MNA Nurse-Endorsed:
2024 Minnesota House candidates
MNA CHAMPIONS
Tina Liebling, 24B
Liebling’s steadfast leadership as Chair of the House Health Finance and Policy Committee helped ensure MNA nurses’ top priorities, the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and the hospital merger regulation bill, moved through the legislative process. Liebling was also a co-author of both bills and worked collaboratively with nurses on solutions to the challenges in healthcare in Minnesota. Chair Liebling does vital work to advance healthcare reform in Minnesota, working with colleagues to remove profit-driven structures from our public health insurance programs and pave the way for single-payer healthcare in the state.
Sandra Feist, 39B
As lead House author on the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and the Nurse & Patient Safety Act, Feist worked tirelessly for safe staffing, workplace safety measures, and student loan forgiveness to protect, recruit, and retain nurses at the bedside. In addition to her close work with MNA, she sought input from hospital stakeholders and legislators to improve and strengthen the legislation.
Cedrick Frazier, 43A
Frazier is recognized by nurses as an MNA Champion for his work as an advocate for patients and healthcare equity and a strong voice for workers and nurses – fighting for safe staffing and better working conditions. During the last legislative session, he was a co-author of the Minnesota Health Plan, the Paid Family Medical Leave Act and legislation that eliminated legislature approval of state contracts. Frazier received a political award from MNA in 2021 due to his work as chief author on Frontline Worker Pay and voted in favor of all MNA legislation in the past legislative session.
Jess Hanson, 55A
Hanson worked hard this past session to advance the children’s mental health bill supported by MNA nurses, to drastically reshape the resources and systems in place to provide mental health services and supports to Minnesota children. She was also a fierce advocate for nurses as a co-author of both the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and the hospital merger regulation bill, H.F. 402.
Kaela Berg, 55B
This past legislative session, Berg was the lead author on legislation to ban captive audience meetings for workers seeking a collective voice in the workplace, as well as a co-author the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and legislation to regulate hospital mergers. Berg is a strong public advocate for the need to ensure safe staffing in our hospitals.
Robert Bierman, 56A
Bierman was the lead author of H.F. 402, the new law to provide critical oversight over healthcare mergers and acquisitions. Bierman’s efforts helped to pass one of the strongest laws in the country for the protection of healthcare workers and patients against healthcare monopolies, working closely with MNA nurses. Bierman also served as a co-author of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act.
Sydney Jordan, 60A
In a session with many wins for workers, Jordan was at the forefront as the lead author of the Union Freedoms Bill which was included in the strongest labor omnibus bill ever passed in Minnesota. Jordan’s efforts helped to ensure that staffing ratios are now a mandatory topic of collective bargaining for public workers, including MNA nurses employed in the public sector. Jordan also signed on as a co-author of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act.
Emma Greenman, 63B
During this past legislative session, Greenman authored numerous bills to protect workers; she authored the Warehouse Worker Safety Bill and was a strong co-author on Paid Family Medical Leave and the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act. Greenman is consistently among the strongest voices in the legislature against the influence and power of corporate executives over workers.
MNA ADVOCATES
Liish Kozlowski, 8B
Kozlowski made their mark during their first term at the legislature by being a strong and consistent supporter of MNA’s work. As news of Mayo Clinic’s extortion attempts became public, few legislators were as visible and vocal in support of nurses, safe staffing, and MNA. Kozlowski was also a co-author of one of MNA’s key pieces of legislation, the healthcare merger regulation bill, and spoke up against the corporatization of healthcare in support of nurses in multiple committee hearings. Kozlowski also serves on the House Labor Committee, where they have strongly supported pro-worker, pro-nurse, and pro-union legislation.
Andy Smith, 25B
Smith stood out as one of MNA’s most effective and consistent supporters in the Legislature, garnering support for safe staffing through public-facing messaging. He used his social media channels to spread the word on KNABA and the issues nurses were facing at the Capitol with Mayo and MHA. He was also a strong, vocal supporter of the healthcare merger regulation bill during committee hearings as a committee member of the House Health Finance and Policy Committee.
