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>> MARY: WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S SPECIAL EDITION OF "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

THERE WERE A LOT OF NEW FACES SWORN IN ON OPENING DAY 2021.

WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE NEXT HALF HOUR GETTING TO KNOW A BIT MORE ABOUT SOME OF THESE FRESHMEN LAWMAKERS.

UP FIRST, A POWERHOUSE FRESHMAN LEADING LEGISLATION ON THE MAJOR ISSUES AROUND ELECTION LAW CHANGES.

IT'S A CHALLENGE THAT HER PROFESSION PREPARED HER FOR PRIOR TO COMING TO THE CAPITOL.

>> YOU KNOW, I GOT MY START AS AN ORGANIZER ON ON THE WELLSTONE CAMPAIGN AND REALLY FOUND A POLITICS THAT WAS ABOUT REACHING OUT TO FOLKS, BUILDING A MULTIRACIAL, MULTIGENERATIONAL, GENDER INCLUSIVE POLITICS THAT REALLY WAS ABOUT CREATING SOLUTIONS AND BRINGING PEOPLE IN.

AND SO AS A VOTING RIGHTS LAWYER, FOR MEAFER, IT WAS HOW DO WE BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE PROCESS?

HOW DO WE MAKE POLICY THAT REFLECTS THE VALUES OF FOLKS IN THE DISTRICT AND ACROSS THE STATE.

SO THAT'S WHY I RAN.

>> Mary: IT SEEMS LIKE YOUR CAUCUS REALLY TRUSTED YOU OUT OF THE GEALTS WITH SOME REALLY IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.

>> I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON ISSUES OF DEMOCRACY AND VOTING RIGHT FOR YEARS.

AND GRATEFUL TO BE HERE I THINK AT THIS TIME.

I THINK 2020 REALLY HAS BEEN AND WAS A MAKE OR BREAK MOMENT AND I THINK NOW IN 2021, WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE PROCESS.

STRENGTHEN OUR SYSTEM.

AND I'VE WORKED WITH LOTS OF FOLKS IN THE LEGISLATURE WHO ARE THERE NOW, WHO HAVE BEEN THERE IN THE PAST.

WHEN I WAS AN ADVOCATE AND WHEN I WAS JUST A GOOD VOTING RIGHTS LAWYER WORKING WITH FOLKS IN THE STATE.

AND SO THOSE RELATIONSHIPS I THINK HAVE BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND I WILL SAY, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD WORK THAT'S GONE IN FOR YEARS, RIGHT?

WE ARE A STATE THAT REALLY HAS -- MY MENTOR JOAN GROWE, REALLY WAS, SET THE GOLD STANDARD FOR WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE AND REALLY STRONG ELECTION ADMINISTRATION.

>> SO JOAN C ROSK OWE NGUYEN THEN TO EVEN REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR TIM PAWLENTY.

I'VE GOT TO THINK IN THE NATIONAL MARKETPLACE, WE ARE REALLY UNIQUE STATE.

BECAUSE OF THOSE ASPECTS.

>> WHAT I THINK ABOUT DEMOCRACY AND ELECTIONS ISSUES IS THEY REALLY AREN'T AND SHOULDN'T BE BIPARTISAN ISSUES.

THEY'RE NONPARTISAN ISSUES.

THEY'RE ISSUES ABOUT, IF WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT, WE ARE ASKING, HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS?

THERE ARE REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENT STUDENTS.

WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ALL VOTING.

THERE ARE FOLKS ACROSS THE STATE IN EACH CORNER OF THE STATE THAT ARE ADMINISTERING OUR ELECTIONS AND ELECTION JUDGES.

WE SHOULD PREVENT ALL -- PREVENT THEM FROM HAVING TO DEAL WITH HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION.

AND SO I THINK THAT THE STANDARD THAT MINNESOTA HAS ALWAYS HAD AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE IS WHAT IS BEST FOR MINNESOTANS AND WHAT ARE MINNESOTANS ASKING US TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS A VOICE.

NOW, I WILL SAY WE HAVE THE SAME THING THAT'S HAPPENING IN A BUNCH OF OTHER STATES IS HAPPENING HERE.

WE SEE VOTER I.D., AND VOTER RESTRICTIONS THAT I DON'T THINK ARE RESPONSIVE TO WHAT MINNESOTANS ARE SAYING.

THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIVE TO WHAT OUR ELECTION JUDGES AND OUR COUNTIES HAVE BEEN TELLING ME.

