Endorsed Candidates

Growing up in a mobile home park, Angie didn’t expect to end up as an executive at a Fortune 500 company, or to be serving in Congress, but her life experience taught her that hard work and a good education could lead to a better life. One of three kids raised by a single mom who worked while going to school to earn her college degree, Angie worked two jobs to keep up with the cost of her education, and graduated from a state college. She began her career as a newspaper reporter then worked her way up in business over fifteen years to eventually lead a workforce of 16,000 employees for a major Minnesota manufacturer. In Congress, Angie is working to make sure that all families have a path to create a success story like her family achieved. A path to success means having access to high quality public education, affordable college and meaningful, good paying jobs. She is a member of the Energy & Commerce Committee, Agriculture Committee and Small Business Committee, and a co-chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.

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Betty McCollum is the dean of the Minnesota congressional delegation and a trailblazer when in 2000 she was the second woman elected to Congress in Minnesota’s history.

McCollum is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and serves as chair of the Defense Subcommittee with responsibility for providing more than $700 billion in annual funding for the Department of Defense and the U.S. intelligence community. McCollum is also the vice-chair of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee where she has championed funding for environmental justice, protecting public lands, climate resilience, clean air and water, and Native American health care and education.

A tireless champion for women’s reproductive freedom, McCollum is a fierce advocate for abortion rights, comprehensive family planning, and unrestricted access to sexual health services. Internationally, McCollum has advanced legislation to end child marriage, promote the U.S. commitment to family planning, increase funding for maternal and child health for the world’s poorest women.

Throughout her congressional career McCollum has worked to advocate for human rights for all. McCollum knows all too well that women do not possess full equal rights and continues to work for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. McCollum’s record supporting civil rights for all communities, LGBTQ+ rights, and workers’ rights has always put her at the forefront of the struggle for equality and justice.

Betty McCollum is a leader in Congress for Minnesota and an example of effective and determined leadership that reflects the values of equality that Minnesota and all Americans deserve.

Rep. Ilhan Omar represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which includes Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs. An experienced Twin Cities policy analyst, organizer, public speaker and advocate, Rep. Omar was sworn into office in January 2019, making her the first African refugee to become a Member of Congress, the first woman of color to represent Minnesota, and one of the first two Muslim-American women elected to Congress. As a legislator, Rep. Omar is committed to fighting for the shared values of the 5th District, values that put people at the center of our democracy. She plans to focus on tackling many of the issues that she hears about most from her constituents, like protecting reproductive rights and the right to bodily autonomy; investing in education and freeing students from the shackles of debt; ensuring a fair wage for a hard day’s work; creating a just immigration system and tackling the existential threat of climate change. Rep. Omar has been a cosponsor and vocal advocate for reproductive rights legislation like the Women’s Health Protection Act which codifies Roe v. Wade into law, as well as the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act which protects women and pregnant people from being prosecuted for crossing state lines to obtain abortions legally. Rep. Omar was arrested in front of the Supreme Court with her colleagues in the Democratic Women’s Caucus during a civil disobedience action after the Roe v. Wade was overturned. Rep. Omar has been a leader on reproductive justice and abortion rights since coming to Congress in 2019 and before that in the MN House of Representatives. She will continue that being a champion and fighting for reproductive justice should she be re-elected to Congress.

Peggy Flanagan is a qualified and effective leader. She is Minnesota’s 50th Lieutenant Governor and a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. She is the first Native American elected statewide in Minnesota and the highest-ranking Native woman elected to executive office in the country. At the center of all her work is advocating and making progress for children, working families, communities of color and Indigenous communities, and Minnesotans who have historically been underserved and underrepresented. She served on the Minneapolis Board of Education before becoming one of the original trainers of Wellstone Action’s signature program Camp Wellstone, where she trained thousands of progressive activists, community organizers, elected officials, and candidates – including Governor Walz. In 2015, Peggy was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, serving her own community of St. Louis Park, as well as Golden Valley, Plymouth, and Medicine Lake. Peggy brings her experiences of building coalitions and advocating for children and families to the Lieutenant Governor’s Office as she works in close partnership with Governor Tim Walz to build One Minnesota. Peggy lives in her beloved community of St. Louis Park with her husband, Tom, her daughter, Siobhan, and their dog, Reuben.

State Auditor Julie Blaha is serving her first term and is Minnesota’s 19th State Auditor.  As State Auditor, she oversees nearly $40 billion in local government finances to ensure transparent, accountable and effective government. Under her leadership, the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) is seeing the largest rebuilding in 18 years, while taking on the additional oversight of CARES Act and ARPA funds.

State Auditor Julie Blaha is a former math teacher who knows firsthand how to help people understand data.

As a labor leader, Auditor Blaha fought for policies that lift all working people. She worked to protect the freedom for working Minnesotans to negotiate a fair return on their work and to pass the 2017 historic, bipartisan pension bill as a member of the Public Employee Pension Coalition.

As chief financial officer of the Minnesota AFL-CIO — the state federation of labor representing more than 1,000 local unions with over 300,000 members — she analyzed budgets and audits to ensure their resources were matched with their goals and values.

And as president of Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota, Auditor Blaha worked alongside parents, neighbors, and students to help build the schools Minnesota students deserve, from advancing statewide anti-bullying legislation to protect LGBTQ students to ensuring our schools had effective funding.

In her first term as Duluth’s State Senator, Jen McEwen has advocated for the needs of working people statewide and for her Duluth community, including supporting essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and advancing the cause of universal health care in Minnesota. Senator McEwen has fought to defend and expand reproductive freedom as a Co-Chair of the legislature’s new Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and has also fought for the legislature to meet the moment by taking meaningful action on the climate crisis. McEwen’s roots as a Duluthian run deep. Before their retirements, her mother was a nurse at St. Mary’s and her father was a teacher in the Duluth Public Schools. As a parent of two children in Duluth public schools, Senator McEwen is looking to the future, with an understanding that the choices we make now will not only determine how we come through these times, but will also chart the path for the kind of future we want for ourselves, our children, and the generations to come.