Kristin Bahner, 37B
Bahner has been a strong advocate on the Health Finance & Policy Committee when moving our key pieces of legislation during this biennium. She also co-authored legislation important to MNA nurses, including hospital closures, medical debt, and MNA’s workplace violence legislation. Bahner has also been endorsed by many labor unions.
Erin Koegel, 39A
Kogel has always had an open door for nurses at the Capitol, and truly believes in co-governing to create real change. She supported and voted for all MNA’s policy priorities during the two-year legislative biennium, including co-authoring legislation like our hospital closures bill and UI for striking workers. This year with the consolidation of services at Mercy and Unity, Koegel worked to get an amendment at the end of session to add public interest reviews when hospitals close or reduce services.
Ginny Klevorn, 42B
Klevorn oversaw several positive changes and investments to state and local government during the 2023 session. She advocated for MNA priorities including increased funding for the Attorney General’s Office to investigate and prosecute antitrust cases, including healthcare antitrust cases such as those that have contributed to greater corporatization of healthcare. She’s a fierce advocate for increased transparency and accountability when it comes to the finances and transactions taking place in our healthcare system, likely one of the reasons she was such a strong supporter of the healthcare merger regulation bill.
Mike Freiberg, 43B
Freiberg is a public health attorney, chairs the House Elections Finance and Policy committee, and sits on the State and Local Government Finance and Policy committee. Freiberg’s district includes the MNA hospital North Memorial, where he has met with nurses from the district numerous times, joined picket lines, and spoke publicly in support of nurses. Freiberg was a co-author of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, UI for striking workers, HEAL, CEO pay cap legislation, and more progressive and pro-labor legislation. Freiberg has been endorsed by MNA for several electoral cycles as an MNA Advocate.
Peter Fischer, 44A
Fischer has always been a strong and ardent support of MNA nurses and the labor movement, attending picket lines, and meeting with nurses in-district and at the Capitol. He is the current chair of the Human Services Policy committee and serves on the Health Finance committee. Fischer was also the co-author of the UI for striking workers bill, behavioral health grants and other mental health legislation, hospital CEO pay caps, our workplace violence legislation, and our hospital finance transparency and accountability legislation. HE was endorsed by as an MNA Advocate for his work on nursing and labor issues at the Capitol.
Mike Howard, 51A
Howard has been endorsed by MNA nurses, most recently due to his work on the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act, helping champion nurse issues at the Capitol, and his public support on our picket lines. He was able to work on major progressive house investments current the past biennium, including laws protecting against discrimination towards those in Section 8 housing. Howard co-authored legislation on ending the practice of junk fees, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), worker misclassification, ending tax loopholes for corporations, medical debt reforms, and many other progressive pieces of legislation. He also voted in favor of all MNA and labor legislation during that time.
Liz Reyer, 52A
Reyer consistently advocates for progressive healthcare reform, fighting to provide Minnesotans with equitable, quality, and affordable healthcare. When Mayo Clinic Health System decided to blackmail the legislature and the Governor, Reyer’s Healthcare Affordability Board was named along with KNABA as one of the biggest threats to Mayo’s corporate power. She is also a strong advocate for nurses and is always willing to speak up for workers in the House Health Committee where she strongly supports pro-nurse legislation.
Rick Hansen, 53B
Hansen is an ardent supporter of MNA, turning out to picket lines, and attending in-district meetings. He has stood with nurses and labor, and MNA has endorsed him for numerous cycles. Hansen supported and voted in favor of all MNA and labor legislation in this biennium. He was also a co-author on HEAL and in his role on the Legislative Audit Commission, worked with Rep. Emma Greenman to get our audit on hospital community benefit spending approved, which will result in a legislative audit expected in the next year. Hansen has consistently received MNA and labor support in every election due to his strong commitment to labor and the environment with not only his vote at the Capitol, but his participation on the picket lines.