SO I HOPE THAT IN MINNESOTA WE LEAN INTO OUR BEST TRADITIONS AND THEN WE SAY WE NEED TO ENSURE IT IS A STATE WHERE WE REDUCE OUR DISPARITIES AND VOTER REGISTRATION AND TURNOUT.

WHERE EVERYBODY'S PARTICIPATING.

80% IS GREAT.

100% IS BETTER.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE AT OUR HEARINGS.

WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND MAKE DECISIONS AND WE DO THAT BEST WHEN REALLY EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE THEY CAN PARTICIPATE AND THAT THEY'RE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE.

>> Mary: SO ASIDE FROM ELECTION LAW, WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES?

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE TO GET TONE?

>> I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS -- THE FRESHMAN IN ME, BUT WE NEED A BUDGET AND WE ALL KNOW THAT.

AND I THINK IT'S A BUDGET THAT NEEDS TO BOTH REALLY REFLECT THE NEEDS OF WHERE MINNESOTANS ARE AT.

IN A YEAR OF COVID AND HOW THAT'S IMPACTING FOLKS AND IT'S NOT IMPACTING EVERYONE THE SAME.

AND I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE, RIGHT?

WE NEED TO COME OUT OF THIS IN A PLACE WHERE WE'RE ADDRESSING BOTH THE URGENS BUT ALSO THE OVERDUE PRIORITIES SO ENSURING THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN EQUITY IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FULL SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, ENSURING THINGS LIKE PAID LEAVE AND PAID SICK TIME, WHICH WE'VE SEEN IN THE PANDEMIC HAVE REALLY LEFT SOME WORKERS BEHIND.

WE NEED TO DO THOSE.

AND SO I THINK WE NEED A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS THOSE VALUES AND IF WE CAN GET THAT, I THINK THAT'LL BE A SUCCESS.

>> MARY: SOME OF THESE FRESH FACES BEAT INCUMBENTS, BUT OTHERS STEPPED UP WHEN RETIREMENTS WERE ANNOUNCED.

NEXT UP IS A YOUNG HARVARD-EDUCATED STATE REPRESENTATIVE WITH SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL.

>> THE REASON I DECIDED, YOU KNOW, RUN FOR OFFICE, IT INITIALLY STARTED WHEN REPRESENTATIVE BUD NORNES WHO HAD BEEN REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE LAST 24 YEARS IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE SAT DOWN WITH ME AND SAID THAT HE WAS THINKING ABOUT RETIRING AND ASKED ME TO RUN.

AND SO THAT SPURRED THE CONVERSATION WITH ME AND MY NOW WIFE, EMMA, ABOUT IF THIS WAS SOMETHING WE WANTED TO GO AND DO.

AND ULTIMATELY WE DECIDED THAT WE WANTED TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS AND WE REALLY CARE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT MINNESOTA IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND RAISE A FAMILY.

MY FAMILY'S LIVED HERE IN MINNESOTA FOR SIX GENERATIONS, AND SO I'M HONORED TO BE REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF OTTER TAIL COUNTY DOWN AT THE MINNESOTA HOUSE.

>> Mary: SO YOU'VE BEEN IN FERGUS A LONG TIME.

SO YOU KNOW NORNES.

AND WHAT IS IT LIKE KIND OF FOLLOWING NOW IN THE FOOT STEPS, YOU'RE KIND OF A LEGEND IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> ONE OF THE KEYS TO OUR SUCCESS, MARY, DURING THE CAMPAIGN AND HOPEFULLY OVER THIS FIRST SESSION IS BUD HAS BEEN JUST AN AMAZING MENTOR TO ME, IN TERMS OF HELPING ME THINK THROUGH WHAT A FIRST TERM LEGISLATOR SHOULD BE DOING.

AND FOR ME, ONE OF THE BIG TAKE-AWAYS FROM REPRESENTATIVE NORNES HAS JUST BEEN THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING PRESENT IN THE COMMUNITY, REACHING OUT TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY TO GET INPUT ON THE KEY ISSUES THAT WILL BE DEBATING IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE.

AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT LEGACY OF STAYING CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE THAT I'LL BE REPRESENTING.

DISPLAM NOW, YOUR COMMUNITY HAS A REPUTATION FOR BEING BIPARTISAN.

YOUR MAYOR MAKES SOME NEWS.

IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING COMMUNITY.

