>> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> Mary: A SPECIAL EDITION FEATURING ALL FRESHMEN.

THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

♪ ♪ >> "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... MANITOBA HYDRO, PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, A LEADING PRODUCER OF THE FUELS MINNESOTANS RELY ON EVERY DAY.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY, GENERATING OVER $4 BILLION FOR OUR STATE SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY, PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY, A SOVEREIGN TRIBAL NATION IN SCOTT COUNTY.

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

HEALTHIER - HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE.

>> Mary: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL," I'M MARY LAHAMMER.

A NEW WAVE OF FIRST-TERM LAWMAKERS IN THE HISTORIC LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS WHAT WE'LL BE HIGHLIGHTING TONIGHT.

NEVER BEFORE HAVE THE HOUSE AND SENATE BOTH BEEN TIED AT SOME POINT DURING THE SAME SESSION.

WE'LL LOOK AT NEW FACES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, AND WE BEGIN WITH A FIRST-TERM REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER WHO PLANNED TO GO AGAINST A DFL INCUMBENT, BUT, INSTEAD, WOULD FLIP AN OPEN SEAT IN WHAT WOULD BECOME A TIED HOUSE.

>> I WAS BRINGING THE FIGHT TO THE INCUMBENT AT THE TIME, WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, WAS DAVE LISLEGARD, AND I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY INTENTION TO RUN, BUT THE REASON I GOT INTO THE RACE WAS BECAUSE OF THE TRIFECTA.

I SAW THAT GOVERNMENT WAS REALLY HEAVY ALL ON ONE SIDE, AND THEY COULD DO ANYTHING THEY WANTED, AND, SO, I WAS LIKE, NO, THIS IS TOO MUCH.

WE NEED BALANCE IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> Mary: DID YOU THINK YOU HAD A REALLY GOOD CHANCE OF FLIPPING IT, DID YOU THINK IT WAS A LONG SHOT, SURE THING, WHERE WOULD YOU HAVE PEGGED THAT?

>> I THOUGHT I HAD A REALLY GOOD SHOT.

IF I THOUGHT IT WAS A LONG SHOT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARDER TO GET INTO THE RACE.

AT THE SAME TIME, I HAD SOME LOCAL PRESENCE, I WAS A TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR, WHICH IS A RELATIVELY SMALL ROLE, BUT I'M VERY ACTIVE IN THE MINING COMMUNITY, I'M AN ALMOST 29-YEAR STEEL WORKER, I WORK AT THE MINNTAC MINE UP ON THE IRON RANGE, WE HAVE 1325 HOURLY MPLOYEES, I'M PROUD OF THAT.

MY DAD AND I AVE A COMBINED 60 YEARS OF SERVICE AS STEEL WORKERS IN THE LOCAL 1938.

>> Mary: IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A LITTLE TACONITE UNDER YOUR NAILS, YOU CAN'T REPRESENT THE RANGE, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> Mary: LIKE THEY WANT PEOPLE WITH SOME ON-THE-GROUND EXPERIENCE, RIGHT?

>> 100%, YEAH.

SO MY STEEL WORKER FAMILY ESSENTIALLY GOT BEHIND ME IN A BIG WAY.

HISTORICALLY, IT'S UNUSUAL, BECAUSE I'M A REPUBLICAN.

BUT I A LOT OF THE DEMOCRATS ON THE IRON RANGE HAVE VERY CONSERVATIVE VALUES.

>> Mary: HAVE YOU SEEN AND FELT THIS SHIFT COMING BECAUSE THE RANGE WENT FROM HARD BLUE TO PURPLE TO NOW REALLY SOLIDLY RED.

YEAH.

>> YEAH.

NO, WE ATCHED THE SHIFT, IT WAS MAKING ITS WAY.

YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS WE HAD SOMEBODY REASONABLE IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND WE HAD SOME BALANCE, I REALLY WASN'T CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NEEDING TO CHANGE THAT AS MUCH.

