policies that serve the greater good.

A Commitment to Minnesota’s Future

Rick Olson’s campaign proposals are based on facts, not social media opinion. He believes that government should work for the people by fostering economic growth, ensuring educational excellence, and protecting the environment.

Rick is eager to bring his expertise to the Minnesota Senate and build relationships and partnerships in St. Paul to find solutions to the challenges facing Senate District 54. His campaign is about building a future where opportunity is accessible to all, businesses thrive, and Minnesota continues to be a great place to live, work, and raise a family.