MNA Nurse-Endorsed:
2022 Minnesota Senate candidates
Grant Hauschild, SD3
Nurses endorsed Grant Hauschild for Senate District 3 because he is a strong supporter of collective bargaining rights, the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and single payer healthcare.
An Essentia employee, he understands the importance of unions to protect patient care and supports nurses as they negotiate contracts across the district.
Ben DeNucci, SD7
Nurses endorsed Ben DeNucci for Senate District 7 because he is committed to fighting with nurses against corporate healthcare and for the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and other essential measures to put patients before profits.
Nurses appreciate that he “proudly and strongly supports MNA on all issues.”
Jen McEwen, SD8
MNA CHAMPION
Nurses endorsed Jen McEwen for Senate District 8 because she has been an ardent champion of nurses in the Minnesota Senate including as a co-author of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act to address the staffing and retention crisis in Minnesota hospitals.
Aric Putnam, SD14
MNA SUPPORTER
Nurses endorsed Aric Nurses also appreciated that he supported and voted for Frontline Worker Pay and the Mental Health Grants for Healthcare Workers from the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, and voted against implementation of the federal nurse licensure compact.
Nick Frentz, SD18
Nurses endorsed Nick Frentz for Senate District 18 because he joined nurses on the Mankato picket line to show his support for them during bargaining.
Nurses also appreciated that he supported and voted for Frontline Worker Pay and the Mental Health Grants for Healthcare Workers from the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, and voted against implementation of the federal nurse licensure compact.
Jim Abler, SD35
MNA CHAMPION
Nurses endorsed Jim Abler for Senate District 35 because he has been a strong supporter of MNA nurses in the fight against so-called “right-to-work” laws and the Outsourcing Care Compact. He received the MNA Public Official Award in 2018 for his advocacy on the latter topic.
John Hoffman, SD34
Nurses endorsed John Hoffman for Senate District 34 because he has come to numerous MNA pickets and strike lines, legislator educations, and has always met with nurses at the Capitol.
Nurses also appreciated that he signed MNA legislation in the past, including the Workplace Violence Prevention bill, as well as supported and voted for Frontline Worker Pay and the Mental Health Grants for Healthcare Workers from the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, and voted against implementation of the federal nurse licensure compact.
Susan Pha, SD38
Nurses endorsed Susan Pha for Senate District 38 because she pledged to stand with nurses to hold hospital executives accountable to fair contracts with nurses, and to address issues with nurse staffing and access to healthcare in Minnesota.
Nurses appreciated that she wants to listen to nurses “to understand issues from us as experts.”
Mary Kunesh, SD39
MNA SUPPORTER
Nurses endorsed Mary Kunesh for Senate District 39 because she supports nurses on staffing, PPE, and collective bargaining rights and sees MNA as a partner with the same values as hers.
Nurses also appreciated that she supported and voted for Frontline Worker Pay and the Mental Health Grants for Healthcare Workers from the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, and voted against implementation of the federal nurse licensure compact.
John Marty, SD40
MNA CHAMPION
Nurses endorsed John Marty for Senate District 40 because he has been a longtime, statewide advocate for MNA nurses on issues of staffing, workplace violence prevention, and healthcare reform. For his healthcare advocacy, Marty has received the MNA Paul and Sheila Wellstone Social Justice Award.
Julie Seeberger, SD41
Nurses endorsed Julie Seeberger for Senate District 41 because she is a union member who pledged to be a voice for MNA nurses in the Senate on staffing and other bedside issues.
Nurses appreciated her willingness to listen and learn from nurses in the screening on the topic of the Outsourcing Care Compact.
Bonnie Westlin, SD42
Nurses endorsed Bonnie Westlin for Senate District 42 because she pledged to work alongside MNA on issues like safe staffing and access to healthcare.
Nurses were impressed with her strong conviction to “put people first over profits.”
Ann Rest, SD43
MNA SUPPORTER
Nurses endorsed Ann Rest for Senate District 43 because she respects and admires MNA’s basic beliefs and advocacy for the well-being of nurses and their patients, especially promoting safety for both, including adequate staffing.
