Weber opts to not seek re-election this November

District 21 State Sen. Bill Weber, R-Luverne, will not seek re-election in 2026, a Tuesday morning press release stated.

In the release, Weber said: “I had originally said in 2012, when I was elected, that I would serve eight to 10 years. This year will be my 14th. While there remains much I would like to change and accomplish within this state, I have come to realize that goal will always be in front of me. 

"My wife, Barb, and our children have been patient and understanding as together with my previous city political experience, I complete my 30th year of elected office. Serving the people of Luverne, southwest Minnesota and the entire state has been a distinct and special honor.”

Weber was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2012, and he has been reelected three times. Leadership roles for Weber included chair of the Senate Agriculture Policy Committee, chair of the Senate Property Tax Subcommittee, co-chair of the Minnesota Water Study Committee, minority lead on the Senate Tax Committee, and membership on the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus leadership team.

According to the press release, some of Weber’s legislative achievements include:

• Securing bonding funds for the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System to complete construction to four Minnesota communities and rural water systems.

• Authoring legislation to restore cooperation between the state, high schools, and state colleges to provide career and vocational training.

• Chairing child care meetings across Minnesota to give providers an opportunity to voice their concerns about over-regulation.

• Authoring the Natural Gas Innovation Act.

• Making any bureaucrat in the room nervous whenever he raised his hand to ask a question or make a statement.

"I have always tried to voice common sense on behalf of the people, businesses, schools, local government units and nursing homes of my district and the state," Weber said. "No elected official should ever be scared to do so. No elected official should ever fail to do so.”