Vision
I’ve always understood the power government has to improve the lives of ordinary people in our communities, because I experienced it. From the Minnesota River to Morningside, we all deserve the freedom to thrive. As your next State Senator, I commit to working to find solutions that put people first.
Healthcare
As a young person pre-Affordable Care Act, I had to go without healthcare because I did not have insurance and could not afford the doctor’s visit. Title X funds made it possible for me to receive the care that I deserved. That experience turned me into a Storyteller for Planned Parenthood because I understand that when we fund healthcare we save lives. I am now a volunteer pro-choice clinic escort, because I believe that we all have the right to make our own healthcare decisions and no one should be harassed or prevented from accessing the care they deserve. I believe that abortion care is healthcare, and healthcare is a human right. I will always fight to expand Minnesotan’s rights to reproductive and gender affirming care. I will fight for universal healthcare, to lower the price of prescription drugs, and our freedom to access the care we need without going bankrupt in the process.
Education
Our children deserve the best public education, and have the right to be safe at school. I will fight for birth to Pre-K opportunities for our youngest learners and their families, and will advocate for fully funding our public schools including special education. I support ensuring that every school has mental health professionals, counselors, and support staff to meet the needs of the communities they serve, and will advocate for data-driven solutions that keep our schools safe including gun violence prevention legislation. As many parents, including myself, are concerned with the impacts of technology on our students’ learning, I will advocate for policies backed by research that will support the learning growth and development of all students. Learning does not stop at high school: I will advocate for policies that lower the cost of college tuition and support increased career pathways into the trades.
Human Rights
If you were born here, or moved to Minnesota to build the life you want - everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. The MAGA regime is abducting our neighbors and bullying our Transgender youth, beloved community members who deserve to live in peace. I will stand against these assaults on our freedoms, and will always work with elected leaders at all levels of government as well as community advocates to protect our neighbors and ensure every person, no matter where they come from, who they love, or what they look like, has the freedom to live their lives to the fullest.
Affording Our Lives
I worked incredibly hard at multiple jobs to pay my way through cosmetology school. My ability to earn a good living was held back by corporations that offered a minimum wage that barely covered the cost of rent, and very few hours of paid time off when employees were sick. I will fight for policies that improve families’ economic well-being: protecting Minnesota’s new paid leave program, lowering the cost of groceries, expanding access to affordable childcare, and universal healthcare. I am pro-labor union, and will always defend the freedom to join a union.
Our Environment
We all deserve to live in safe and healthy communities. Edina and Bloomington residents deeply value their parks and natural spaces, which are deserving of state investment and protection. I will advocate for legislation that ensures these natural resources are restored and protected, as well as advocate for legislation that protects Minnesota’s natural environment including our fresh water. I will support legislation that moves Minnesota closer to our goal of being 100% carbon-free by 2040, as well as support policies that make energy efficiency programs available to low income Minnesotans and renters. My husband and I made an investment in solar panels for our home, but not all people can afford to take that step, and the negative impacts of climate change impact those of us who can afford the least. I will fight back against the corporations who pollute our neighborhoods and raise the cost of our utilities. We must do better for all Minnesotans.
Public Safety
Everyone deserves to be safe at home, work, school, and in the community. We also deserve to feel safe reaching out when someone we love needs help. While the gun lobby funds the MAGA regime, we know that most of us support commonsense gun safety and know we don’t need to continue to live this way. I will support legislation that will make our communities more safe. I support increased funding for mental health responders, and proven crime prevention solutions for our communities. We must continue to work to eliminate inequities and disparities in our public safety systems.