Liz is a mom of three, a Registered Nurse of 20 years and has spent her life ensuring people are cared for. She views her work in the legislature as another way to do just that. In her first term in the Minnesota House, she has emerged as a champion for childcare, democracy and healthcare. She’s committed to building a just and inclusive Minnesota, where everyone has what they need to be cared for, safe and thrive. She knows that the path to reaching this vision requires flipping the Minnesota Senate, which is why she’s stepped up to run for Senate District 25. Liz is a tireless champion for women’s rights and will be a strong leader in the Senate.

Heather is a teacher and community organizer running for Minnesota State Senate to represent Senate District 36. Having worked hard for change in Vadnais Heights, Heather is now driven to bring her voice, and the people’s voice, back to the state Capitol, fighting for a better Minnesota. Having worked as a teacher for over a decade, Heather knows what families have gone through over the past two years. “Families have been left behind, especially those with young children. We need a voice in the legislature focused on raising up our community, our families, and our schools. One that will work to bring good jobs to this district and fight for our community’s needs. The current representation of our area has failed to do that, focusing on issues that do not matter to us, do not keep our kids in school, do not support teachers, do not bring us jobs, and do not keep us safe. It’s time for a change.” Heather is married with four children. She grew up in central Minnesota to become a well-known DJ for K102 until giving up that career to give back and become a teacher. From rural to suburban, Heather understands how important it is to listen and lift the community. She plans to focus on healing what divides us while fighting hard for education, jobs, and our community.

Susan Pha is the SD38 DFL candidate for State Senate. She currently serves as the Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Brooklyn Park. She was elected to the City Council in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. She is a Commissioner of the Economic and Development Authority and a Board Member of the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth. For almost 20 years Susan has organized and built community power to uplift women and girls through mentorship, addressing gender inequities, and creating economic opportunities. Susan is known as a leader and champion for youth programs, education and economic opportunities, livable wages, and affordable housing. She is a passionate advocate for access to mental health services, and affordable healthcare. Susan is ready to work and fight hard for policies that improve the lives of the people in her district and across Minnesota.

First elected to the MN House of Representatives in 2016, Mary Kunesh represented District 41B, a first ring suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul. In her first term, she was a founding member of the first Native American and the POCI (People of Color Indigenous) Caucus in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In 2019, she authored and passed legislation to initiate a Missing and Murdered Task Force in MN. She also authored and passed components of the Increase TOCAI (Teachers of Color and American Indian Act), the ERA amendment, the “buttocks” bill, equity funding for our BIE schools, and the first increase in MFIP grants in over 30 years, among others.

Mary was elected to the Minnesota Senate in November 2020 and serves as the Assistant Minority Leader for the DFL Caucus. Senator Kunesh sits on the Education Finance and Policy Committee, the Mining and Forestry Policy Committee, and the Redistricting Committee.

Judy is running for senate in the newly created District 41 which includes the cities of Lake Elmo, Afton, Lakeland, Lake St. Croix Beach, St. Mary’s Point, Lakeland Shores, Cottage Grove, and Hastings, and the townships of Grant, Denmark, and Nininger. She has spent her life dedicated to service and helping others. She is a public school teacher, a paramedic, a member of her local fire department, a lawyer, the wife of a Navy Captain, and a mom. She is also a former city council member and school board member. She understands the dedication and sacrifice which comes with public service. Judy believes strongly in the value of our public schools and will work to ensure Minnesota remains a leader in education. She supports paid family leave and accessible, affordable healthcare. She is a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and believes everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.

Bonnie Westlin is a family law attorney and mediator running for the Minnesota Senate in SD42. She will bring her advocacy and negotiation skills to the legislature to support our public education system, create and affordable health care system for all Minnesotans, and pass urgently needed legislation to address the climate crisis. She is a mom and a grandmother, devoted to working for a world where all kids are valued, loved and provided the tools they need for a happy, successful life.

Ann Rest represents Crystal, Golden Valley, New Hope, Plymouth, and Robbinsdale in the Minnesota Senate. She served 16 years in the Minnesota House including four years as Tax Committee Chair. She has been in the Senate since 2001 serving as Assistant Majority Leader (2003-2007) and as President Pro Tem (2013-2017). She is the Lead Democrat on the Senate Taxes Committee and serves on the Housing and Rules Committee. She is a member of the Legislative Audit Commission and the Great Lakes Commission and is a founding member of the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus. Ann serves on NCSL’s Task Force on State and Local Government and is the immediate past chair of the Streamline Sales Tax Governing Board. Her legislative interests include tax policy, election law, education funding, transit policy and housing policy. She graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and has graduate degrees from the University of Chicago, Harvard University, and the University of Minnesota. She taught English at Armstrong High School from 1970 to 1979. She is a retired Certified Public Accountant. In 2016, she authored the Presidential Nomination Primary legislation supported by a broad bipartisan majority of the Legislature. She lives in New Hope and is a long- time member of the League of Women Voters and Rotary. Ann is the lay leader of Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church.

Dr. Alice Mann is a family medicine physician, immigrant, mother, and former state Representative running to be the new State Senator in SD50. She moved to the US, from Brazil, when she was 8 years old and dreamed of becoming a doctor. She did her medical training at the Mayo Clinic program in LaCrosse, WI and received her Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. After years of trying to provide medical care in a system that continuously prioritizes profits over patient care, Dr. Mann decided to run for office and unseated a 2-term Republican opponent. She believes that open and honest communication from leaders, leads to trust and community building. She, her husband, and three sons live in Edina, MN.

Senator Melissa H. Wiklund is running for a fourth term in the Minnesota State Senate representing the new Senate District 51, which includes Bloomington, Richfield and Minneapolis. Sen. Wiklund brings her past career experience as an electrical engineer, manager and director in the field of Internet services and telecommunications to her work in the Senate which is an asset in working on information technology and cybersecurity issues as well as providing a sound analytical skillset to evaluate budget and policy proposals. Sen. Wiklund serves on the Health and Human Services Policy and Finance Committee where she is the DFL Senate Lead, the Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee and the Technology Reform Policy Committee. She spent 6 years on the E-12 Education Finance and Policy Committee. Her priorities include improving our early childhood and mental health systems, strengthening our state cybersecurity infrastructure and addressing the needs of our E-12 public education system in Minnesota. Sen. Wiklund is seeking re-election to continue work on budget and policy priorities that improve the lives of young children and families across Minnesota. Sen. Wiklund is a member of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus and has been a strong supporter of protecting and improving women’s access to all forms of reproductive health and abortion care for all her years in the Minnesota Senate.