>> Mary: BUT YOU FLIPPED THE SEAT, THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> WE FLIPPED THE SEAT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME ALONGSIDE OF US, AND IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY, IVES GOT AN AMAZING FAMILY, I COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF MY WIFE.

SHE WAS MAKING THOSE T-SHIRTS WITH MY LOGO ON THEM.

>> Mary: YOU HAD THE FAMILY ON BOARD, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DRAG THEM ALONG.

>> NO, IN A HUGE WAY, I HAVE NINE KIDS, THAT'S NOT A SECRET.

>> Mary: DID YOU USE THEM FOR LABOR ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Mary: THAT WAS AN ADVANTAGE TO HAVE A LARGE FAMILY.

>> IT SN'T ALWAYS ABOUT LABOR, IT'S ABOUT PRESENCE, LETTING THE COMMUNITIES SEE THAT CONNECTION.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE GET CONCERNED, OH, WE'RE BRINGING CHILDREN INTO POLITICS.

AND SOME CAMPAIGNS WILL SAY, OH, I'M KEEPING MY KIDS OUT OF THIS BECAUSE POLITICS IS MESSY, IT'S DIRTY, IT'S MEAN AT TIMES.

AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE TRUE.

BUT WHEN I BROUGHT MY FAMILY INTO IT, I THINK THE IRON RANGE, THE SPHERE THAT WE LIVE IN, REALLY FELT LIKE IT'S ABOUT FAMILY AND IT'S ABOUT COMMUNITY AND IT'S ABOUT ALL OF THAT SUPPORT.

AND THIS IS WHO WE ARE.

>> Mary: I THINK DAY ONE OF THE LEGISLATURE I INTERVIEWED YOU, YOU HAD A STAT ABOUT HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN SINCE REPUBLICAN WAS IN THE SEAT.

>> IT WAS 96 YEARS.

>> Mary: DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAD THE WHOLE HOUSE CONTROL KIND OF ON YOUR SHOULDERS, THEY COULDN'T WIN IT OR TIE IT WITHOUT A WIN IN YOUR DISTRICT?

>> THAT'S WHAT I CAME TO UNDERSTAND.

SO I KNEW THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT, BUT IT WAS STRANGE GOING FROM, OKAY, I'M A CANDIDATE, WHO FEELS LIKE HE'S INTEGRAL TO CHANGING THE CONTROL OF THE STATE, BUT THERE'S SO MANY PIECES THERE.

IF ANY ONE MEMBER HAD LOST THEIR RACE, WE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS POSITION.

AND, SO, IT FEELS A LITTLE BIT UNFAIR TO ME, EVEN THOUGH IT'S HISTORIC, I ET A LOT F CREDIT FOR DOING THAT, BUT THERE WAS A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEHIND ME THAT MADE IT HAPPEN.

AND, SO, I DON'T FEEL LIKE I CAN TAKE ALL THAT REDIT, YET, IN THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, I CAME FORWARD, I GOT A LOT OF CREDIT FOR FILMING THAT DISTRICT.

PEOPLE LOVE T. FOR FLIPPING THAT DISTRICT.

AGAIN, AT THE SAME TIME, ANY OTHER MEMBER LOST THEIR SEAT WERE NOT HERE.

>> Mary: WHAT WAS YOUR FINAL MARGIN?

>> ALMOST 13 POINTS.

>> Mary: THAT'S NOT REALLY CLOSE.

>> IT'S NOT.

OF >> I SAY HELLO, GOVERNOR.

THE NEXT THING I KNOW HE HAS ME IN A HEADLOCK.

YOU BET MY UNDERWEAR ARE UNION MADE!

>> I'M SUPPOSED TO BE A BIG HOCKEY PLAYER, RIGHT.

YOU CAN'T CRY AT THE END OF A CHICK FLICK.

>> Mary: THE RANGE LAWMAKERS HAVE NOT BEEN LOW-KEY.

