A member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Lislegard represented District 7B in northeast Minnesota, which includes the city of Virginia and parts of St. Louis County in the Iron Range.

He studied at Mesabi Range College for two years and later attended the University of Minnesota Duluth, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and communications.

He first ran after three-term DFL incumbent Jason Metsa announced he would not seek reelection and would run for Minnesota's 8th Congressional District.

[2] Lislegard is a vocal supporter of the mining industry in the Iron Range, and has been called "arguably the most pro-mining legislator" in the state.

[12] Lislegard authored legislation for a $10 million extension of unemployment benefits for 400 miners laid off from Cleveland-Cliffs Northshore Mining operations in May 2022.

[18][19] He raised concerns over the reestablishment of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's citizen's board and the impact it would have on the mining industry.

[20] His and other rural DFL members opposition led to the proposal being scaled back to only include the seven-county metro and other large cities.

[33][34] He has supported the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) priorities on pensions, labor agreements, local government aid, and frontline worker pay, and was one of a handful of DFL candidates earning their endorsement in 2022.