SO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR ATTITUDE ABOUT PARTISANSHIP IN THIS REALLY DIFFICULT TIME.

>> YOU KNOW, FOR ME, WHEN I WAS OUT TALKING TO THE VOTERS OVER THE COURSE OF THE CAMPAIGN, THEY CARE A LOT MORE ABOUT YOUR VALUES THAN THEY NECESSARILY DO YOUR PARTISANSHIP.

AND WHAT I REALLY HEARD WHEN I WAS OUT DOOR KNOCKING, ON PHONE CALLS, ON ZIMMERN MEETINGS WITH VOTERS, THEY WANT SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM SOLVER.

AND I WAS ABLE TO TALK ABOUT MY BACKGROUND IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, BOTH AS A FINANCIAL ANALYST AND A CONSULTANT AND SAY HOW THOSE ARE THE SKILLS THAT WE NEED IN A LEGISLATOR TO HELP FIGURE OUT ISSUES LIKE OUR STATE BUDGET DEFICIT AND ENSURING THAT MINNESOTA TAXPAYERS ARE GETTING A GOOD RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT.

SO THEY WERE MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT MY VALUES WERE AND HOW I WAS GOING TO APPROACH PROBLEMS AND NOT NECESSARILY MY PARTY IDENTIFICATION.

>> Mary: AND WHAT ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AND ISSUES YOUR COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR IS FACING?

I'VE BEEN DOING A REPORT ON THE FORMER STATE HOSPITAL YOU HAVE UP THERE AND I KNOW FOLKS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT, AND IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING ECONOMY FOR YOU THERE.

>> YEAH, SO WITH WHEN IT COMES TO THE STATE HOSPITAL, I THINK IT'S A UNIQUE ASSET WE HAVE HERE IN OTTER TAIL COUNTY AND HERE IN FERGUS FALLS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH OUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HOPEFULLY REDEVELOP THAT SITE AND USE IT AS AN ECONOMIC CATALYST, NOT JUST FOR FERGUS FALLS BUT HOPEFULLY FOR THE REGION.

THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE AN EASY ANSWER, AN EASY SOLUTION, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE A LONG-TERM VIEW ABOUT WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

>> MARY: OUR NEXT NEW REPRESENTATIVE WAS RAISED IN MINNESOTA AND ALSO HEADED OUT EAST FOR HER IVY LEAGUE EDUCATION.

ONCE THAT WAS COMPLETE, THE CALL OF HOME BROUGHT HER BACK.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN?

WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE?

>> FOR ME, IT WAS REALLY AN ISSUE OF, HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR LAWS ARE WORKING BETTER FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE.

SO I AM CAME IN FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF HOUSING.

WHEN I WAS A LAW STUDENT, I DEFENDED TENANTS WHO WERE FACING EVICTION, SO FROM THERE, I SAW THAT THROUGH, YES, LEGAL AID, WHICH IS SUPER IMPORTANT, WE CAN HELP PEOPLE ONE FAMILY AT A TIME, BUT HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE RULES AND THE SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT IS A EASIER PROCESS FOR TENANTS, TO NOT ONLY KNOW THEIR RIGHTS BUT ALSO KNOW HOW TO EXERCISE THEM.

>> Mary: YOU WERE EDUCATED OUT EAST, INCREDIBLE IVY LEAGUE EDUCATION OUT THERE.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO OR FROM MINNESOTA?

>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN ST. PAUL.

MY PARENTS DID IMMIGRATE HERE.

THEY BOTH ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

SO GO, GOPHERS.

AND -- BUT WE SCRUSES HAD A REALLY GREAT TIME IN THE STATE AND MY DAD'S A PREACHER -- AND THEN ALSO THE HIGH SCHOOL IN FARIBAULT, MINNESOTA, THAT BOTH MY BROTHERS AND I ATTENDED.

AND WE ALSO STILL HAVE EXTENDED FAMILY HERE, AND SO MINNESOTA'S JUST ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE WE CALL HOME.

AND SO AFTER FINISHING LAW SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, COMING TO START A SECOND CAREER, I SAID I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE PLACE OF MY ROOTS SO I DECIDED TO MOVE TO MINNEAPOLIS.

>> Mary: YOU'RE REPRESENTING MINNEAPOLIS BUT YOU HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE PERSONALLY THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THIS IS REALLY WHERE YOUR PARTY AND POLITICS IS STRUGGLING, TRYING TO BRIDGE THAT GAP BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL.