Nurses also appreciated that she voted for the Frontline Worker Pay bill and voted against the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Nicole Mitchell, SD47
Nurses endorsed Nicole Mitchell for Senate District 47 because she pledged to work alongside MNA on issues like safe staffing and access to healthcare.
Nurses appreciated that as a sister of a nurse, she clearly understood the need for staffing legislation.
Steve Cwodzinski, SD49
MNA ADVOCATE
Nurses endorsed Steve Cwodzinski for Senate District 49 because he is a strong supporter of nurses and workers in the Senate.
Nurses also appreciated that he supported and voted for Frontline Worker Pay and the Mental Health Grants for Healthcare Workers from the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, and voted against implementation of the federal nurse licensure compact.
Alice Mann, SD50
Nurses endorsed Alice Mann for Senate District 50 because she understands the issues affecting healthcare workers, particularly the chronic understaffing of hospitals by CEOs and other healthcare executives.
Dr. Mann’s “passion on the issues we care about” was highlighted by one nurse.
Lindsey Port, SD55
MNA ADVOCATE
Nurses endorsed Lindsey Port for Senate District 55 because she understands that the pandemic put a tremendous pressure on our healthcare system, and wants to do more to support Minnesota nurses.
Nurses also appreciated that she is a co-author for the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and supported and voted in favor of the Mental Health Grants for Healthcare Workers from the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and Frontline Worker Pay, and against the implementation of the federal nurse licensure compact.
Erin Maye Quade, SD56
Nurses are proud to endorse Erin Maye Quade for Senate District 56 because she is a candidate who will stand beside nurses and bring them into the political process.
Nurses believe “she will be there with us again” to support MNA priorities like the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, if elected.
Bobby Joe Champion, SD59
MNA SUPPORTER
Nurses endorsed Bobby Joe Champion for Senate District 59 because he respects the model that nurses put in healthcare and will seek MNA’s advice on legislation that directly and indirectly impacts nurses to help in his decision-making process.
Nurses also appreciated that he supported and voted for Frontline Worker Pay and the Mental Health Grants for Healthcare Workers from the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, and voted against implementation of the federal nurse licensure compact.
Kari Dziedzic, SD60
MNA ADVOCATE
Nurses endorsed Kari Dziedzic for Senate District 60 because she appreciates the perspectives of nurses and wants to continue to work with MNA to help uplift everyone.
Nurses also appreciated that she supported and voted for Frontline Worker Pay and the Mental Health Grants for Healthcare Workers from the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, and voted against implementation of the federal nurse licensure compact.
Scott Dibble, SD61
MNA ADVOCATE
Nurses endorsed Scott Dibble for Senate District 61 because he is a longtime advocate for progressive values on healthcare for all, housing, education, and transportation, and values his longtime relationship with MNA.
Nurses also appreciated that he supported and voted for Frontline Worker Pay and the Mental Health Grants for Healthcare Workers from the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, and voted against implementation of the federal nurse licensure compact.
Erin Murphy, SD64
MNA CHAMPION
Nurses endorsed MNA nurse member and former MNA Executive Director Erin Murphy for Senate District 64 because she continues to be a staunch advocate for nurses at the Capitol. Murphy has authored and fought for nurse staffing legislation year after year.
Clare Oumou Verbeten, SD66
Nurses endorsed Clare Oumou Verbeten for Senate District 66 because she is committed to organizing with MNA members to oppose corporate healthcare policies that put profits over patients and workers.
Nurses appreciate that she emphasized “the intersection of healthcare access and quality with racial justice.”
Zaynab Mohamed, SD63
Nurses endorsed Zaynab Mohamed for Senate District 63 because she would be a champion for nurses at the legislature.
Nurses appreciated Mohamed’s focus on healthcare access and affordability for patients, a value shared by MNA nurses.
Foung Hawj, SD67
MNA SUPPORTER
Nurses endorsed Foung Hawj for Senate District 67 because he is an advocate for greater public health and social justice who recognizes that members of MNA are leaders in both.
Nurses also appreciated that he supported and voted for Frontline Worker Pay and the Mental Health Grants for Healthcare Workers from the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, and voted against implementation of the federal nurse licensure compact.