>> ERIC: LAWMAKERS RETURN TO THE CAPITOL ON MONDAY FOR THE START OF THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THAT MEANS "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" WILL RETURN TO THE AIRWAVES ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS, AS WELL.

THERE ARE STILL SO MANY NEW, INTERESTING LAWMAKERS IN THE RECORD FRESHMAN CLASS THAT HOST MARY LAHAMMER WILL ONCE AGAIN FEATURE A WEEKLY LOOK AT WHY THEY DECIDED TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

HERE'S A PREVIEW WITH A DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN.

>> Mary: PEOPLE MIGHT DESCRIBE YOU AS EDGY.

>> SURE.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> Mary: THAT'S FAIR?

>> YOU'RE BEING QUITE KIND.

YOU GO CHECK OUT MY TWITTER FEED, YEAH, I'M PUSHING THE EDGES -- >> Mary: YOU'RE NOT AFRAID TO PICK A FIGHT?

>> NO.

>> Mary: I'D SAY YOU PLAY BOTH, RIGHT?

>> SURE.

I KIND OF LOOK AT IT AS THERE ARE DIFFERENT RHETORICAL STYLES THAT ARE APPROPRIATE IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS, RIGHT?

SO A PREACHER ON SUNDAY IS GOING TO THUMP THE PULPIT AND PREACH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, OR AT LEAST THEY USED TO.

BUT WHEN HE GOES TO VISIT SOMEBODY ON THEIR DEATH BED, HE'S NOT GOING TO DO THAT, RIGHT, BECAUSE THE CONTEXT IS DIFFERENT.

AND I FEEL AS THOUGH THAT TRANGZ LATES TO POLITICS AS WELL.

>> Mary: DO YOU GET THAT OPPORTUNITY IN THE MINORITY TO BE IN A ROOM AND WORK WITH PEOPLE.

>> SOMETIMES.

IT VERY MUCH DEPENDS ON THE PERSON AND THE ISSUE.

ONE EXPHM OF THAT WAS THE INDIAN FAMILY PRESERVING YEAS ACT I BELIEVE IT WAS CALLED, THAT WAS AUTHORED BY REPRESENTATIVE HEATHER KEELER.

THAT BILL WAS COMING THROUGH THE COMMITTEE, AND I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT AT ALL.

I WAS READING THROUGH THE BILL.

AND HAD SOME REALLY NERDY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW IT WORKED.

SO I SENT HER AN EMAIL, AND SHE WAS SO EXCITED.

SHE HOOKED ME UP WITH A ZAMORA AND HAD ME TALKING TO A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT EXPERTS -- >> Mary: DID YOU SUPPORT IT THEN?

>> I DID.

I GOT UP ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND ARGUED FOR IT.

>> Mary: THAT OUNDS LIKE BIPARTISANSHIP.

>> YES, IT IS POSSIBLE.

THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT THE STAKES OF EVERYTHING ARE RATCHEDDED UP SO HIGH THAT EVEN WHEN PEOPLE SEE WHAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE A GOOD IDEA, IF IT COMES FROM THE WRONG PERSON, WHO'S WEARING THE WRONG UNIFORM, THEY'RE GOING TO FORGO WHAT THEY KNOW TO BE A GOOD POLICY IN FAVOR OF THE PARTISAN POLITICS AND THAT'S DEEPLY UNFORTUNATE.

PEOPLE AVE THEIR REASONS FOR VOTING THE WAY THAT HEY DO.

IF YOU ACTUALLY SIT AND YOU LISTEN TO THEIR CASE, EVEN IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH IT, YOU KIND OF HAVE TO RESPECT IT.

GLAWNL YOUR CAUCUS ELECTS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN EVER TO LEAD IT.

TALK TO US ABOUT DIVERSITY AND RACE.

>> THAT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING JOURNEY FOR ME DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I GREW UP IN THE SUBURBS.

I WENT TO PREDOMINANTLY WHITE SCHOOLS.

I DON'T HAVE THE SAME, WHAT THEY WOULD CALL, LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT FOLKS SAY, LIKE, IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS HAVE HAD.

AND SO FOR ME, WHEN I LOOK AT RACIAL ISSUES, IT'S MUCH MORE THROUGH THE LENS OF WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO FIND TALKING TO A SUBURBAN CONSERVATIVE.

