Families need stability, basic needs, and the ability to plan for their future. Right now, too many people in Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, Crystal, and Plymouth are working or have saved for retirement, and still are falling behind. Housing costs are high. Childcare is hard to find and harder to afford. Groceries, healthcare, utilities and property taxes keep climbing. One unexpected bill can put us way behind.

The cost of living isn’t about one expense — it’s the weight of all of them at once. When so much of a paycheck goes to housing or childcare, families have little money left for everything else. Working to create a better life begins to feel impossible.

I believe politics should make it easier to earn a better life. State leaders have a responsibility to step in when the economy stops working for Minnesotans. I’ve spent my career fighting to lower everyday costs, raise wages, and make sure hard work actually pays off — because earning a decent life shouldn’t be a luxury.

My commitments:

• Expand access to affordable, stable housing by encouraging redevelopment through updated zoning laws, changing finance incentives, and creating more options for renters, first-time buyers, and seniors.

• Lower healthcare costs by creating a public option so that we can negotiate lower provider costs and drug prices, and expand early interventions to keep people healthy, including mental health care.

• Improve access to high-quality, affordable childcare so families can afford to keep working.

• Protect seniors by addressing property taxes and reducing the burden on retirement income.

• Support local businesses and community development so growth benefits the people who already live here.

A good job should be the pathway to earning a better life. Too many people in our district are working longer hours and juggling multiple jobs just to pay for the basics, or living with family in order to save money. Wages haven’t kept pace with the cost of living, and almost everyone is stretched thin.

A strong local economy starts with people — workers who are paid fairly and business owners committed to growing locally. When workers earn more, they spend more in their communities. When local businesses thrive, neighborhoods are stronger and public services are better funded.

I’ve always believed that living wages and business growth go hand-in-hand. I worked to raise Minnesota’s minimum wage and tie it to inflation, so all Minnesotans can be confident of a rising wage floor. I’ve worked closely with unions, small business owners, and entrepreneurs who are working on the next generation of Minnesota business leadership.

This is about an economy that works for everyone – and a Minnesota where we can all rise. 

My commitments:

• Fight for wages that keep up with the cost of living so one job is enough.

• Support unions and protect the right to organize so workers have a real voice on the job.

• Invest in a Public Equity Fund to grow Minnesota-based industries and create long-term local jobs.

• Strengthen transit and transportation systems so people can get to work safely and reliably.

• Support coordinated public safety efforts that use resources effectively and keep communities safe.

Public schools are the heart of our communities. They’re where kids learn, families connect, and opportunity begins. Every child deserves a school they can count on — with committed teachers, safe classrooms, and the support they need to succeed.

Today’s students face challenges that go far beyond academics. Mental health needs are rising. Families are under pressure. Teachers are asked to do more and more. If we want students to thrive, we have to support the whole child — and make sure schools have the resources to meet students where they are.

I’ve spent my career championing strong public education, early learning, and affordable paths beyond high school. That means investing in schools — and also making sure those investments are well-designed, well-managed, and actually reaching students and teachers.

Education should open doors, strengthen communities, and prepare young people for the lives they want to lead.

My commitments:

• Invest in public schools so every student can build a strong relationship with a teacher.

• Expand early intervention for mental health to support student success.

• Support teachers with fair pay, manageable class sizes, and professional respect.

• Provide quality childcare so kids start school ready to learn.

• Create affordable pathways to college, technical education, and skilled trades.

Experience matters — especially when our basic institutions are under attack from people who do not believe in democracy. I know how our state government can help, where it needs to change, and how it can better protect Minnesotans.

I believe most problems can be solved with engagement and follow-through. I’ve helped pass laws that raised wages, expanded childcare, improved public safety standards, and strengthened public institutions. That work requires a willingness to push for better outcomes, a clear understanding of how our government actually functions, and direct engagement with people affected by our policies.

Minnesotans need advocates in the State House who aren’t afraid to take on hard problems, who demand excellence from state government, and who stay focused on results.

Politics is about making a difference in people’s lives, not just keeping issues alive for campaigns or hoping problems fix themselves. It’s about building trust. When our tax dollars are used well, trust grows — and when people feel respected, protected, and heard, our communities and our democracy are stronger.

My commitments:

• Use my experience to deliver results immediately for District 43B.

• Demand accountability and excellence so public investments deliver real outcomes.

• Be accessible, transparent, and responsive to the people I represent.

• Build coalitions to solve problems, even when the work is difficult.

• Strengthen trust in government by making sure it works for everyone it serves.