Senator Lindsay Port was first elected in 2020 to represent Senate District 56 in the State Senate, representing Burnsville, Lakeville, and Savage. Port is a non-profit executive who has spent the last 8 years working to advance progressive values through volunteer work. She is the co-founder and senior advisor of Blueprint Campaigns, which works to increase leadership in politics by underrepresented communities. In the Senate, Senator Port serves on the Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee, Housing Finance and Policy Committee, and Technology and Reform Policy Committee.

Erin Maye Quade is a former Minnesota State Representative who was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2016. There, she quickly established herself as a candid and fierce advocate for Minnesotans championing paid family leave; expanding access to affordable child care; ending childhood hunger; eliminating gun violence; and investing in treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues. She currently serves as the Advocacy Director at Gender Justice, where she work to advance gender justice through public education, strategic partnerships and coalition-building.

Senator Kari Dziedzic was first elected in a special election. Her district includes NE & SE Minneapolis, Cedar Riverside, the Minneapolis Campus of the Univ of MN, and the Augsburg University Campus area. Senator Dziedzic worked as a legal assistant at several law firms while studying engineering at the Univ of MN. She then went on to work as Executive Assistant to Sen Paul Wellstone in DC. She has also worked in the private sector for communications companies and was a Senior Policy Aid for the Hennepin County Board prior to her election to the Senate. As minority lead on the Housing Committee, Sen Dziedzic has fought to increase affordable housing options across MN, close the homeownership disparity gap, and improve tenant rights. As a member of the Tax Committee, she has advocated for a fair tax system that lifts up those still struggling to recover from the pandemic. Senator Dziedzic is working to ensure all Minnesotans have the opportunity to succeed regardless of where they live or what they look like.

Zaynab is a working class immigrant and policy advocate, running to represent South Minneapolis in the Minnesota Senate. Through her experiences supporting her family and navigating government services, Zaynab is acutely aware of the government’s ability to impact lives. As a policy aide for the City of Minneapolis and as the Community Advocacy Director at the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), Zaynab has advocated for stronger protections for renters, public safety and police accountability, and support for small businesses.

As Zaynab Mohamed runs to be the first black woman elected to the Minnesota Senate, she is focused on eliminating the educational achievement gap, expanding health care, and doing everything we can to combat climate change. She is a strong advocate for the most vulnerable in the community and will push everyday to have a government that works for us all.

Erin Murphy is a Registered Nurse and the former executive director of the Minnesota Nurses Association. She was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2006 where she served as the Majority Leader in 2013-2014. In 2018, Murphy ran for governor, earning the support of Women Winning and the DFL endorsement. Murphy was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2020, representing Senate District 64, which covers the westernmost neighborhoods of Saint Paul. Murphy attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, graduating with her B.S. in nursing and later earned an M.A. in organizational leadership in health care at the College of St. Catherine, where she currently teaches. Erin is married to Joe Faust. They have twin daughters. She believes deeply in a politics to improve the lives of people. She loves her work.

Clare Oumou Verbeten is an organizer, a public servant, and a fighter for justice. Clare is running to represent District 66 – Saint Paul, Roseville, Falcon Heights, and Lauderdale – in the Minnesota Senate. Clare is the proud daughter of Rama and Hans, a Senegalese immigrant and a 2nd generation Dutch American. Clare grew up in Roseville, graduated from Roseville Area Public Schools and currently serves as the Chair of the Roseville Area Schools Foundation. She works for the City of Saint Paul and lives in the beautiful Como neighborhood with her husband, Garrison, and their Goldendoodle, Honey. Clare is running to build a community that is safe for all. She will bring bold leadership in the Minnesota Senate that puts the fight for racial justice and human dignity at the center of everything we do.

Laurie Halverson is currently serving as Dakota County Commissioner from District 3 representing the communities of Eagan, Mendota, Mendota Heights, Sunfish Lake and Lilydale. She serves as the chair of the Community Services Committee of county board, and represents Dakota County on numbers regional and statewide boards including—the Association of Minnesota Counties, the Minnesota Inter-County Association, MELSA (Metropolitan Library Service Association) Board of Trustees, and the Metropolitan Mosquito Control Commission. Prior to being elected to the Dakota County Board of Commissioners, she served 4 terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives. As a legislator, she was recognized as a leader on critical legislation to support working families and healthy communities. Laurie also worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota in public affairs, advancing public health policy initiatives. She is an active community volunteer who has served as chair of the Eagan Parks Commission and secretary of the Eagan Foundation Board of Directors. She continues to volunteer throughout the community at local schools, the Open Door food pantry and local arts organizations. Laurie graduated with a degree in Political Science from St. Catherine University and attended the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She lives in Eagan with her husband, teenaged son and two dogs.

Irene currently serves as Hennepin County Commissioner for District 2, which includes Golden Valley, Medicine Lake, southeast Plymouth, St. Anthony, North Minneapolis, Northeast Minneapolis, and the North Loop neighborhood in Minneapolis. Irene was elected to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners in November of 2018. Together, she and Commissioner Angela Conley (District 4) were the first people of color elected to the County Board in Hennepin’s 169-year history. She is the youngest woman to serve in this position, and she is the first Filipino-American elected in the state of Minnesota. Before joining the County Board, Irene worked in not-for-profit and corporate settings, and she instructed college courses. Her expertise is in youth development, social entrepreneurship, shared leadership models, talent development, and systems change. Irene studied at the University of Minnesota, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business and a Master of Education in Youth Development Leadership, and she is also currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Human Resource Development. Irene lives in the Harrison neighborhood of Minneapolis with her partner Kent. She loves this community and can often be found out on her front porch chatting with her neighbors or cheering on the Minnesota Lynx!