THEY HAVE BEEN LEGENDARY, I ALREADY SAID THE NAME RUKAVINA.

SERTICH WAS INTERESTING.

TOMASSONI.

JUST REALLY BIG PERSONALITIES.

>> YUP.

>> Mary: HOW DO YOU FOLLOW THAT?

>> THAT'S A REALLY GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL REVEAL ITSELF MORE SO OVER TIME.

I MIGHT BE MELLOW IN MY POLITICS, AND, ET, THERE'S MOMENTS WHERE THAT FIRE IS GOING TO EMERGE.

SADLY, I THINK THAT'S OING TO BE COMING IN THE NEAR TERM.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHAT IS THE ISSUE THAT MIGHT IGNITE YOU THIS SESSION?

>> WELL, THE ISSUE THAT'S AT HAND IS 600 OF Y, WELL, NOT JUST MY CONSTITUENTS, BUT 600 STEEL WORKERS AND MINERS BEING LAID OFF FROM THEIR JOBS.

>> Mary: AND WHAT CAN THE STATE DO?

WHAT'S THE STATE'S OLE?

>> WHAT CAN THE STATE DO?

WELL, AT THE CORE OF THAT IS GOING TO BE EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK TRUMP HELPED YOU AND HAS HELPED REALLY CHANGE THE RANGE, FLIPPED THE RANGE?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE REALLY IDENTIFY WITH THE STRONG AMERICAN DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF GOODS AND SERVICES.

AND, SO, THEY REALLY IDENTIFY WITH TRUMP ON THE FREEDOM ASPECT.

IN MY RACE, WE DID 500 VOTES BETTER THAN TRUMP.

>> Mary: WE'VE NEVER HAD A HOUSE AND A SENATE TIED IN THE SAME SESSION.

>> THAT'S WILD.

>> Mary: I MEAN, ALL OF THIS, YOU KNOW, THE BOYCOTT, EVERYTHING.

NOW THAT YOU'VE KIND OF WEATHERED ALL THE UNPRECEDENTED, HOW IS IT FEELING?

ARE YOU SETTLING IN?

>> YOU START TO SETTLE IN TO THE SCHEDULE AND THAT SCHEDULE IS JUST THAT YOU'RE BUSY ALL THE TIME AND EVERY DAY GOES BY LIKE THAT.

[ SNAPPED FINGERS ] AND YOU COME BACK, YOU DO IT AGAIN.

>> Mary: BIGGEST SURPRISE SO FAR?

>> I THINK THE SURPRISE IS JUST HOW VERY MUCH COMMITTEE WORK THERE IS.

>> Mary: THE SENATE WAS ALSO TIED THIS SESSION, UNTIL A SPECIAL ELECTION ENDED THE DEADLOCK THERE.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE LATEST SENATE FIRST-TERMER.

THE FIRST QUESTION I ASK ALL FRESHMAN IS A DIFFERENT QUESTION FOR YOU, I USUALLY SAY, WHY DID YOU RUN?

WE KNOW WHY YOU RAN, IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES, PASSING OF KARI DZIEDZIC.

SO TELL ME HOW UNIQUE AND DIFFICULT THAT WAS.

>> KARI WAS A SINGULAR FORCE IN MINNESOTA POLITICS AND NORTHEAST AND SOUTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS.

SHE WAS A PERSON THAT, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU NEEDED HELP, SHE KNEW BEFORE YOU NEEDED HELP.

AND SHE WOULD CALL AND HELP.

AND EVERYONE WOULD SAY, SHE WAS A FRIEND.

AND IT WAS TRUE.

SHE WAS JUST SOMEBODY WHO HELPED EVERYBODY, MADE CONNECTIONS, AND REALLY JUST MADE MINNESOTA AND SENATE DISTRICT 60 A BETTER PLACE.

>> Mary: AND AS A LEADER, SHE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROBABLY THE MOST LEGISLATION THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE EVER PASSED IN THE MINNESOTA HISTORY.