John Huot, 56B
Huot is an emergency medical technician and a former member of MNA where he go his first experience lobbying for healthcare policy His focus at the legislature has been expansive, covering the areas of healthcare, education, gun reform, public safety and environmental causes. Huot would like to continue to partner with MNA, including developing programs that cover the cost of a nursing degree program as a way to recruit new people into the field of nursing and healthcare. During this biennium, Huot was a co-author of Keeping the Nurses at the Bedside Act, HEAL, hospital closures, UI for striking workers, and workplace violence legislation. He also joined nurses at the information picket and attended MNA events at the Capitol to show his support.
Jamie Long, 61B
Long is currently House Majority Leader and has been previously endorsed by MNA. His focus has been ensuring investments in housing, childcare, and climate change. Long has been public in his support for abortion rights, gender affirming care, criminal justice reform, and expanding labor rights in Minnesota. Long co-authored the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, the Union Freedoms bill, reproductive health expansions and protections, statewide earned sick and safe time, HEAL, and more. He has an open-door policy and has been collaborative with his approach to co-governance, always willing to meet with MNA staff and members and discuss pathways to pass our legislation while turning out to our picket lines in support of workers.
Leigh Finke, 66A
Finke is a powerhouse whose impact at the Minnesota Capitol is already taking shape through her strong advocacy for LBQTI+ and equity inclusion. As the first openly transgender legislator elected to the Minnesota legislature, Finke uses her skills and experience as a multimedia storyteller to help change how we talk about politics and change at the Capitol, including showing her support for the nurses’ fight during the final days of session and beat back on harmful MHA talking points. Finke’s understanding of the negative influence of corporate power is incredibly valuable in changing Minnesota politics.
MNA SUPPORTERS
Brion Curran, 36B
Curran has been a vocal supporter of nurses at the Capitol, particularly in the fight for safe staffing and working conditions. She co-authored important MNA legislation, such as the hospital closures bill, UI for striking workers, and the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act. Curran has voted with MNA in this latest biennium and has been endorsed by many labor unions.
Cheryl Youakim, 46B
Youakim is an education paraprofessional and union member. During the 2023 legislative session, Youakim voted in favor of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, co-authored the Frontline Worker Pay bill and the extension of worker compensation presumptive eligibility for nurses and other frontline workers affected by COVID and voted in favor of all MNA legislation during the 2024 legislative session.
Bianca Virnig, 52B
Virnig is the director of Health and Safety at Brightworks. She supports education and healthcare, disability rights and social justice advocacy. Virnig co-authored some of MNA’s priority legislation, including CEO pay caps, RN student loan forgiveness, and workplace violence prevention.
Brad Tabke, 54A
Tabke is a strong union advocate at the Capitol, on committees, and on the House floor. He has co-authored key labor legislation, such as UI for striking workers and paid family medical leave. Tabke has strongly voted on the House floor for MNA-led and MNA-supported legislation.
Mohamud Noor, 60B
A former union member and a strong supporter of labor, Noor has been on the right side of every issue facing workers up at the Capitol. He has called for the legislature to address racial disparities in healthcare, education, unemployment, and housing. Noor co-authored MNA’s hospital merger legislation and the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act.
Samantha Sencer-Mura, 63A
Sencer-Mura has co-authored MNA’s hospital closure legislation and the bill on reforming medical debt. She is committed to co-governing with nurses through listening, relationship-building, and advocacy.
Dave Pinto, 64B
Pinto supported and voted in favor of MNA legislation this past biennium and has focused primarily on legislation aimed at children and families. He has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO, MAPE, Carpenters, TakeAction MN, and other organizations. Pinto has also actively participated in MNA picket lines over the past decade.
MNA ENDORSED
Reed Olson, 2B
Olson is a small business owner and local nonprofit leader from Bemidji. He is strongly against the corporatization of healthcare in the district and how he has seen it negatively impact his community. Olson is a firm supporter of single-payer healthcare and believes it would help small businesses remain competitive by removing the need to provide employer-sponsored coverage.
Harley Droba, 3A
Droba currently serves as mayor of International Falls and became a local advocate for veterans’ rights after serving in the Army. He opposes harmful healthcare mergers and pledges to work with MNA nurses in their legislative efforts against the corporatization of healthcare.