Commissioner Marion Greene represents District 3 (all of St. Louis Park, SW Minneapolis west of 35W, and most of downtown Minneapolis) on the Hennepin County Board. She currently serves as Chair of the Board, chosen by her colleagues for the last four years. Marion’s recent accomplishments include chairing the board during a global pandemic and time of significant civil unrest and change, guiding the county to develop its first ever Climate Action Plan, building consensus around the allocation of $500 million in federal relief funding, participating in negotiations to secure $1 billion in federal funds to support regional transit, and championing myriad programs to successfully expand our regional supply of deeply affordable housing. Before serving on the board Marion was in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Marion’s career before elected office spanned the non-profit and private sectors. She was a leader in health policy and economics for med tech giants Boston Scientific and Abbott, and previous to that worked in brand management at General Mills. Before graduate school she worked for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Friends Committee on National Legislation, and the Clinton-Gore ‘96 campaign. In her free time Marion enjoys travel, the great outdoors, and weeding in her new garden. She is married to Bart Cannon, a retired public school teacher, and is adoring stepmom to two brilliant and beautiful stepdaughters.

Angela Conley is a proven leader who has a track record of crafting policies that improve the well-being of our most marginalized residents. From declaring racism as a public health crisis, infusing new funds into maternal and infant health, or prioritizing the voices of those most impacted in the journey towards climate justice in our communities, Angela Conley has accomplished these things and more in just one term. Over the next four years Commissioner Conley will focus on achieving greater outcomes in home ownership for BIPOC residents and continue to lead on maternal and infant health outcomes and impacts. Commissioner Conley is a mom of four and understands the complexities of policy-making while parenting while supporting all efforts in Minnesota that protect our right to choose.

Trista Martinson is a mother, a wife, a veteran, and a vocal and effective advocate. Over her career, she has tirelessly spoken out for important issues like affordable housing, homelessness, mental health, disability services, autism research, urban agriculture and veterans services. Trista joined the United States Navy at 17, and served on active duty for 16 years. She is one a only a handful who have served in three branches of the service, both as an enlisted person and as an officer the Navy-Marine Corps and the Army National Guard. Trista often served as the only or first woman in each of her duty assignments and was the first woman to serve as Commander of the 34th Military Police Company. After her military service, Trista became a community organizer and policy leader for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, where she developed government relationships as an advocate for affordable housing. During this time she helped found the Homes for ALL Coalition, working to increase funding for the entire housing continuum. She has served on the Ramsey County Board since 2019, and was elected Chair in 2022.

Candidate Rena Moran for Ramsey County Commissioner of District 4 is the current Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In 2010, Rena Moran became the first African American to represent District 65A.   As a legislator, she has focused on protecting children in the child welfare system, strengthening schools, reducing educational disparities, and fighting for affordable housing, economic opportunity for all, and women’s rights.    Rep. Moran formerly served as Chair of the House Health and Human Services Policy Committee, House Deputy Minority Leader, and was the founding Chair of the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus and the United Black Legislative Caucus (UBLC). She currently serves on the Governor’s Executive Council for Young Women Initiative and the Governor’s Council on Justice Reinvestment. She holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Southern Illinois University and was recently the Director of Prevention Initiatives and Parent Leadership at Prevent Child Abuse MN dba Minnesota Communities Caring for Children.

In 2020 Rep. Moran was recognized for her leadership by receiving several awards including:

•  Twin Cities Business, Top 100 People to Know in 2021
• MN Physician, top 100 influential Health Care Leaders
• NAMI Minnesota, Legislator of the Year Award
• Nancy Latimer 2020 Legislative Champion Award – Early Childhood Education Award
• St. Paul YWCA Changemaker Honoree

Rena Moran is a proud mother of seven children.

Karla Bigham was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in February of 2018 in a Special Election and re-elected in 2020. She currently serves on the Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee and the Local Government Committee. Additionally, Sen. Bigham is the ranking minority lead on Civil Law and Data Practices Policy Committee. She previously served on the Environment Finance, Human Service Policy and Finance Reform, and the Veterans Affairs Committees. Bigham served on the Washington County Board of Commissioners from 2015 until being elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2018. Bigham served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2007 until 2011. She was the Vice Chair of the Public Safety and Civil Justice Committee, and served on the Public Safety Finance, State Government Finance, and Veteran Affairs Committees. From 2005 until 2007, Karla served on the Cottage Grove City Council. Prior to serving on the city council, she chaired the Cottage Grove Public Safety, Health, and Welfare Commission. Additionally, Karla was chair of the Cottage Grove Charter Commission and was a member of the Cottage Grove Environmental Commission. Karla obtained a Master of Public Affairs Degree from the University of Minnesota. She received her Bachelor’s Degree as a paralegal, with minors in sociology and political science from Winona State University in 2001. She is a proud graduate of Park High School in Cottage Grove. Karla currently works as a paralegal in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office in the Child Protection Division. Senator Bigham and her husband, John, are residents of Cottage Grove.

April Graves was born and grew up in St. Paul’s historic Rondo neighborhood. She is the third born of a family of five siblings. April became a mother as a teen but was resilient, continued in school and became the first in her family to graduate and go on to college to obtain a degree. She graduated from Metropolitan State University and obtained her bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and Social Science in 2010. She also received the Outstanding Student Award from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Recognition of Excellence Award from the Metropolitan State University Foundation and gave the keynote speech at graduation. April Graves has been serving as a City Councilmember in Brooklyn Center, MN since January 2015, when she became the first woman of color ever elected to the council. April Graves has worked in youth outreach and engagement in Minneapolis, academic tutoring and mentorship through AmeriCorps, and currently as Public Health Specialist focusing on Youth and Community Violence Prevention at the Minneapolis Health Department’s Office of Violence Prevention. She teaches donation-based yoga classes in her community, is a certified reiki healer, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) trainer, racial equity workshop facilitator and is the mother of four children. April’s work has focused on economic and racial equity, creating safe and healthy communities, and ensuring marginalized voices are part of the decision-making process. She prides herself on being the builder of bridges across differences and the spreader of hope and positivity in the face of adversity.

Amáda Márquez Simula is running for re-election as Mayor of Columbia Heights, MN, a first-ring suburb of Minneapolis. Amáda will continue to represent our diverse communities by connecting across generations and cultures. Meeting people where they’re at and listening, supporting, and working with people as their needs arise. She centers her Mayoral work on health, safety, and 21st-century strategies to bring services to the community. In addition, Amáda brings a positive outlook to local government, welcoming families, individuals, and the public to council meetings and to Mayoral Town Hall Zoom meetings so that everyone knows they are welcome and important to the city of Columbia Heights, MN.