AND SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO BRING SOME UNIQUE EXPERIENCE TO THAT.

>> I HOPE I CAN.

I STILL KEEP IN CONTACT WITH FRIENDS FROM THE BRAINERD AREA.

AND I STILL HAVE A STRONG CONNECTION TO MY SCHOOL IN FARIBAULT, SO I'M HOPING WITH THOSE EXPERIENCES AND THOSE CONNECTIONS THAT I STILL HAVE AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, JUST HAVING, YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD OF JUST HOW TO CONNECT AND COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE, I HOPE THAT THAT'S AN EXPERIENCE THAT I CAN BRING TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO HELP BRIDGE ANY OF THOSE GAPS ACROSS, YOU KNOW, SUPPOSED USUAL YAN/RURAL DIVIDES.

>> Mary: DEMOCRACY, SECURITY, HEALTH WITH COVID, ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THOSE ISSUES MAY JUST DOMINATE THE ENTIRE SESSION?

IT FEELS LIKE IT RIGHT NOW.

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK SO, BECAUSE ESPECIALLY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT COVID, THAT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE EXPOARKS THAT ACTUALLY GOES TO OUR SENSE OF WELLNESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND PART OF THAT IS HOUSING.

IT IS THE ECONOMY.

MAKING SURE WE HAVE LIVING WAGE JOBS FOR PEOPLE ACROSS MINNESOTA.

AND IT ALSO DOES GO BACK TO ISSUES OF EDUCATION AND EVEN LIKE GENERAL HEALTHCARE OF MAKING SURE IT'S AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL PEOPLE.

SO I THINK ALSO IF YOU LOOK AT THE HEALTH DEVELOP PLAN THAT WAS RECENTLY RELEVELLED.

THEY DO HAVE HOUSING IN THERE, THEY DO HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THERE.

THEY DO HAVE VERY COVID-SPECIFIC THINGS, BUT I DON'T SEE HOUSING GOING AWAY ANY TIME SOON.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT ISSUES OF EQUITY AND OBVIOUSLY THE WORLD WATCHING SINCE GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED IN MINNEAPOLIS?

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK THE STATE, THE NATION, THE WORLD, BUT STARTING WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO ACCOMPLISH ON THIS?

>> WE NEED TO BE JUST BE BETTER WITH CONFRONTING OUR HISTORY, RIGHT?

I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, MINNESOTA IS ONE OF THE STATES WITH THE HIGHEST DISPARITIES IN ANY METRIC WHEN IT COMES TO WHITE OUTCOMES AND BLACKLOCK OUTCOMES.

AND SO I THINK WITH THAT IT'S MORE THAN JUST ACKNOWLEDGING IT BUT ALSO BEGINNING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

AND I'M EXCITED THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS THAT ARE LIKE-MINDED IN THAT SENSE AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR TOO.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL THOSE VOICES IS A CONTINUING TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT AND MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT POLICY WE'RE NOT ADDING EQUITY AS AN ADD-ON, BUT AS WE'RE BUILDING IT, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT EVERYONE?

>> MARY: CAMPAIGNING WITH A LAST NAME FAMILIAR TO MINNESOTA VOTERS WAS NOT ALWAYS WHAT VOTERRED NOTED ABOUT OUR NEXT NEWCOMER.

SENATOR JULIA COLEMAN FOUND OUT QUICKLY THAT GENDER MATTERED MORE TO SOME PEOPLE THAN HER +-L NAME OR PARTY AFFILIATION.

>> AMERICA IS STILL RISING.

>> WE ARE RELATED TO U.S.

SENATOR NORM COLEMAN.

PLEASE EXPLAIN THAT.

>> YES, I AM NORM COLEMAN'S COLS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND SO I MARRIED HIS SON JACOB.

EVERYONE HAS A NORM STORY.

>> Mary: I COVERED SENATOR COLEMAN FOR DECADES.

GOT TO SEE JACOB, YOUR HUSBAND AND HOW HE GREW UP, REALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF POLITICS.

SO HE'S BEEN LIVING AND BREATHING THIS.

>> WE DECIDED I WAS GOING TO RUN FOR STATE SENATE A COUPLE YEARS AFTER WE GOT MARRIED.

>> Mary: AND HOW MUCH DO THE COLEMAN'S LOVE IT BY THE WAY THAT IT'S THE WOMAN WHO'S ON THE TICKET?

>> THEY'RE VERY EXCITED.