Mark Munger, 3B
Munger is a retired judge, author and community organizer in Hermantown. He believes it is outlandish that healthcare in the US is governed by insurance companies, wants to support nurses on the picket lines, and opposes the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Aron Schnaser, 7A
Schnaser is a science teacher and union member who wants to empower workers to collaborate with him at the capitol on policy and prioritize their voices. He supports passing safe staffing ratios into state statutes, passing single-payer healthcare, and cracking down on harmful corporate healthcare mergers. He also opposes the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Lorrie Janatopoulos, 7B
Janatopoulos fully supports establishing minimum staffing ratios and understands the damage corporate actors have in healthcare and at the state legislature. She pledged to work with MNA nurses to craft and pass legislation related to MNA’s priorities.
Pete Johnson, 8A
Johnson is a Duluth firefighter and a local leader within the fire department. He supports minimum safe staffing ratios, drawing parallels between hospital short staffing and staffing challenges in the fire department. Johnson is also a firm supporter of single-payer healthcare and collective bargaining rights for all workers.
Pete Radosevich, 11A
Radosevich is an attorney, small business owner, and radio host who is running on a platform of increasing bipartisanship and collaboration in state governance. He firmly supports fighting for minimum ratios in both collective bargaining agreements and state statutes. Radosevich has spoken out against the corporatization of healthcare in his district, noting how Essentia’s takeover of Moose Lake’s hospital resulted in devastating closures and service reductions.
Abdi Daisane, 14A
Daisane is a small business owner who is running on a platform to improve opportunities through access to secure and stable housing, better education, security and safety, and a better healthcare system. He has family members who are nurses and regularly hears about how understaffed they are. He pledged to work with MNA to address the staffing crisis. He also supports single-payer healthcare and union members’ right to collectively bargain.
Jeff Brand, 18A
Brand is a strong pro-labor representative who has co-authored MNA legislation in the past, such as the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, and will support future bills that address hospital closures. He supports nurses and believes they have the right to safe staffing and safe working conditions. He is committed to working to pass staffing ratio legislation.
Luke Frederick, 18B
Frederick was a co-author of Unemployment Insurance for striking workers and has a 100% voting record on MNA and labor issues. He has attended MNA picket lines in the past and staunchly supports labor unions in his caucus.
Joseph Pacovsky, 23B
Pacovsky is a strong supporter of staffing legislation and any remedy from the workers to improve working conditions for healthcare workers. He has pledged to build collaborative relationships with MNA nurses and wants to include them in active decision-making on healthcare policy.
Kim Hicks, 25A
Hicks is a proud member of MAPE and has built her campaign on putting people before politics. She recognizes that nurses are burnt out and need support across the state to ensure that Minnesota remains a healthcare destination, and she is committed to helping do that work. She has a strong record of voting for MNA legislation and has been publicly critical of the Mayo Clinic.
Sarah Kruger, 26A
Kruger supports passing legislation to reform healthcare in Minnesota. She believes in making hospitals’ annual reports public to ensure that hospitals receiving tax-breaks are accountable to the public. She is committed to working with and listening to nurses on other healthcare-related issues, including single payer healthcare.
Matt Norris, 32B
Norris co-authored MNA’s staffing bill during his first term and has spoken about witnessing firsthand the corporatization of our healthcare system. He supports single-payer healthcare and understands that we pay more yet have some of the worst disparities of any industrialized country. Norris also opposes the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Josiah Hill, 33B
Hill has been an active public supporter of MNA, showing up to MNA picket lines as a union leader and supporter of nurses, and has a record of voting for MNA’s legislation. He believes in fighting for the rights of workers to organize and collectively bargaing fair pay and benefits. Hill also has had an open-door policy at the Capitol, always available to nurses and staff during session.
Brian Raines, 34A
Raines has union values and a vision for Minnesota that aligns with MNA’s priorities and positions. He is an active partner in the local labor movement and believes that the bosses shouldn’t reap all the rewards of the worker’s labor. Raines supports nurses in their efforts to stand up to greedy CEOs and would support them on staffing legislation.
Melissa Hortman, 34B
Hortman is a pro-union candidate who currently serves as Speaker of the House. She has partnered with MNA nurses to pass key legislation, including Frontline Worker Pay and the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act.
