Press Kit

Short Bio

Doug Chapin is a father, educator and nationally recognized expert on democracy and elections. He has worked in Congress, the executive branch, the courtroom and the classroom — always focused on public service and problem-solving. Doug values integrity, experience and putting people before politics. Now, he’s running to bring real leadership and real solutions to Minnesota’s Sixth District.

Long Form Bio

Doug Chapin is a nationally recognized expert on election policy and administration with almost forty years of experience in the field.

He worked for ten years at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, where he founded the nation’s first online undergraduate and graduate certificate program in Election Administration.

Doug spent over a decade leading The Pew Charitable Trusts’ elections team, where he successfully lobbied for enactment of military and overseas voting reform in Congress and state legislatures, linked state election offices and technology partners like Google to provide official voting information online and worked with the elections community to design and implement efforts to upgrade the nation’s voter registration systems.

In 2001, Doug founded electionline.org, which is still the nation’s leading nonpartisan source for election policy news and information. He was a frequent speaker and commentator on election matters, including for the New York Times, Governing Magazine and National Public Radio.

He has been an attorney in private practice specializing in election and ethics law and served as elections counsel to the Democrats on the U.S. Senate Rules Committee.

Doug holds a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor’s degree in Politics and Russian Studies from Princeton University.

He is widowed with three adult children and lives in beautiful Hanover, MN.

Campaign Media

Downloadable Headshots

Click to download. Use is approved for editorial coverage of Doug Chapin for Congress with credit "Courtesy: Doug Chapin for Congress."

Quotes and Soundbites

Approved for media use. Attributed to Doug Chapin, Candidate for U.S. Congress, MN-06.

On His Campaign

"I’m a self‑described election geek who has spent 40 years defending and improving democracy across the country. I'm running for Congress because our democracy — and our Congress — is broken. We need a Congress that stands up, does its job and serves the people, not a rubber stamp for a president or a Supreme Court that act as if they’re untouchable.”

On Minnesota's 6th Congressional District

"Minnesota's 6th Congressional District is one of the fastest-growing parts of the state. One in five residents moved here in the last five years — but their congressman has been missing in action for nearly just as long. We have real momentum, a changing district and every reason to believe we can win in November."

On Healthcare

"We have to break the grip of for-profit health insurance companies in this country. I'm all-in—on day one—on single-payer healthcare and Medicare For All. We have to put patients back in the driver's seat."

On the Power of Congress

"When you make a to-do list, you put the most important thing first. The founders put Congress first in the Constitution. The way this Congress has allowed this president to act like a king and impose tariffs is inexcusable and must be reversed."

On How He Will Serve

"Far too many members of Congress, including mine, are content to stay in Washington, away from their constituents. I want to be the kind of representative who shows up, who looks his constituents in the eye and answers their questions."