A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represented District 5, which included portions of Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, and Itasca counties in the northern part of the state.

Prior to his election to the Senate, he served on the Grand Rapids City Council from 1995 to 1997, and was an Itasca County Commissioner from 1997 to 2003.

[1] Following redistricting in 2012, Saxhaug was placed in District 5 alongside Republican Senator John Carlson.

He lost re-election to Republican Justin Eichorn in 2016.

Son Tim is a member of Bluegrass band Trampled by Turtles.