HER LEADERSHIP FOR THE PARTY, INSURMOUNTABLE.

>> HER LEADERSHIP FOR MINNESOTA, THE LEGACY SHE LEAVES BEHIND OF IMPROVING MINNESOTA, I THINK WE ALL HOPE THAT WE CAN DO HALF AS MUCH AS HER.

>> Mary: HOW DID IT COME TOGETHER THEN FOR YOU TO BE THE PERSON TO STEP UP IN A SPECIAL ELECTION DURING A LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO RUN?

>> YOU KNOW, WE WERE ALL SHOCKED WHEN KARI DIED.

WE'D BEEN WORKING WITH HER EARLIER IN THE YEAR, SHE WAS GETTING READY FOR THE SESSION, SHE WAS HIRING STAFF.

SO, IT TRULY WAS A SHOCK, AND WHEN IT HAPPENED, I STARTED GETTING CALLS OF PEOPLE SAYING, YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT THIS.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME IN A SPECIAL ELECTION TO THINK ABOUT IT.

>> Mary: I HAPPEN TO KNOW, YOU WERE A RUNNER.

>> YES.

>> Mary: IT HELPS WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, DOESN'T IT?

>> YES.

TRUE, I'M A MARATHON RUNNER.

>> Mary: YES.

>> AND THERE IS AN ENDURANCE IN THIS, IN POLITICS AND IN GOVERNANCE.

AND ESPECIALLY IN A 14-DAY AND THEN A 28-DAY CAMPAIGN, YOU JUST HAVE TO BE WILLING TO GO.

>> Mary: COACH, TOO, IF I HAVE THAT CORRECT.

>> YEAH, I COACH MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK AND CROSS-COUNTRY.

AND WITH MIDDLE SCHOOLERS, IT'S -- YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS OF MOTIVATING.

THAT'S THE SAME IN GOVERNANCE AND POLITICS.

OF HOW CAN WE BRING FOLKS TOGETHER TO PULL FOR A COMMON GOAL?

>> Mary: SO YOU GET TO BE THE SENATOR WHO'S THE CLOSEST TO THE VOTERS, SINCE YOU RAN LAST, WHAT WAS THE MESSAGE, WHAT WAS IT IS TONE OUT THERE?

-- WHAT WAS THE TONE THROUGHOUT?

>> THE MESSAGE ON GENERAL ELECTION DAY, THAT WAS THE DAY TRUMP FROZE ALL THE GRANTS.

AND IN THE MORNING, FOLKS ARE, LIKE, WHAT'S GOINGIN' ON?

IN THE AFTERNOON, I'M VOTING.

IN THE EVENING, I AM DRIVING WHEREVER I NEED TO.

THE MESSAGE WAS, YOU NEED TO STOP TRUMP.

AND, OKAY, MINNESOTA, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REALLY ENSURING THAT WHAT WE HOLD PRECIOUS HERE, WE HOLD PRECIOUS AND DEAR HERE AND REALLY BRING TOGETHER MINNESOTANS TO SAY, WE WILL HOLD MINNESOTA TRUE.

WE WILL KEEP OUR VALUES.

>> Mary: YOUR NUMBERS WERE BIG.

WHAT WAS IT?

>> I THINK THE WORD I USED WAS GOB SMACKED.

I GOT 90.9%.

>> THAT'S NOT CLOSE.

I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S MINNEAPOLIS IN A DFL DISTRICT, BUT I THINK YOU EVEN SURPRISED PEOPLE WITH THAT NUMBER.

>> PEOPLE WERE TAKEN ABACK.

THE HIGHEST NUMBER THAT SOMEONE SAID WAS 87, WE ALL LAUGHED AT HIM.

SO WHEN 90.9 CAME IN, IT WAS HUMBLING, IT WAS GRATIFYING, AND IT WAS A MESSAGE OF, PEOPLE ARE SAYING, YOU NEED TO STAND UP STRONG.

