In 2002, after redistricting, Severson ran for the newly redrawn Minnesota House District 14A and won defeating DFL nominee Dennis Molitor 49%-47%.

[13] He received the party's endorsement on April 29, 2010,[14] and challenged incumbent secretary of state Mark Ritchie in the November 2010 general election.

[16] Severson ran for secretary of state on the contention that there was widespread fraud in the recount of the 2008 Senate election and a requirement that voters show a Photo ID to vote.

[18] On May 16, 2011, Severson announced that he would seek the Republican party's endorsement for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Amy Klobuchar.

After winning the party endorsement ahead of former state senator John Howe, Severson was unopposed in the primary election.

In October, 2019 Congressman Francis Rooney announced his retirement from congress, Severson declared his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives for Florida's 19th congressional district in the 2020 elections.

After losing the U.S. House of Representatives race, Dan also ran for but lost in a more modest local school board election[22]