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The candidates running in the DFL special primary election for State Representative District 64A include 

The special primary is being held on Tuesday, Dec. 16 and the election will be on Jan. 27.

District 64A is entirely within the city of St. Paul. The seat became vacant after Kaohly Her, who represented the district since 2018, submitted her letter of resignation from the House as part of her transition to St. Paul mayor. 

Elecciones primarias especiales para representante estatal del Distrito 64A

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I’m running in this political moment, because our democracy, constitution, communities, economy, and personal freedoms are under attack, and our public policy has not kept up. I’m running to be a consistent, powerful voice for those being targeted or who haven’t always had a seat at the table, and for policies to protect us and help us thrive. 

I’m running to serve and to represent everyone in 64A, regardless of where they come from, their skin color, their pronouns, or if or how they worship.

What life or professional experiences led you to seek this position?

After being bullied as a kid for being gay, I’ve spent the last 30 years fighting for justice. I’ve done so as Deputy Secretary of State for 8 years, legislative director for progressive nonprofit organizations, a community organizer, and now as I run the Senate Elections Committee. 

Working in coalition, I’ve won passage of progressive bills nearly every year, including when the GOP was in control. These experiences make me uniquely ready to lead on day one.

What are the top issues you’re discussing with voters and why?

We’re having a lot of conversations about protecting our neighbors, state, and democracy from Trump, and the need for universal health care, universal child care, and housing affordability. These are issues voters are raising and what I want to focus on. 

In addition, voters are seeking elected officials who will lead boldly, organize and build energy around progressive issues, and show up constantly in community. That’s the kind of person I am, and the kind of representative I’ll be.

I filed to run for State Representative in House District 64A in the December 16th special primary. I’m running because 64A deserves someone who lives the same life you do: pays the same bills, raises kids in the same schools, and walks the same streets. 

As a 41 year old, I see all generations that we need to serve, from my kids, to my spouse, parents, and grandparents. I’m not here for a title; I’m here to get things done for the neighborhoods I’ve called home my entire life.

I am a lifelong St. Paul resident, father, public servant and small business owner with a proven record of leadership, community partnership, and results. With deep roots in District 64A and years of service across local and national public institutions, I bring the experience, temperament, and commitment needed to represent St.  Paul families at the Minnesota Capitol.

Three weeks ago, neighbors begged me to run because everyone else was too “Minnesota Nice” to say what we all know: we are owed safety, accountability and our communities deserve better. Three priorities I will fight for every single day at the Capitol: Safe Communities, Accountable State Government, Championing St. Paul.

I am running to ensure that workers have a strong voice at the Capitol.  My entire professional career has been devoted to lifting up worker needs. I am also a strong supporter of public education, and I am would like to see more equitable education funding so that districts like the St. Paul Public Schools are less dependent on levies. 

Finally, I am deeply troubled by our spiraling health care costs, and believe that we need better options for consumers of health care and health insurance.

I have been a labor lawyer for my entire career, and politics have never not mattered in my work. From who the president is (because that person appoints NLRB members) to who is on the city council (because they have the ability to adopt living wage ordinances, among other things), the contours of my work have always been shaped by who is in charge.  

It is critical to me to contribute to that work in a positive way, and use my power as a public servant to make the lives of Minnesotans better.

My top issues are about protecting workers and ensuring that St. Paul receives equitable funding in terms of the education formula and local government aid.  

The voters that I am talking to are also focused on protecting our environment, closing housing gaps, and ensuring that we have multi-modal transit that meets a variety of needs.

More than ever we need broad, diverse coalitions to withstand Trump’s authoritarianism and make progress for all Minnesotans — no exceptions. I want to put my 25 years of community and labor organizing experience to work to lower health care costs and protect Paid Family & Medical Leave. 

As a parent of 3 in St. Paul Public Schools, I will invest in our public schools and downtown. I will continue to work for a sustainable climate and the farmers who feed us. Progress is a progressive value.

My Aunt, Sister Kathleen Ries, introduced me to community organizing and how to fight for social justice. From when I was a student at Hamline U. to when I was executive director of TakeAction Minnesota, I have stood on side of working people. 

Big things happen in Minnesota — expanding health care, earned sick & safe time, gay marriage — when coalitions of people work closely with state legislators. I want to bring my coalition experience to the capitol — and help all of us afford our lives.

What are the top issues you're discussing with voters and why?

From the State Department to the legislature, I’ve brought my experience as a mom to fight for others throughout my career. Today we face grave challenges in the rising cost of health care, property taxes, and The Trump Administration’s attacks on the values our community upholds. 

I’m compelled to fight back and am proud to be running with the support of leaders at multiple levels of government, from Attorney General Keith Ellison to City Council members Saura Jost and Molly Coleman.

I chaired the commission which established MinnesotaCare, leading to the lowest rate of uninsurance in the nation at the time. I advised on national health care reform with First Lady Hillary Clinton, and later led global health initiatives under the Obama Administration. 

Through these experiences, I worked to bring people together to solve our toughest problems. More than anything, it is my experience as a mom which has led me down a path of public service to fight for all our communities.

My neighbors are increasingly worried about the rising cost of living and the ongoing threats our communities face from the Trump Administration. I remain dedicated to advancing long-term solutions that ensure all Minnesotans have affordable health care. 

We must strengthen Saint Paul’s property tax base by bringing new business and energy back to downtown to ease the burden on homeowners. And we must vigorously protect our democracy so every member of our community can thrive and truly succeed.

After political assassination and the murder and mayhem at Annunciation Church and School, the state legislature still could not manage to come together for a special session to address gun violence. 

I am running to break the log jam. St. Paul passed a Gun Violence Prevention Ordinance, but without repeal of Minnesota's preemption statute, St. Paul can’t enforce it and faces steep legal bills to defend the ordinance. The next Representative for 64A needs to make repeal their first priority.

Before joining the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, I spent over five years in the Forfeiture Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A big part of my job was permanently getting firearms out of the hands of criminals. Under current state and federal law this task is sisyphean. 

Since our summer of gun violence, I’ve been listening to young people in our community; they want gun culture to change and they want firearm legislation to encourage it.

The need for safe and healthy places to live, work and play. Active parents in MacGroveland, Summit Hill, Meriam Park and 64A writ large are talking with me about neighborhood solidarity in the face of a health insurance affordability crisis, unsustainable property tax burden v. the continued desire to support Arts, Education, Libraries and Community Centers when our communities are being actively terrorized by the federal gov't. 

Because a healthy community is good for our families' future.

Because the Democrats have been running us into the ground.

I was raised in a time where civics was taught so it is every ones obligation to participate in the process. 

There is only one issue on the ballot .... fraud. Why? Because if we don't have integrity and trust in the system we have nothing.

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The special primary for District 64A takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 16. St. Paul mayor-elect Kaohly Her previously held the role as state representative for the area. 

Special primary election for State Representative District 64A

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