Zach Stephenson, 35A
Stephenson is committed to MNA nurses’ priorities and demonstrated his commitment during this last session by helping block the Fairview Sanford merger by working on the bill in the commerce committee that he chairs. He is a proud co-author of MNA’s staffing bill and pledges to continue supporting it and standing up to bullies like Mayo Clinic.
Kari Rehrauer, 35B
Rehrauer is committed to supporting nurse and labor issues. She has shown this by walking the picket lines with MNA nurses during the last contract fight and pledging to co-author our staffing legislation if elected. Rehrauer opposes mega-mergers and monopolies like the Sanford and Fairview merger would have created and does not support the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Janelle Calhoun, 36A
Calhoun comes from a proud union family and understands the importance of communication and collaboration with MNA nurses if she gets elected. She is supportive of single-payer and committed to walking the picket line with nurses as well as speaking out on social media in support of MNA members during the 2025 campaign.
Huldah Hiltsley, 38A
Hiltsley is the daughter of a nurse who understands how important nurses’ fight for staffing is, how it affects patients’ safety, and how it keeps the workforce at the bedside. She has walked picket lines in the past and committed to doing so again during the 2025 campaign.
Samantha Vang, 38B
Vang is committed to increasing mental health access in Minnesota, as well as increasing the number of mental health providers in the state. She has also worked on a bi-partisan bill providing additional loan forgiveness for future mental health professionals. As an incumbent, Vang has also been a strong vote on the House floor for nurse issues, including the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act.
Curtis Johnson, 40B
Johnson is committed to co-governing with nurses by learning and partnering with MNA members on their priorities. He is 100% supportive of ratios and believes that legislation is necessary to solve this issue. He pledged to co-author single-payer legislation and oppose the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Lucia Wroblewski, 41A
Wroblewski of all MNA issues and is committed to learning and including nurses in decision-making around healthcare and labor issues. She is willing to co-author the single-payer bill and says that she would support nurses during contract fights, including calling CEOs, using her social media, and walking the line.
Ned Carroll, 42A
Carroll was a co-author of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and single-payer healthcare legislation. He has previously walked the line with MNA nurses in his district and pledged to do so again during the 2025 campaign. Carroll voted in favor of all MNA legislation in the most recent session of the legislature.
Patty Acomb, 45B
Acomb has supported MNA legislation and supports MNA codifying staffing legislation into law during her time on the Health Finance & Policy Committee. She has joined numerous MNA picket lines during her time at the legislature and always meets with nurses to better understand the issues at stake inside hospitals. Acomb has also consistently voted for nurse issues in both committees and on the floor.
Tracey Breazeale, 45A
Breazeale believes staffing is essential to treating patients effectively and for healthcare workers to maintain their sanity and health. She will advocate on this issue and work with other legislators. Breazeale also understands that private equity doesn’t have a good track record in healthcare and mergers don’t have a good outcome for patients.
Larry Kraft, 46A
Kraft is the son of a nurse and has supported MNA and labor legislation in committee and on the floor. As a climate change advocate, he is interested in better health outcomes for all Minnesotans and believes that improved working conditions and good wages for nurses are critical to achieving those outcomes.
Ethan Cha, 47B
Cha has fully supported MNA legislation on the House floor and is an ally to labor unions. Through personal experiences, Cha’s connection to healthcare has instensified and has led him to co-authoring the medical debt legislation that passed in 2024.
Lucy Rehm, 48B
Rehm understands that corporate greed is one of the biggest problems we face in our hospitals and supports addressing the high pay of CEOs. She supports pro-worker legislation and opposes the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Alex Falconer, 49A
Falconer voiced support for all MNA issues and pledged to have an open-door policy on co-governing with MNA nurses. He has joined nurses on the picket lines in the past and believes in passing legislation to address staffing ratios.
Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, 49B
Kotyza-Witthuhn was raised by teachers, grew up in a union household and has family members who are nurses at Minnesota hospitals. She has attended MNA picket lines and regularly meets with nurses in the district and at the Capitol. Kotyza-Witthuhn has also voiced admiration and appreciation for the nurses and midwives at Methodist Hospital, who helped her through a 29-hour labor in the middle of the pandemic.