Richfield At-Large Council Member Mary Supple is running for Mayor of Richfield. Supple is an active local leader and was a teacher in Richfield Public Schools for 33 years. She currently serves on the City Council and is chair of the Richfield Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Council Member Supple was active as a local union leader in Education Richfield serving as local president as well as lead contract negotiator. She was also a member of the Education Minnesota Governing Board, a member of the National Education Association Board of Directors, and a trustee of the Minnesota Teacher Retirement Association. Supple is excited about the future of Richfield and wants to work together with residents to dream about and build the future of our thriving community.

Emily currently works as the Data Privacy Manager for a publicly-traded corporation. She believes all of us have a right to privacy and to have our personal information protected. Emily analyzes state and federal privacy laws and develops policies to protect our clients’ personal data. She also values government openness. Previously, Emily was the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s Data Practices Compliance Officer, responsible for ensuring its employees faithfully complied with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Emily’s MBA is from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

I am not a politician, I am someone who loves people and a believer in public service. Brooklyn Park is a one-of-a kind city, a wonderful place to live, and is growing. I’m running for City Council to use my skills and experience to ensure we work together in building our future. I believe that women need to be represented in all levels of government and need to be at the table where decisions are made. As a mother and grandmother, and with years in social service work I have a unique perspective on what impacts our community and in how to build consensus.

Rachel grew up in rural Minnesota on a small dairy farm with a big family. She moved to Columbia Heights in 2010 with her husband Leo and their 2 children. She immediately fell in love with this small town in the big city! Columbia Heights has all the opportunities for connection and community service as her hometown, along with the diversity and opportunities of an urban center. Rachel has worked at First Lutheran Church of Columbia Heights for 8 years as the Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries. You can find her most days walking around Silverwood Park with her family or visiting the Columbia Heights Library for a good science fiction book.

Therese Kiser is running for re-election to Crystal City Council, Ward I. She was first elected in 2018 and wants to continue the work during a second term. Therese is a long time Crystal resident and has been involved in her community in many ways. She has volunteered for many organizations. Currently, she serves on the Community Board of the New Hope YMCA and is Vice-president of the Crystal Historical Society. Therese and her husband, Randy, have been married for 35 years, they have two grown sons and love to travel.

Kristy has developed a vibrant, strong family of supporters through years of service to her community. She is your neighbor who answers the call to service and works hard for you in many capacities. Whether serving as treasurer on her home owner’s association board, as church council VP, as a leader in the American Legion and Rotary, she has deep ties to the community. Her Ph.D. in design and sustainability give her an evidence-based approach to policy making, which she has used in her day job at Hennepin County. She is ready to hit the ground running as a new city council member in Maple Grove.

Carly Johnson was elected to the Oak Park Heights City Council in 2018 and while in office, she has had an active role as the Parks Commission Liaison, helping start the City’s first community garden, community events, and trail expansion efforts. Outside of the City Council, Carly is an attorney at Maslon LLP and graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in 2021.

Mia Z Parisian has spent most of her life in Robbinsdale. Mia’s mom raised her and her siblings in a little blue house with a red door in Ward 3. Mia attended Robbinsdale schools, and her first job was with the Parks and Recreation Department. She graduated from St. Olaf College and moved abroad to teach at a University in Southeast Asia. Upon returning home to Robbinsdale, she now works as an Instructional Designer and lives with her husband in that very same blue house with the red door in Ward 3. She is passionate about inclusion, the environment, and representation. Mia serves as the Chair of Robbinsdale’s Planning Commission. Robbinsdale has never had more than one woman serve on its City Council at one time. Mia is now the only woman on the Robbinsdale City Council ballot and looks forward to serving her community in a new and impactful way.

Wendy Berry was first elected to the West St. Paul City Council to represent Ward 3 of the city in 2018, where she became the first openly queer person and only the six non-male to serve in the city’s history giving her the opportunity to her voice for people that have been historically underrepresented. She has spent the last four years working diligently on building a strong and resilient community where people are proud to live. Outside of their city council time, Wendy serves as the Director of HR for a non-profit focused on equitable health care access for people running into barriers due to their identity as gender, sexual, and/or racial minorities or their health status. They also serve as a member of the League of Minnesota Cities’ Board of Directors, on the South Metro Fire Board, as the council liaison to the city’s Park & Recreation Advisory Committee, and several other committees that have continued to make positive changes in West St. Paul and the surrounding areas. They genuinely believe West St. Paul is a vibrant and thriving community and is committed to making sure it stays that way for everyone.

Alicia “Liish” Kozlowski is running for re-election in District 8B in the Minnesota House of Representatives, the community Liish was born and raised in by a single-mother and grandmother. Liish is a first-generation college graduate who then earned an MBA and immediately went to work building, creating, and amplifying community. As a proud descendant of an Indigenous-Ojibwe mother and Mexican father, Liish believes we are all better when we show up in the fullness of who we are, with hearts forward and head high. As an endurance runner, former business developer, grassroots organizer, and current Community Relations Officer with the City of Duluth, Liish has the experience, stamina and vision to be effective for Duluth as someone who is already leading in alignment with community to improve health and well-being, rebuilding generational wealth, advancing an inclusive economy, and cultivating the community we all deserve.

Tina Liebling was born and raised in Minneapolis. She received her BA from the University of Minnesota, then moved to Massachusetts where she earned an M.S. in Public Health from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and her J.D. cum laude at Boston University School of Law. She practiced law in the Boston area and then with the Office of the Cook County Public Defender in Chicago. She moved back to Minnesota in 1994 and started a solo law practice concentrating on criminal law. In 2004, Tina was elected to the Minnesota House and has been re-elected every two years since. Many of Tina’s House committee assignments have been in the health and human services area, where she has always been a staunch and vocal advocate for reproductive and LGBTQ rights. She now chairs the House Health Finance and Policy Committee, where she worked to ensure passage of the PRO Act and other reproductive freedom bills. She was chief author of the bill that repealed restrictive and unconstitutional abortion laws and made sure that these laws were removed from Minnesota’s statute books.

