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Sahra Odowa is a candidate running for State Senate District 55, which includes, Shakopee, Prior Lake, Jordan, and the Townships. Sahra is a first- generation American. Sahra was born in the Bronx, NY and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Sahra has attended and graduated from the University of Southern Maine in (2012) with a Bachelor’s of Science in Natural and Applied Science, Biology and Health Illness Concentration. Sahra, then obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Heath from the University of New England and moved to Minnesota in 2015. Sahra was a member of the Shakopee Diversity Alliance and is currently a board-member of the Scott County Mental Health Local Advisory Council. Sahra's efforts in the Minnesota Senate will be to serve the citizens of State Senate District 55 first, uniting people together for the common good and to advocate for the needs of our communities.
Addie Miller is running for an open seat in the Minnesota State Senate, District 47, which includes the majority of Carver County. Addie is a former horse trainer, a lawyer, and a Committee Administrator at the House of Representatives. She uses her past campaign experience, legal career, and farm-raised upbringing to bring a unique voice to the Capitol and support DFL Representatives in their work. Her priorities include fully funding public education, expanding mental health into schools and rural areas, and tackling the insane cost of healthcare. When elected, Addie will represent the residents of Carver County with her strong homegrown roots and "DO SOMETHING" attitude to better the lives of Minnesotans.
Nancy McLean is running for State Senate in District 39, which includes Forest Lake, Stillwater, Lake Elmo, and the St. Croix Valley. Nancy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who owns a private practice with two twin cities locations. She first honed her leadership skills in the corporate world where she worked for 3M for over 20 years before leaving to start her own business. Nancy is also the former President of the St. Croix Valley Alliance - a chapter of the National Organization for Women, and is a tireless advocate for healthcare reform. She is a bold leader with a proven track record of getting things done. Nancy will bring real leadership and real solutions to the challenges facing our district and our state.
Sarah Kruger is running for the Minnesota State Senate to represent District 28, which is comprised of Fillmore County, Houston County and the southern part of Winona County, including the City of Winona. Kruger is a marketing and public relations consultant, working primarily with medical professionals. Her legislative priorities include greater access to affordable health care, with a primary concern for safeguarding access to reproductive health and wellness care; public education funding; and economic prosperity for rural communities, specifically incentives for farmers and small businesses. Kruger believes that we can overcome challenges only when everyone’s voice matters, and she will work hard to make sure all people’s voices are heard.
Erin Preese is running for the Minnesota House of Representatives from Lakeville, District 58A. As a mom, a teacher, and a gun violence prevention advocate, Erin has the passion, energy, and experience to work across the aisle for common sense solutions. Now more than ever, we need leaders like Erin who will work to end partisan gridlock and to create solutions that address the real issues Minnesota's working families face. Erin believes we all deserve access to affordable healthcare and prescription drugs, high quality public schools, and common sense gun safety laws to protect our children and communities.
Heather Keeler is a candidate for Minnesota House, District 4A. She lives in Moorhead with her two sons. Keeler has worked in the tri-state region for 20 years to improve community healthcare, nonprofit projects, and education. As a passionate advocate for equitable and inclusive practices, she serves on the Fargo Native American Commission, and on the Moorhead Human Rights Commission as Vice Chair. Her most recent community initiative was spearheading the movement for Moorhead to officially recognize and celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the second Monday of each October. Keeler graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a bachelor’s degree in project management and a master’s degree in educational leadership. She worked for six years as a Native American Liaison in the Moorhead Area Public Schools and is currently the assistant director of Multicultural Recruitment at North Dakota State University. When elected Heather will work endlessly to continue to be a voice of advocacy for inclusive decision making.
Elise Diesslin is running for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 21B, which includes parts of Goodhue, Wabasha, Winona, and Dodge counties. Diesslin serves her community as a City Council member in the City of Elgin, Minnesota and as a member of Elgin's Economic Development Authority. Growing up in a family of teachers, Diesslin values the importance of education for all. She is employed at the University of Minnesota Rochester and will graduate with her Masters in Advocacy and Political Leadership in the spring. Diesslin's leadership style is to listen thoughtfully and ask follow up and clarifying questions -- no topic is off the table for discussion. Her priorities include a focus on fully funding education, advocating for farmers' interests, accessible mental health care, and affordable and inclusive housing with women's rights at the forefront of these issues. Once elected, Diesslin will not only be a strong rural voice for her district, but a strong female representative for her constituents.
Tamara (Tami) Calhoun is running for the Minnesota House of Representatives representing District 14A, which includes northwest and south St. Cloud, St. Augusta, and Waite Park. Tamara is a retired music teacher who served 34 years in the St. Cloud Public Schools. She has been a leader with ISAIAH for 17 years, working on education, policing and transportation issues in the St. Cloud area. She is on the boards of the St. Cloud Educational Rights Advocacy Council (SCERAC) and the Friends of Presbyterian Education Board, which raises funds for schools in Pakistan, primarily supporting girls' education. Tamara has traveled on mission trips to Kentucky, Oklahoma and Texas and internationally to Brazil, Costa Rica, and Pakistan for teaching, church and community building projects and rebuilding after natural disasters. When elected, Tamara will continue to work for the St. Cloud community on educational funding, health care rights, and quality jobs in an inclusive community.
Michelle Lee is a DFL candidate for Senate District 11, which includes Carlton, Pine and portions of Kanabec and St. Louis Counties. During her career as a TV journalist and news anchor in Duluth, Minnesota Lee covered social and economic issues. Her ability to actively listen, seek out both sides and provide fair and balanced reporting made her one of the most trusted journalists in the market earning her multiple awards and honors. After retirement Lee joined her local DFL Unit and was recruited to run for the state senate. She is a wife, mother and recently became a first-time grandmother adding to the urgency to fight for the equality for all Minnesotans regardless of their gender, race or zip code. When elected as the next senator representing SD 11 Lee plans to cast one of the deciding votes in the process of allowing voters to add the ERA to the state's constitution.