Julie Greene, 50A
Greene is currently serving on the Edina school board and has been endorsed by Education Minnesota. She understands the importance of co-governance and meeting with MNA nurses about issues in Minnesota hospitals. Greene opposes the Nurse Licensure Compact and pledged to support nurses during the 2025 contract campaign.
Steve Elkins, 50B
Elkins has prioritized having an open-door policy with nurses in his district and worked with MNA on the community benefits study. He fully supports MNA nurses on the issue of staffing and believes that patient outcomes improve with increased staffing.
Nathan Coulter, 51B
Coulter understands the importance of what unions do for our country and economy. He has supported the MNA’s agenda while serving in the state legislature and believes healthcare cannot strictly be focused on profit. Coulter is also in favor of CEO pay caps.
Mary Frances Clardy, 53A
Clardy co-authored the Debt Fairness Act during this past legislative session and voted for all MNA-supported and labor legislation. She has also walked the picket line with MNA members, most recently at United Hospital during their 2023 informational picket, where she spoke passionately to nurses about the need for safe patient care.
Brian Cohn, 57B
Cohn is committed to reaching out to MNA on healthcare issues and would look to nurses for guidance. He also pledged his support for nurses’ fight for ratios and single-payer healthcare.
Kristi Pursell, 58A
Pursell believes corporations have no business in healthcare. She supported MNA priorities at the legislature by working on legislation like Rep. Andy Smith’s bill this last session. Pursell believes a single-payer system would be better for her constituents and small businesses in her district.
Ian English, 58B
English is a registered nurse. He supports many issues, including education, healthcare reform, veterans’ issues, mental health, and more. English is deeply invested in the issues of mental health and workplace violence in hospitals. He is also passionate about the anti-corporatization of healthcare in Minnesota and its effect on rural communities.
Fue Lee, 59A
Lee is a supporter of MNA priorities at the Capitol and a staunch supporter of organized labor.He supported nurses at the Capital by voting in support of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and Frontline Worker Pay.
Esther Agbaje, 59B
Agbaje is a strong advocate on healthcare issues. She has co-authored MNA’s 2024 workplace violence legislation and has voted with MNA 100% of the time on our bills. She is looking forward to meeting more nurses from her district, hearing from nurses about issues at the bedside, and collaborating with MNA on legislation.
Katie Jones, 61A
Jones stands with nurses on all their issues and supports caps on CEO pay. She has pledged to show up for nurses during the 2025 campaign regardless of the outcome of the election.
Kaohly Her, 64A
Her believes nurses should be well compensated for their work and their working conditions should be improved. She pledged to show up for nurses in their 2025 contract to always be supportive of nurses in their fights for fair contracts.
Samakab Hussein, 65A
Hussein pledged to support nurses because they have shown up for him in some of the most challenging times in his life. Hussein agrees with MNA that single-payer is the way to fix the system. He also opposes the Nurse Licensure Compact and believes we need to invest in registered nurses who live and work in Minnesota.
Maria Perez-Vega, 65B
Perez-Vega has railed against the for-profit healthcare system and outrageous amounts of money in the CEO’s pocket. She believes the rural healthcare crisis needs to be addressed at the legislature.
Athena Hollins, 66B
Hollins has been a strong vote on the House floor for both MNA and labor issues. She was a co-author on the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside act and in the past two years, has spent a lot of time authoring legislation banning conversion therapy for minors, banning the use of no-knock warrants, and other criminal justice and evnironmental policy reforms.
Liz Lee, 67A
Lee is focused on rent stabilization, good-paying jobs, infrastructure, and health equity at the legislature. She believes in building worker power and equity for all people. Lee was a co-author for unemployment for striking workers and has pledged to co-govern with MNA on healthcare legislation in the future.
Jay Xiong, 67B
Xiong has a strong MNA voting record and authored the Debt Fairness Act, legislation that included medical debt provisions that MNA has advocated heavily to pass. He champions labor and remains committed to advocating for the needs of dedicated healthcare professionals.