NORM LIKES TO SAY, I LIKE TO SOUND AS SENATOR COLEMAN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, STATE SENATOR.

I HAVEN'T QUITE REACHED THAT LEVEL THAT HE HAS.

>> Mary: DO YOU HAVE ASPIRATIONS?

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I RAN FOR CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL, THEY'VE ALWAYS ASKED IF I WANTED TO RUN FOR SOMETHING ELSE, AND I TRULY DIDN'T.

I SAID I WANT TO DO I CAN DO A GOOD JOB, AND THAT HOLDS TRUE FOR STATE SENATE.

>> Mary: THIS HAS BEEN A SENSITIVE ISSUE.

DEFINITELY FOR YOU.

YOU HAD A BABY, AN ADORABLE BABY.

BUT YOU GOT SOME BACKLASH FOR BEING A YOUNG MOTHER RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.

>> I DID.

SO ON TWO FRONTS I GOT THAT.

WHEN I ANNOUNCED I WAS ACTUALLY NINE MONTHS PREGNANT WITH MY FIRST SON.

I GAVE BIRTH TO HIM ONE WEEK LATER AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE I HAD TO CONVINCE, IT IS OKAY TO BE A YOUNG MOTHER AND BE ABE STATE SENATOR, JUST TO GET THROUGH THE ENDORSEMENT PROCESS AND THE PRIMARY AND THROUGH THE GENERAL WAS, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE DISCOURAGING AT TIMES, BUT ALSO ENCOURAGING IN THE FACT THAT I WAS ABLE TO CHANGE HEARTS AND MINDS, BUT I DIDN'T EXPECT IT.

AND THEN ON THE OTHER END, I FOUND OUT WE WERE EXPECTING AGAIN RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION, AND GOT A MESSAGE FROM A CONSTITUENT SAYING, WELL, YOU HID YOUR PREGNANCY.

AND NOW INSTEAD OF DOING YOUR JOB, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON LEAVE.

I WAS LITTLE DISCOURAGED AND WHEN A SHARED WHAT MESSAGE I HAD RECEIVED, I WAS BOMBARDED FROM MEN AND WOMEN ON BOTH SIDES.

AISLE THAT I SERVED WITH AND IT WAS REALLY ENCOURAGING WITH THEM, SAYING, WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER.

>> Mary: THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT NONPARTISAN LESSON.

I HOPE YOU'RE LEARNING THAT NOT EVERYTHING IN THE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL IS PARTISAN AND PEOPLE CAN REALLY RALLY AROUND.

HAS THAT BEEN ONE OF THE MORE FORTIFYING MOMENTS?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE HAVE A D.F.L.

GOVERNOR AND HOUSE.

IT HAS TO BE BIPARTISAN.

YOU HAVE TO AUTHORS IN THE HOUSE THAT ARE ACROSS THE AISLE.

AND SO IN A WAY I THINK IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL HOW OUR GOVERNMENT IS DESIGNED BECAUSE IT'S FUNCTIONING EXACTLY HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO IN THIS WAY.

>> Mary: WOULD YOU PUT YOUR IN THE TRUMP NEW REPUBLICAN OR THE OLD NORM REPUBLICAN, OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN.

>> THE NEXT GENERATION COMING UP OF REPUBLICANS AND LEADERS IN OUR STATE, THEY REALLY BELIEVE IN THE PRINCIPLES OF SMALL GOVERNMENT.

AND TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, STICK TO A PRETTY EASY SPOT OF PRINCIPLES IF YOU ARE ABLE TO CONSISTENTLY APPLY IT THROUGH YOUR PRACTICE.

SO THE NEW GENERATION OF REPUBLICANS COMING UP ARE DEFINITELY MORE SMALL GOVERNMENT ORIENTED >> MARY: OUR NEXT FRESHMAN SENATOR WAS NOT NEW TO CAMPAIGNING.

HER ROAD TO THE LEGISLATURE WAS A BIT ROCKY, BUT SHE'S GLAD SHE RAN AGAIN.

IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME QUESTION.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN?

>> WE'RE FACING BIG CHALLENGES.

YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY SORT OF, LIKE, EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC.

BUT ECONOMIC INEQUALITY, THE CLIMATE CRISIS, HEALTHCARE ACRES, RACIAL DISPARITIES, EDUCATION, WE CAN'T BE AFRAID OF THOSE ISSUES.

