MNA Nurse-Endorsed:
2022 Minnesota Senate candidates
Grant Hauschild, SD3
MNA ENDORSED
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
MNA ENDORSED
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 the Outsourcing Care Compact.
Nick Frentz, SD18
MNA ENDORSED
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 appreciate 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 the Outsourcing Care Compact.
Kate Luthner, SD32
MNA ENDORSED
Nurses endorsed Kate Luthner for Senate District 32 because she supports single-payer healthcare and opposes the Outsourcing Care Compact.
Nurses also appreciate that she expressed desire to learn from the professional experience of MNA members.
Nancy McLean, SD33
MNA ENDORSED
Nurses endorsed Nancy McLean for Senate District 33 because she vowed to be a vocal advocate for nurses, attend picket lines and bring MNA to the legislature.
Nurses also appreciate that she has seen first-hand the shortage of nurses and spoke to them about their issues.
Aleta Borrud, SD24
MNA ENDORSED
Nurses endorsed Aleta Borrud for Senate District 24 because her passion for healthcare reform is inspired by her work as a doctor and growing up in rural Minnesota.
Nurses also appreciate that she has trust in the policies and motivations of the MNA after years of seeing their leadership and walking picket lines with MNA nurses, and will champion the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act.
Liz Boldon, SD25
MNA ENDORSED
Nurses endorsed Liz Boldon for Senate District 25 because, as a nurse herself, she is committed to working with nurses to create a healthcare system in Minnesota that benefits patients and protects nurses.
Nurses also appreciate her record of supporting staffing legislation, like the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, and her dedication to supporting union nurses.
John Hoffman, SD34
MNA ENDORSED
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 appreciate 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 the Outsourcing Care 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.
Heather Gustafson, SD36
MNA ENDORSED
Nurses endorsed Heather Gustafson for Senate District 36 because, as a high school teacher with extensive experience, she understands the parallels between the struggles that teachers and nurses face in their profession when it comes to short staffing.
Nurses also appreciate that, if elected, she would support and advocate for the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act.
MNA ENDORSED
Farhio Khalif, SD37
MNA ENDORSED
Nurses endorsed Farhio Khalif for Senate District 37 because her priorities include fighting to pass John Marty’s Minnesota Health Plan and working to eliminate the stigma against mental healthcare that she sees in many immigrant communities.
Nurses appreciate that she is willing to learn and be educated about issues important to them.
Susan Pha, SD38
MNA ENDORSED
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 appreciate 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 appreciate 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 the Outsourcing Care 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.
Judy Seeberger, SD41
MNA ENDORSED
Nurses endorsed Judy 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 appreciate her willingness to listen and learn from nurses in the screening on the topic of the Outsourcing Care Compact.
Bonnie Westlin, SD42
MNA ENDORSED
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 appreciate that she voted for the Frontline Worker Pay bill and voted against the Outsourcing Care Compact.
Tou Xiong, SD44
MNA ENDORSED
Nurses endorsed Tou Xiong for Senate District 44 because he is strongly opposed to any chipping away at Minnesota’s high standards for nurse licensure.
Nurses appreciate that he supported safe staffing issues during his time in the House and pledged to continue to do so in the Senate.
Nicole Mitchell, SD47
MNA ENDORSED
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 appreciate 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 appreciate 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 the Outsourcing Care Compact.
Alice Mann, SD50
MNA ENDORSED
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.
Melissa Halvorson Wiklund, SD51
MNA ADVOCATE
Nurses endorsed Melissa Halvorson Wicklund for Senate District 51 because her main priorities are education, healthcare, children’s issues, and improving access to mental healthcare
Nurses also appreciate that she was an author of the Keeping the Nurses at the Bedside Act in 2022 and a vocal opponent of the Outsourcing Care Compact.
Jim Carlson, SD52
MNA SUPPORTER
Nurses endorsed Jim Carlson for Senate District 52 because he is a fierce supporter of single-payer and the Minnesota Health Plan bill, which he has sponsored and cosponsored since 2007.
Nurses also appreciate that he has nurses who advise him on a variety of healthcare issues.
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 appreciate 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 Outsourcing Care Compact.
Erin Maye Quade, SD56
MNA ENDORSED
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 appreciate that she will be us to support MNA priorities like the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, if elected.
Clarice Graubau, SD58
MNA ENDORSED
Nurses endorsed Clarice Graubau for Senate District 58 because healthcare reform is a priority for her and she wants to partner with MNA to advance the Minnesota Health Plan because she believes everyone should have quality, affordable healthcare not tied to employment.
Nurses also appreciate that she affirmed her support of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act.
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 appreciate 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 the Outsourcing Care 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 appreciate 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 the Outsourcing Care 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 appreciate 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 the Outsourcing Care Compact.
Omar Fateh, SD62
MNA SUPPORTER
Nurses endorsed Omar Fateh for Senate District 62 because he voted against the Outsourcing Care Compact, for Frontline Worker Pay and is a Co-Chair of the newly formed Minnesota Health Plan Caucus
Nurses appreciate that he is a strong champion for labor in the Senate and will look for ways to partner with MNA to pass legislation if a nurse-friendly majority is
elected this year.
Zaynab Mohamed, SD63
MNA ENDORSED
Nurses endorsed Zaynab Mohamed for Senate District 63 because she would be a champion for nurses at the legislature.
Nurses appreciate her focus on healthcare access and affordability for patients, a value shared by MNA nurses.
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.
Nurses were also grateful that she has authored and fought for nurse staffing legislation year after year, including chief-authoring the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act in 2022, as well as Frontline Worker Pay.
Sandy Pappas, SD65
MNA ADVOCATE
Nurses endorsed Sandy Pappas for Senate District 65 because she has been a lifelong fighter for social justice who expressed gratitude for the sacrifices healthcare workers made during the pandemic.
Nurses appreciate that she voted in favor of the Mental Health Grants for Healthcare Workers in the Senate and Frontline Worker Pay, while voting against the Outsourcing Care Compact.
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.”
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 appreciate 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 Outsourcing Care Compact.