>> BEFORE I WAS BORN WITH THE HISTORY AND LEGACY OF MY FAMILY IN THIS COUNTRY, I AM FOURTH GENERATION JAPANESE AMERICAN AND MY GRANDPARENTS ALONG WITH 120,000 JAPANESE AMERICANS WERE INTERNED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DURING WORLD WAR II AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A HISS TOMORROW CAREFULLY EVENT, A LEGACY THAT HAS REALLY SHAPED, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY OF MY FAMILY AND HAS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF INFORMED HOW I LOOKED AT PUBLIC SERVICE.

I'VE ALWAYS HAD A REAL SENSE OF GOVERNMENT DECISIONS AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES AND WHO IS AT THE DECISION MAKING TABLE REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> Mary: I'M GUESSING SOME OF OUR VIEWERS MAY KNOW YOUR FATHER.

>> MY FATHER IS AN AUTHOR AND ARTIST THAT HAS LIVED IN THE TWIN CITIES FOR A LONG TIME.

AIDE LOT OF THE WORK THAT MY DAD HAS DONE IS REALLY AROUND KIND OF TELLING SOME OF THESE OFTEN UNTOLD OR MARGINALIZED STORIES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR AND SPECIFICALLY ASIAN AMERICANS IN AMERICA AND DONE A LOT OF WORK IN MINNESOTA TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE CENTERED IN OUR ART SPACES.

>> Mary: HAS THAT INFLUENCE FROM YOUR FATHER AFFECTED AND HAD AN IMPACT ON LEGISLATION AND PRIORITIES AND POLICIES FOR YOU NOW IN THE CAPITOL?

>> MY DAD IN HIS OWN WAY WAS AN ACTIVIST, RIGHT?

AND SO FROM A YOUNG AGE, I WOULD GO TO PROTESTS WITH HIM.

AND I WAS, YOU KNOW, TAUGHT THAT USING YOUR VOICE IS INCREDIINCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

A STORY THAT HE LIKES TO TELL IS I THINK I WAS MAYBE FIVE OR SIX AND ME AND MY FRIEND LED A PROTEST AT OUR THANKSGIVING ABOUT BEING RELEGATED TO A KIDS TABLE.

>> Mary: WERE YOU ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING HAT FIRST SESSION SO FAR?

>> I WAS REALLY LUBLG LUCKY TO COME INTO A SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MADE IT REALLY GREAT TO BE A DEMOCRAT IN MY FIRST TERM IN THE HOUSE.

I WAS NOT COMING IN EXPECTING A TRIFECTA BUT WAS JUST IMMEDIATELY IMPRESSED WITH OUR CAUCUS'S ABILITY TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

ONE OF THE PIECES THAT LEGISLATION THAT WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME WAS THE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE PLAN.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MORE KIND OF PERSONAL EVENTS THAT LED ME TO RUN FOR OFFICE WAS BECOMING A MOM.

AND I HAVE A TWO-YEAR-OLD AND WHEN HE WAS BORN, HE SPENT A FEW WEEKS THE NICU.

I WAS REALLY LUCKY WHEN HE WAS BORN TO BE AT AN ORGANIZATION WHERE I HAD A PAID FAMILY LEAVE POLICY SO I COULD SPEND TIME WITH HIM.

A SAW A LOT OF OTHER FAMILIES THAT DIDN'T HAVE THAT BRIFT.

BE.

PASSING THAT LEGISLATION WAS REALLY MONUMENTAL.

>> I THINK I'M ONE OF THE FIRST WOMEN TO REPRESENT CHANHASSEN, CHASKA AREA, IN TINTHE HOUSE, SO THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING.

THIS DISTRICT HAS BEEN VERY CLOSE FOR A COUPLE ELECTIONS NOW.

SO THIS WAS THE ELECTION THAT ACTUALLY FLIPPED IT.

>> SOME PEOPLE ARE REALLY SURPRISED THAT I WON BECAUSE WE'VE HAD CLOSE RACES BEFORE.

I REALLY FEEL LIKE THE WOMEN CAME OUT IN FULL FORCE.

AND I THINK LAST ELECTION WAS A LOT ABOUT WOMEN'S ISSUES.

I THINK A LOT OF WOMEN, WHEN I TALKED TO THEM AT THE DOORS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED BOUT GUN VIOLENCE, EDUCATION, BUT ALSO WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE CHANGING POLITICAL CLIMATE, THEY WERE SAYING THAT THE ABORTION ACCESS ISSUE WAS SO IMPORTANT TO THEM THAT THEY WERE GOING TO VOTE DEMOCRAT.

AS WOMEN, I THINK WE'RE GROWING IN POWER AND IN NUMBER AND I DON'T THINK THIS ISSUE IS GOING TO GO AWAY ANY TIME SOON.