FOR ME IT WAS REALLY WE NEED TO FOCUS ON COMMUNITY-CENTERED SOLUTIONS, WHOLE SHIEWTIONS THAT REALLY TAKE US -- TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE INNOVATION AND THE COLLABORATIVE NATURE OF MINNESOTANS AND PULL US BACK TOGETHER WITH A PLAN.

>> Mary: SO YOU KNOW TOUGH ISSUES AND NOT SHYING AWAY FROM THEM.

A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW YOUR NAME FROM THE #METOO MOVEMENT.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY THROUGH THAT?

BECAUSE YOU SPOKE UP AND YOU SPOKE UP AGAINST A FELLOW DEMOCRAT.

THAT'S NOT EASY TO DO WITHIN YOUR PARTY.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THAT?

>> WELL, I LEARNED THAT WE STILL HAVE DEEPLY ROOTED MISOGYNY IN OUR POLITICAL LANDSCAPE AND SORT OF OUR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.

BUT I DON'T FOR A MINUTE REGRET IT.

I PAID A BIG PRICE.

AND IT WAS WORTH IT, BECAUSE IT WAS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO HAVE.

AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH DOZENS OF WOMEN SINCE THEN HAVE REALLY SOLIDIFIED FOR ME THAT THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE.

AND I WILL SAY NOW, BEING AT THE LEGISLATURE, PRETTY CLEAR THAT, LIKE, WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE ASKING FOR THREE AND FOUR YEARS AGO WERE TO SET THESE SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO PROTECT NOT ONLY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STAFF HERE, BUT ALSO THE FOLKS WHO INTERACT WITH THEM, REPORTERS, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC.

LOBBYISTS, WHEN WE COME TO DO WORK AT THE CAPITOL AS WELL.

AND SO THE WORK ISN'T DONE.

BUT I DO THINK REALLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF REACHED A TIPPING POINT OF WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

>> Mary: AND FOR VIEWERS WHO YOU MAY BE A NEW FACE TO YOU, YOU SAID YOU PAID A BIG PRICE, CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AND WHY YOU DECIDED TO CONTINUE IN THE PUBLIC EYE AND RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE?

>> I WAS RUNNING A NON-PROFIT AT THE TIME AND WE LOST SOME DONATIONS TO THAT AS WELL, AS WELL AS TO MY OWN CAMPAIGN.

AND REALLY FOR ME, DECIDING NOT TO RUN IN 2018 WAS ABOUT MY DISTRICT.

I WANTED MY DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HEALTHCARE, YOU KNOW, HEALTHCARE WAS THE -- THE CONVERSATION IN 2018.

AND I KNEW IF IT WAS ME, THE CONVERSATION WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT, AND REALLY TIED UP IN THE STORIES THAT WERE HAPPENING IN #METOO AND IT ALLOWED ME ALSO SPEND MY TIME BUILDING MY NON-PROFIT THAT I COFOUNDED AND THAT HAS REALLY TAKEN OFF AND ALLOWED US TO MAKE SURE THAT MORE WOMEN GET ELECTEDDED, THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR, OR THAT PEOPLE FROM THE QUEER COMMUNITY ARE BEING IN ELECTED OFFICE AND I THINK, LIKE, AT THE CORE, THOSE CHANGES, WHO IS IN THESE ROOMS, AT THE CAPITOL, IS REALLY SORT OF THE FIRST STEP TO CHANGING THAT CULTURE OF, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS A SAFE SPACE.

>> Mary: NOW THAT YOU'RE IN OFFICE SITTING LITERALLY IN YOUR OFFICE RIGHT NOW, WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU ABOUT THE PLACE?

>> THE THING THAT DOES SURPRISE ME, RIGHT NOW, I THINK IS JUST HOW HARD IT IS TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

TO REALLY GET TO KNOW OUR COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE AISLE.

IT'S A REALLY BIG CHALLENGE AND I THINK IT IS DEFINITELY CONTRIBUTING TO US NOT FINDING COMMON GROUND.

ON SOME THINGS.

>> MARY: IN OUR FINAL PROFILE TONIGHT, WE MEET A FIRST TERM HOUSE MEMBER WHO SAYS HIS ROAD TO THE LEGISLATURE BEGAN DURING THE REAGAN ERA.

>> I STARTED MY JOURNEY TOWARD THE LEGISLATURE BACK IN 1984 WHEN I RAISED MY RIGHT HAND AND I PLEDGED THAT I WOULD UPHOLD AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AGAINST ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC WHEN I JOINED THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

I WENT TO BASIC TRAINING IN FOR THE BENING, GEORGIA.