YOU NEED TO STAND FIRM ON OUR VALUES THAT WE HAVE IN SENATE DISTRICT 60.

THE DFL MAJORITY HAS RETURNED, I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EVERYONE IN THE SENATE.

>> Mary: KIND OF BEEN BAPTISM BY FIRE, DIVING INTO A SESSION.

YOU GET TO BE THE GUY WHO BREAKS THE TIE IN THE CHAMBER.

HISTORIC TIE.

PROBABLY IN THE HOUSE, PROBABLY IN THE SENATE, WITHIN THE SAME SESSION, NEVER HAPPENED.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT HISTORY?

WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING ROM IT?

>> EACH OF THE SENATORS IN THE DFL ARE THE 34th VOTE.

SO, WE ALL -- >> Mary: BUT YOU LITERALLY WERE THE 34th.

>> FAIR POINT.

IT'S AN INTERESTING TIME TO BE HERE.

WE SEE HOW WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO FIND OMMON PIECES.

WE REALLY HAVE TO DO THAT THIS YEAR.

TO MOVE AHEAD OUR AGENDA IN MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: WHAT ISSUES ARE YOU MOST COMFORTABLE WITH, WHAT'S YOUR PERIOD OF TIME EXPERTISE?

>> I'M A HIGH SCHOOL PARENT.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS ON EDUCATION FINANCE.

I TALKED AND HEARD THE MOST ON THE DOORS ABOUT EDUCATION AND THEN HOUSING, NEEDING TO BRING DOWN THE PRICE OF HOUSING.

WE'VE GOT A HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM ACROSS THE STATE.

SO, ADDRESS THAT, DORON, WAS THE OTHER MESSAGE.

>> Mary: SURPRISES SO FAR HERE?

>> SURPRISES?

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> EVERYBODY'S WILLING TO HELP.

WHEN YOU'RE A CLASS OF ONE, EVERYONE GOES, ALL RIGHT, NEW GUY, AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN CALLED BY A COUPLE SENATORS, OKAY, NEW GUY, HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.

AND EVERYONE TRULY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE IS BEING HELPFUL, HOW YOU CAN SET YOUR CONSTITUENT SERVICES, IN, WELL, JUST KNOWING WHERE THE COMMITTEE ROOMS ARE, AND JUST SAYING, HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD THINK THROUGH.

SO, IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL BEING A CLASS OF ONE ON HOW SEVEN WILLING TO HELP.

>> Mary: WHEN WE HIT END OF SESSION, WHAT'S A SUCCESS FOR YOU?

>> SUCCESS FOR ME IS THAT WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET FOR MINNESOTA.

THAT REALLY ACCOMPLISHES WHAT WE SAID THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN MOVING FORWARD EDUCATION, IN MOVING FORWARD ON REDUCING THE PRICE OF HOUSING, AND BRINGING US ALL TOGETHER TO SAY, THIS IS MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN ON TIME?

IS THERE ANY CHANCE?

>> OH, WE'RE WORKIN' TOWARDS IT.

WE'LL GET OUR DEADLINES AND WE'LL WORK TOWARDS IT.

>> Mary: YOU'RE FEELING MORE OPTIMISTIC IN THE SENATE, AREN'T YOU?

[ Laughter ] >> WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER WELL.

>> Mary: THE NEXT FRESHMAN LAWMAKER IS A REPUBLICAN WHO FLIPPED A SEAT.

SHE WAS FEATURED IN OUR "RACES TO WATCH" SERIES AND WON BY A WIDER MARGIN THAN EVEN SHE ANTICIPATED.

HOW DIFFERENT DOES LIFE FEEL NOW THAT YOU WON THIS ELECTION?

>> IT FEELS GREAT.

I'M MORE BUSY, JUST AS BUSY AS I WAS BEFORE THE CAMPAIGN, BUT AT LEAST HE INTENSITY HAS GONE DOWN NOW.

>> Mary: ARE YOU SURPRISED AT ALL, IT WAS CLOSE, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LOSE, RIGHT?

>> IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CLOSE, YES.

I WAS EXTREMELY SURPRISED IN HOW LARGE I WON.

SO, YES, IT WAS A GOOD SURPRISE.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU THINK, WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WON?

>> IF I HAVE TO GUESS, INFLATION, EVERYBODY'S TIRED OF FINANCIAL BURDENS, WHETHER YOU'RE A RED, PURPLE.

THAT WAS THE ONE THING THAT WAS ON EVERYBODY'S MIND DURING THE ELECTION, THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT I HEARD OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHEN I WAS AT THE DOORS, WHEN I WAS AT MY STORE, PEOPLE WERE COMING TO ME TELLING ME THEIR FRUSTRATIONS.

I'M ERICA SCHWARTZ, I'M THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE HERE IN NICOLLET COUNTY.

>> I'M ALL IN ON REPUBLICANS BE, SO GO GET 'EM.

BE A TIGER OUT THERE.

>> Mary: AT YOUR STORE, YOU'RE STILL THERE, WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY NOW WHEN THEY COME IN?

>> THEY ASK ME, HEY, HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE CAPITOL?

YEAH, ACTUALLY QUITE A BIT.

PEOPLE ARE ASKING ME HOW I'M DOING ON THE JOB, NOT TO FORGET THEM, NOT TO FORGET TO ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND WORK HARD.

OF COURSE NOT, THAT WAS THE WHOLE GOAL.

>> Mary: THE STORE IS YOUR WHOLE GOAL, HUSBAND AND FAMILY.

YOUR LIFE IS ABOUT TO CHANGE DRAMATICALLY.

IT ALREADY HAS.

>> IT ALREADY HAS.

GOOD THING, COMMUNICATION WITH MY FAMILY, MY HUSBAND, MY KIDS, THE STAFF AT THE STORE AS WELL.

I WILL BE UNAVAILABLE A LOT OF TIMES GOING FORWARD.

>> Mary: YOUR HUSBAND WANTED YOU TO RUN.

HE HAS TO STEP UP AT HOME.

>> HE'S WONDERFUL.

AS A FAMILY, WE WORK TOGETHER, HE WAS UP ALL NIGHT STUFFING ENVELOPES WITH ME, HE WAS AT ALL OF THE PARADES, MY DAUGHTER, WHO IS 19, IT WAS REALLY A FAMILY AFFAIR.

>> Mary: WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SO FAR, I THINK I WAS THE FIRST TV, BACK THEN.

YOU'VE DONE MORE INTERVIEWS, MORE PRESS, HOW IS THAT PART OF THE JOB NOW?

>> I'M NOT USED TO BEING SO PUBLIC.

WHEN I'M AT THE STORE, OR WHEN I'M OUT AT RESTAURANTS, PEOPLE RECOGNIZE ME FROM THE COMMERCIALS, THE FLYERS, MAILERS, EVERYTHING.

I WAS A VERY PRIVATE PERSON BEFORE THIS.

>> Mary: I BET YOU'RE KIND OF AN INTROVERT, ARE YOU NATURALLY INTROVERTED?

>> YEAH, I WAS VERY QUIET.

>> Mary: ARE YOU STEPPING OUT OF THAT?

>> I HAVE TO IN ORDER TO FULFILL THIS ROLE BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO REACH OUT AND TALK TO ME.

>> Mary: SO YOU'RE PUSHING YOURSELF.

>> YES.

>> Mary: HOW DOES IT FEEL TO PUSH YOUR COMFORT ZONE, PUSH YOURSELF?

>> THE WHOLE CAMPAIGNING, EVEN WINNING, IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING JOURNEY, THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE MET ALONG THE WAY HAVE BEEN UNFORGETTABLE, THE SUPPORTERS THAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE -- THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN HAVE BEEN AMAZING.

>> Mary: DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE GAINED CONFIDENCE?

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

>> Mary: HOW SO?