Kim Hicks is a current MN House Representative proudly representing Rochester MN. She is product of Rochester public schools and a graduate of Winona State University. She works in the human services field, currently working with children with autism and their families. She is a breast cancer survivor. Kim and her husband LaMar have eight kids (ages 9 to 22).

Melissa Hortman serves as the Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Rep. Hortman was elected in 2004 and represents communities in the northwest suburbs, where she and her husband raised their two children. As a legislator, Rep. Hortman has focused her work on energy and the environment. She authored Minnesota’s solar energy standard and community solar law.

Brion Curran (they/she) was born and raised in Minnesota, is a 20-year veteran of the disability services field and former police offer. Brion was a strong supporter of passing gender and reproductive rights protections in Minnesota during the 2023 legislative session. Brion serves as the Vice Chair of Minnesota’s first official Queer Legislative Caucus, which works to advance policies to surrounding 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and healthcare access.

A lifelong Minnesotan, Kristin flipped her seat after 36 years to help win back the majority in 2018 in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Now in her third term, she is a vocal champion for Women’s Issues and Women’s Rights at the legislature. She was one of the original organizers of Women’s March MN that brought 110K women to the Capitol in the largest single-day rally in MN history and served on the Board as Legislative Chair before joining the MN House. Representative Bahner is passionate about providing affordable, accessible healthcare and prescription drugs. She passed four bi-partisan, common sense, bills on prescription drugs that place patients back in the driver’s seat and put money back in people’s pockets As the current Vice Chair of Human Services Finance and member of the Health Finance Committee, Kristin is a tireless advocate for children, working families and seniors. A vocal champion and former Vice Chair for the Elections Committee and current member of the State Government and Elections Committee, she is a tireless advocate for issues like automatic voter registration and elections communication transparency. Kristin is an IT Consultant and team leader outside of the legislature, where she works every day to overcome obstacles and work as a team to get the job done. Her current work highlights critical bills on IT infrastructure and cyber security, as well as the future of technology work in state government.

Samantha Vang is a lifelong Minnesota native, a proud daughter of refugees, a Democrat, and a longtime Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park resident. As a legislator Samantha passed critical legislation on addressing a broad variety of issues facing Minnesotans. Her priorities center on providing tax relief for everyday Minnesotans, addressing the mental health workforce shortage, improving public safety, tackling climate change and spurring economic development. In 2021, Samantha was awarded a Legislator of Distinction by the League of Minnesota Cities. Samantha is a first-generation college graduate from Gustavus Adolphus College with a B.A in Political Science and Communications. She currently works as a Tenant Advocate educating renters on their rights. On her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. As an advocate and leader, Samantha will continue to keep communities and families thriving.

Erin grew up in Osseo and graduated from Osseo High School. She went to college at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. She graduated with a bachelor’s in Psychology and went on to gain a Masters in Advocacy and Political Leadership also at UMD. Erin has spent her career working toward social justice. She has spent time advocating for public policies that would help working families including an increase in the minimum wage, assistance for families facing home foreclosures, a stop to predatory lending practices, paid sick time, and health care for all Minnesotans. Erin and her husband, Steve, had their first child in December of 2018. Erin was able to bring her daughter, Clara with her to the Capitol during the 2019 session. This has made her even more dedicated to ensuring all families have time to bond with a new child through paid family leave. Erin lives in Spring Lake Park with her husband, Steve, their daughter, Clara, and their black lab, Spud. She is currently serving her third term as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Sandra Feist was first elected in 2020 to the Minnesota House of Representatives. Since her election, she has been an advocate for women’s reproductive freedom. She is a member of the House Reproductive Freedom Caucus and enthusiastic co-author of the House legislation that expanded protections for access to abortion. She was the chief House author of the K-12 and Higher Education Menstrual Equity bills, expanding access to free period products for students across Minnesota in an effort to address period poverty in schools. In the 2023-24 term, she served as Vice Chair of the House Public Safety Committee and championed innovative legislation expanding youth restorative justice to support struggling children and families. In her private life, she is an immigration attorney and advocate, serving in national leadership roles advocating for immigration reform.

Kelly Moller is currently serving her third term in the Minnesota House of Representatives. As a career prosecutor who advocates for victims of crime, she has been a leader at the Capitol for survivors of sexual assault, Minnesotans with disabilities, student mental health, and gun violence prevention. She serves as Chair of the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee and the Ethics Committee, and serves on the Rules and Legislative Administration, Ways and Means, and Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committees. Moller is a member of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus. She is a 20+ year resident of Shoreview, where she resides with her husband as well as two sons who have attended Mounds View School District schools.

Rep. Ginny Klevorn has been a champion for women’s rights. As a co-author of the 2023 PRO Act, Rep. Klevorn has worked to ensure that women have access to quality reproductive healthcare and autonomy to make their own healthcare decisions. As a professional mediator, Ginny knows that when women are empowered to make their own decisions and have a seat at the table, outcomes are more equitable for women, our families, our communities and our state.

Erin grew up in Osseo and graduated from Osseo High School. She went to college at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. She graduated with a bachelor’s in Psychology and went on to gain a Masters in Advocacy and Political Leadership also at UMD. Erin has spent her career working toward social justice. She has spent time advocating for public policies that would help working families including an increase in the minimum wage, assistance for families facing home foreclosures, a stop to predatory lending practices, paid sick time, and health care for all Minnesotans. Erin and her husband, Steve, had their first child in December of 2018. Erin was able to bring her daughter, Clara with her to the Capitol during the 2019 session. This has made her even more dedicated to ensuring all families have time to bond with a new child through paid family leave. Erin lives in Spring Lake Park with her husband, Steve, their daughter, Clara, and their black lab, Spud. She is currently serving her third term as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Representative Cheryl Youakim was first elected to the Minnesota House in 2014 after spending nine years on the Hopkins City Council. Before that, she was an advocate for early childhood and family education as well as a parent advocate for investing in our K-12 public schools. Cheryl has always believed in the value of public service and has been honored to be elected to represent the communities of Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina in a variety of ways. At the Capitol as the House Education Policy Chair, she worked on legislation for comprehensive sex education in our schools. As the Property Tax Chair, she fought for an economy that works for everyone. And as the Education Finance Chair last session, she and her colleagues passed the largest investment in public education that Minnesota has seen. Rep. Youakim will continue to fight for the values our communities care about: quality education, access to affordable childcare, a dependable transportation system, and to protect our environment as well as our rights. Cheryl Youakim will always stand for our rights to love who we love, worship how we choose, and to equal protection under the law no matter who we are, what we look like, or where we live.