I BECAME AN INFANTRYMAN.

I SERVED ABOUT FOUR YEARS AS A PRESIDENTIAL GUARD FOR PRESIDENT REAGAN.

AS AN 18-YEAR-OLD KID, STANDING WITHIN FIVE FEET OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, IT TENDS TO LEAVE A BIT OF AN IMPRESSION ON YOU.

>> Mary: HOW IS THE WORK OF SESSION STRIKING YOU SO FAR?

I'VE SEEN YOU IN COMMITTEE.

YOU SEEM TO BE REAL ACTIVE AND ENGAGED IN COMMITTEES.

YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO HANG OUT, YOU KNOW, THE SAME SENSE.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ABLE TO CONNECT?

>> NOME.

WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO DO A PERCENTAGE OF IT.

NO, MA'AM.

POLITICS IS A RELATIONSHIP BUSINESS.

IT'S ABOUT LOOKING SOMEBODY IN THE EYE AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY'RE SAYING AND WHAT THEY'RE FEELING.

WE'RE LOSING THAT HUMAN INTERACTION.

BECAUSE YOU CAN TELL A LOT ABOUT A PERSON WHEN YOU'RE FACE TO FACE WITH THEM.

DO YOU SHOW THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE SAYING?

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT MY BACKGROUND IS ALL ABOUT.

>> Mary: YOUR DEGREE IS IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

RIGHT?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> Mary: AND THAT DEBATE AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE TOUGHEST ISSUES THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO FACE SO FAR HAS TO DEAL WITH EMERGENCY PREPARATIONS.

SO HOW ARE WE DOING AT THAT AND HOW DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE SHAPING THAT ISSUE?

>> WE NEED TO GET BEYOND THE NARRATIVE.

WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR PUBLIC.

AND PROBABLY THE BETHROCK OF -- BEDROCK OF A CIVILIZED SOCIETY AND A GOVERNMENT IS GIVING EVERYBODY EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.

AND THE WAY THAT YOU DO THAT IS THROUGH PUBLIC SAFETY, THROUGH A SERIES OF WELL THOUGHT OUT AND ENFORCEABLE LAWS.

THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE WITH THE BILL THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST MAY IS WHAT'S CALLED THE S.A.F.E.

ACT IS $35 MILLION OF ALLOCATIONS THAT CAN BE USED FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

NOW, THE PROBLEM WE'VE GOT IS, I LIKE THE BILL.

I REALLY DO.

BUT THE AMENDMENTS THAT CAME INTO IT, AND THIS IS A PROCESS THAT I'M LEARNING IS HOW THE AMENDMENT -- >> Mary: IT'S MESSY.

AMENDMENTS ARE MESSST.

>> THEY'RE MESSY AND I LOVE THAT THEY'RE MESSY BECAUSE IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE A BETTER BILL.

>> Mary: WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND WHAT ARE YOU HEARING THAT THEY WANT YOU TO ADDRESS MOST OF ALL?

>> CERTAINLY, PUBLIC SEAFT IS A BIG ONE AND I THINK THAT'S WHY I RESONATED WITH THE CITIZENS OF MY DISTRICT, 37A, 38A, LINO LAKES, BLAINE, THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR THAT I RECENT, DOOR AFTER DOOR THAT I WENT TO, AND WE KNOCKED OVER I BELIEVE IT WAS 12,000 DOORS SIEWRG THE SEASON, I HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN, SOME REALLY SIMPLE MESSAGES.

GET THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF OUR BUSINESS.

LEAVE US ALONE.

BUT PROTECT US AT THE SAME TIME.

THE DICHOTOMY OF THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT, BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE APPROPRIATING THE RESOURCES THAT ARE APPROPRIATE TO DO THAT JOB WHILE AT THE SAME TIME BEING ABLE PAY FOR THAT SERVICE.

I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE REALLY SMART DECISIONS PRIOR TO AN EVENT.

AND HAVE THE RESOURCES IN THIS CASE MONEY, AVAILABLE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO WEIGH THAT AGAINST, WHAT IS IS IT GOING TO COST US LONG TERM?

THAT'S WHY I WANT TO PUT THE CONTROLS ON IT TO SAY THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A BLANK CHECK.

>> MARY: THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME.

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

THERE YOU CAN WATCH ANY OF OUR SHOWS, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S.

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