MNA Nurse-Endorsed:
2026 Minnesota SENATE candidates
MNA CHAMPIONS
Jen McEwen, 08
As Chair of the Senate Labor Committee, McEwen has been an ardent champion of nurses in the Minnesota Senate, including her leadership to secure a hearing in March 2025 for the Quality Patient Care Act. McEwen was among the strongest opponents of efforts to undermine or weaken Earned Sick and& Safe Time (ESST), Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML), and the noncompete ban passed in 2023.
John Hoffman, 34
Hoffman, co-author of the Quality Patient Care Act, has consistently used his platform to hold hospital systems accountable. Hoffman also worked extensively with MNA on nurse licensure issues while remaining a strong opponent of the Nurse Licensure Compact. Hoffman has stood firmly with labor in opposing efforts to weaken Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) and Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML).
Lindsey Port, 55
Port, having served as the lead Senate author of the Quality Patient Care Act, continues to be a vocal advocate for nurses throughout the legislative session. Port stands firm as a member of the Senate Rules Committee, and also chairs the Subcommittee on the Federal Impact on Minnesotans and Economic Security, which focused on harmful impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on health premiums and rural health systems.
MNA ENDORSED
Kristy Janigo, 37
Janigo supports MNA’s staffing legislation and single-payer healthcare. She also opposes the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), believing it to be a union-busting tactic.
Liz Reyer, 52
Reyer authored and supported key legislation including the Quality Patient Care Act and served as the House author in 2026 for the MN Health Plan bill. She supports the Department of Health consistently tracking staffing data and also believes there must be stronger legislation against hospital mergers and acquisitions. Reyer opposes any Artificial Intelligence (AI) misuse in healthcare settings as decision-makers.
Paul Cumings, 53
Cumings supports more regulation for hospital mergers and acquisitions as well as ratios and stronger accountability for hospital executives. He also opposes Artificial Intelligence (AI) in patient assessment and expressed concern about its reliability as well as the future role it will play in healthcare.