MNA Nurse-Endorsed:
2024 Minnesota House candidates
Liish Kozlowski, 8B
MNA ADVOCATE
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.
Tina Liebling, 24B
MNA CHAMPION
Libeling’s steadfast leadership as the Chair of the House Health Finance and Policy Committee helped ensure that MNA nurses’ top priorities, the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and the hospital merger regulation bill, moved through the legislative process. In addition to her role as chair, Libeling was a strong co-author of both bills and worked collaboratively with nurses on solutions to the challenges in healthcare in Minnesota. Chair Liebling’s work to advance healthcare reform in Minnesota is vital as she works with her colleagues to remove profit driven structures from our public health insurance programs and pave the way for single-payer healthcare in the state.
Andy Smith, 25B
MNA ADVOCATE
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.
Sandra Feist, 39B
MNA CHAMPION
As the 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.
Ginny Klevorn, 42B
MNA ADVOCATE
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.
Cedrick Frazier, 43A
MNA CHAMPION
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.
Liz Reyer, 52A
MNA ADVOCATE
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.
Bianca Virnig, 52B
Virnig enthusiastically supports MNA’s priorities, has proven experience in government, and is committed to building relationships with key allies, stakeholders, and MNA nurses. She showed a genuine desire to fight against the corporatization of healthcare and to help nurses in their fight for safe staffing.
Jess Hanson, 55A
MNA CHAMPION
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
MNA CHAMPION
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
MNA CHAMPION
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
MNA CHAMPION
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
MNA CHAMPION
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.
Leigh Finke, 66A
MNA ADVOCATE
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.