Amanda’s unique blend of education and experience in laboratory science and policy allows her to evaluate any policies fully and comprehensively before voting to implement them. She is a values-driven, passionate person who listens to understand. Amanda believes in bringing people together, gathering as much information and perspectives as possible, and leading with community input to make the best policy decision together. In her first year in the Minnesota House of Representatives, Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger hit the ground running with ambitious goals to advocate for women, children, and families. She voted in support of codifying a women’s right to access all forms of reproductive health care, take action to make child care more affordable, and increase access to other forms of women’s healthcare. Amanda’s expertise in genetics proved valuable in evaluating and discussing issues before the Children and Families and Health committees. Amanda knows that the work is not done. She will continue to advocate for the people of south Maplewood and Woodbury, utilizing her scientific and policy background. Through collaboration with other Legislators and actively listening to community, Amanda works to break down systemic barriers to reproductive justice.

Rep. Lucy Rehm is running to be re-elected as state representative for house district 48B, which includes Chanhassen and the eastern side of Chaska. She is a proud fourth-generation Minnesotan who has called Chanhassen home for more than 25 years. She served on the Chanhassen city council, taught English overseas, and has been a lifelong advocate for healthy living, families and the environment. She is also a mother to three great kids. It is her strong belief that women’s and girls’ rights are human rights. She believes that it is a human right to be able to make deeply personal healthcare decisions about one’s reproductive health without interference from politicians.

Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn grew up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and attended the University of St. Thomas, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in entrepreneurship. Kotyza-Witthuhn was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018 and has been reelected every two years since. Kotyza-Witthuhn has served as vice chair of the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee since 2021. She also sits on the Children and Families Finance and Policy, Economic Development Finance and Policy, and Human Services Finance Committees. Carlie is was a founding member of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and in 2023 she authored the Minnesota House’s H.F. 1, also known as the Protect Reproductive Options Act, or PRO Act. The bill added a “fundamental right” to “continue the pregnancy and give birth, or obtain an abortion” in state law. It also protects rights to contraception, sterilization, family planning and counseling. The bill passed the House on January 19 and was signed by Governor Tim Walz on January 31, 2023.

Representative Liz Reyer (DFL-52A) is the DFL-endorsed candidate for House District 52A, representing parts of Burnsville and Eagan. Liz is a business leader, social activist, mother of four, and a long-time Eagan resident. She has been active in local politics and has a long history of involvement in Eagan schools, youth athletics, and other civic matters. Since 2020, Liz has used her platform to address structural racism and fight for quality and affordable health care, reproductive rights, equal justice under the law, a stable climate and clean environment, and a world-class education. She is Vice-Chair of the Capital Investment Committee and also serves on the Health, Workforce, and Economic Development committees. Liz is a proud member of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, Queer Caucus, and co-leads the Climate Action Caucus.

Rep. Mary Frances Clardy is an outspoken and relentless advocate for reproductive rights. Her voting record reflects her determination that she will always vote to preserve and expand reproductive rights in Minnesota. Whenever human rights are on the line you can count on her to stand up! Mary Frances is an effective legislator. In her first year in office 19 bills she authored were passed and became law in the first 19 weeks of her tenure. Mary Frances is a veteran educator with a 28-year track record with the St. Paul School Schools. Rep. Clardy has a M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Before joining the legislature, she was a member of the Inver Grove Heights School Board, ISD 199, a gubernatorial appointee to the Minnesota Board of School Administrators, and a former member of the Minnesota Board of Teaching, and served as a Minneapolis Civil Rights Commissioner.

Jess Hanson grew up in a trailer park in Lakeville, and saw every day how working families like hers struggled to make ends meet. Jess worked two jobs while renting an apartment in Burnsville where she raised her first daughter with the help of family and the community. Jess went on to become the first person in her family to graduate from college, and earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from St. Kate’s in 2018. Jess believes in a future for Minnesota in which everyone has the opportunity to innovate, succeed, and prosper. Jess is running for the Minnesota House again because she cares about the community and believes that economic opportunities should be abundant, education should be equitable, and government should be responsible.

Kaela Berg is a mom of two fantastic boys, both in their twenties, a 20 year union flight attendant and a long time Labor leader. She ran for office as a working mom who knows the struggles of working families, to ensure we make investments in our education systems, and to fight for racial, gender, economic and environmental justice. As a member of the Reproductive freedom Caucus, she helped pass legislation that protects a person’s right to bodily autonomy, the Trans Refuge bill, access to free menstrual products for all students, and requiring more mental health staff in every school in the state to help address the trauma our children carry with them each day to name a few. In the upcoming session she will author a bill to remove the “abstinence only” curriculum for sex education classes from Minnesota statute. She is dedicated to upholding the values of Women Winning and to continuing to lead with integrity.

Born and raised in Southern Minnesota, Kristi has a proven track record of being a champion for clean water, education, working families, and human rights. A member of the Reproductive Justice Caucus (a bicameral group of legislators in both the Minnesota House and Senate) her first term she was able to support wins for bodily autonomy, choice, and justice- especially for those with marginalized bodies in Minnesota (trans folks, women, people of color and indigenous people). Kristi believes in democracy, a healthy world for future generations, and the basic decency of human beings.

Esther Agbaje is running for re-election to continue representing District 59B in the MN House of Representatives. The district covers essentially a microcosm of Minnesota from the very wealthy to those struggling everyday to survive. Rep. Agbaje is a lawyer who advocates for tobacco control policies and climate justice policies in public housing. In her previous practice she helped secure Hepatitis C medication for Minnesota prisoners. In the legislature she championed laws to even the playing field for tenants, secured reproductive protections for patients and doctors in Minnesota, and passed the CROWN Act so that all people can show up as their full selves at work and at school. In her third term, she will continue to fight for more housing, better public transportation, and jobs that pay a living wage.

Sydney Jordan has been unapologetically pro-abortion in every election she’s run in. A founding member of both the Reproductive Freedom Caucus and the Queer Caucus, Sydney has been the chief author of Universal School Meals, Comprehensive Sex Education, and the Minnesota ban on PFAS. Recognized nationally for her work, Sydney is known in Minnesota for her love of Northeast Minneapolis and Southeast Como, these bills and countless others that empower people of all genders to live their lives with dignity and respect.

Aisha Gomez is a Southsider, an organizer, an environmentalist, a public servant, and a mom. She was first elected State Representative in 2018. She served as Chair of the Preventing Homelessness division during the 2021-2022 session and is honored to currently serve as the House Tax Chair.

Samantha Sencer-Mura is an educator, a working mom, a local community leader, a fourth generation Japanese American, and the State Representative for district 63A in South Minneapolis. She attended Minneapolis public schools, where she witnessed deep disparities in the education system. Ever since, Samantha has been fighting for educational justice for students of color, including working as an educator. From 2017 to 2022, she was the Executive Director at educational non-profit, 826 MSP. During her time there, the organization served thousands of Twin Cities students through free in-school and out-of-school writing, publishing, and leadership programs. Samantha was elected to the Minnesota State House in 2022 as part of the DFL trifecta which passed sweeping reproductive justice policies. During her time in office, she was the lead author for the Ethnic Studies for all bill which ensures that students across Minnesota will have access to culturally relevant curriculum. She is running for office in 2024 to continue to be a champion for reproductive justice policies such as expanding healthcare access, funding abortion care, and ensuring students across the state have access to comprehensive sexual education.

Emma Greenman is running for re-election to the Minnesota State House representing the South Minneapolis District 63B. As a state representative, and throughout her career, Emma is working to build a democracy and an economy that centers the needs of kids, families, communities and those too often left at the margins. Emma is a national voting rights lawyer and has worked around the country on the front lines of the fight to defend our embattled democracy and ensure that people, not big corporations or wealthy interests, are the ones calling the shots. She believes that to make progress on critical issues — education, reproductive justice, climate change, economic justice, racial equity, healthcare — people and communities need power and agency in their lives and our democracy. As a state representative, Emma is leading the fight to expand the power of Minnesotans in our democracy and our economy. In 2023, she co-founded the nation’s first Inclusive Democracy Caucus in the Minnesota Legislature and authored the Democracy for the People Act, a landmark bill that protects the freedom to vote, gets big money out of politics, and strengthens inclusive, multi-racial gender-inclusive democracy in Minnesota. She passed legislation expanding the economic security and workplace safety for Minnesota workers, protecting access to contraception in Minnesota, and creating the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority to drive state investments in rapidly expanding an equitable transition to a clean energy future. When re-elected, she will continue to build the power of us – in South Minneapolis and across the state – to build a Minnesota where everyone thrives, no exceptions.

I am an unapologetically pro-choice woman. I was born in a global south country where women have little to no rights. Patriarchy and misogyny meant women’s bodies did not belong to them. They had no freedom to choose for themselves what they wanted for that body. My family fought in a secret war to defend American democracy and freedom so that I could choose a life that no woman before me from my culture could have ever imagined. They made incredible sacrifices so that I could obtain an education, decide who I wanted to marry, determine how many kids I wanted and pursue a profession that I was passionate about. I have two daughters, and I am invested in protecting democracy and freedom for them and the future generations of women and people who have uteruses. As the House Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus and Chief author of the Equal Rights Amendment, I will work to ensure bodily autonomy is protected in Minnesota’s constitution.

Representative María Isa Pérez-Vega is a lifelong Minnesotan, raised on the West Side of Saint Paul, the community she now represents. Representative Perez-Vega is a cultural community organizer, international recording artist, and youth worker running for the Minnesota House of Representatives District 65B. María Isa served as Director of the mentorship program for the Twin Cities Mobile Jazz Project which empowers young people through music and a cultural curriculum. She also serves on the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board Public Engagement Advisory Task Force, working to ensure the Capitol is a welcoming space for community. A Type 1 diabetic and insulin organizer, she has been a prominent leader in the fight for affordable health care in Minnesota. In April 2020, she played an integral role in advocating for the passage of the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act, and she continues her leadership within the Minnesota #Insulin4all Chapter. She is an alumni of the prestigious Wilder Foundation Community Equity Program, which brings together Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to advance their knowledge and skills to build community power and solidarity at the Capitol. For her outstanding work with Youthrive Live!, educating incarcerated youth throughout the state of Minnesota, She received the National Hispana Leadership Institute’s “Rising Latina Star” award.

Representative Leigh Finke proudly represents District 66A (Saint Paul, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Roseville). She grew up in the western suburbs of the Twin Cities, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Bethel College and a Master of Arts in Lit. from DePaul University. From 2018 to 2021, Finke was the senior producer at 1517 Media. She joined ACLU of Minnesota in 2021 as Multimedia Storyteller. In 2021 and 2022, Finke worked as Multimedia Storyteller for the ACLU of Minnesota, where she was a strong advocate for reproductive justice and trans and queer rights. In 2022, Finke was elected for the first time, becoming the first out trans legislator elected to the Minnesota Legislature, where she continued to champion abortion and gender affirming care, successfully leading the fight to make Minnesota a Trans Refuge state.

Minnesota State Representative Athena Hollins represents District 66B in Saint Paul and served as the Majority Whip of the House DFL party and Vice Chair of the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee. In her tenure at the legislature, she has been a champion for climate and energy justice, affordable housing, education for all Minnesotan children, criminal justice reform, and investing in our BIPOC communities. As a founding co-leader of the MN Reproductive Freedom caucus Athena is dedicated to protecting and enhancing reproductive rights for all Minnesotans. As a member of the Queer Caucus and a founding member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, Athena knows that sexual health and reproductive issues have tremendous intersectionality that must be purposefully and thoughtfully addressed. Athena believes that effective, inclusive lawmaking can make Minnesota better for all of us.

Kaozouapa “Liz” Lee was the first woman to ever represent Minnesota House District 67A. This is a distinction that she does not take lightly. In her first term, she helped enact legislation to protect an individual’s right to an abortion. Liz spent a decade advocating for policies that benefit working families in Minnesota and across the country like affordable housing, education equity, health equity, and increased access to public transit. She is running for re-election to continue protecting every Minnesotan’s right to decide on their own when and how they want to start their family.