>> PEOPLE ARE RELYING ON ME.

IT'S FORCING ME TO STEP OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE.

PEOPLE ARE WANTING ME TO MAKE CHANGES, THAT'S WHAT I'VE SAID ALL ALONG, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

>> ARE YOU PLANNING ON VOTING?

>> MOST LIKELY.

THIS YEAR WILL BE MY FIRST BIG, LIKE, VOTING EXPERIENCE.

>> Mary: COLLEGE TOWN DIDN'T DELIVER A DEMOCRAT, WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT YOUNGER VOTERS?

>> I HAD A LOT OF COLLEGE-AGE KIDS COME INTO MY STORE, PAYING WITH GAS WITH TWO DOLLARS ORTH OF QUARTERS.

ONE GENTLEMAN MADE ME ALL WITH DIMES.

SO I'M STARTING TO BELIEVE, AGAIN, FINANCIAL BURDEN S HITTING EVERYBODY WHERE, WHETHER, BLUE, RED, OR PURPLE IN MY DISTRICT.

>> Mary: WHAT ISSUES ARE YOU HEARING NOW THAT YOU'RE AT THE CAPITOL, VERSUS CAMPAIGN TRAIL?

>> PEOPLE ARE STILL REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING SOME SORT OF TAX RELIEF, SOME SORT OF PERMANENT TAX RELIEF, PEOPLE ARE STILL LOOKING, HOPING THAT THE GAS PRICES WILL GO DOWN, GROCERY PRICES WILL GO DOWN.

NOW, AS A STATE REP, I HAVE TO ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND DO WHAT I CAN IN MY PART.

I CAN'T CHANGE EVERYTHING FOR MINNESOTA, BUT I CAN DO MY PART.

>> Mary: ANOTHER RACE TO WATCH FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER WHOSE CLAIM TO FAME IS BEING THE ONLY DEMOCRAT TO WIN AN OPEN SEAT IN A TARGETED RACE.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN NOW THAT YOU'VE WON AND LOOKED BACK?

>> YEAH, IT'S A DIFFERENT THING.

>> IT IS.

SO IT REALLY GOES BACK TO MY EXPERIENCE WITH TEACHING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND THAT WAS A BIG MOTIVATOR FOR ME.

SEEING THE DIFFERENCE WHEN I WORKED IN FOUR DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SEEING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, IN THE UNDERFUNDED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND A WELL-FUNDED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WANT TO GO FIGURE OUT HOW I AN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE AT THE STATE LEVEL TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN MINNESOTA GETS THE RESOURCES THAT IT NEEDS.

>> Mary: WE SAW YOU KIND OF EARLIER IN THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

AND WHAT YOU LEARNED THROUGH KIND OF SUMMER AND FALL AND HOW THAT CHANGED.

WHAT WAS YOUR LESSON THROUGH THAT TIME FRAME?

>> IN ADDITION TO, YOU KNOW, MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS A TEACHER AND KNOWING THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT FOR MINNESOTANS, I'M ALSO KNOCKING ON THOUSANDS OF DOORS AND TALKING TO THOUSANDS OF FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT.

WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT A LOT, IN ADDITION TO PUBLIC EDUCATION, WAS AFFORDABILITY.

SO I'M KEEPING THAT IN MIND IN EACH OF THE COMMITTEES THAT I AM ENTERING AND HOW I CAN HELP MAKE THE PEOPLE OF MY DISTRICT AND THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA HAVE THINGS BE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THEM.

>> Mary: AND THAT WAS A TOUGHER SSUE FOR DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS MAYBE WON, GOT SOME TRACTION NATIONALLY, STATEWIDE, ON THAT ISSUE OF ECONOMY.

NEED A CLOSE RACE AGAIN.

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: VERY CLOSE.

>> EAH, IT CAME DOWN TO 280 VOTES.

SO WE DID GAIN SOME VOTES FROM THE TWO YEARS PRIOR, THAT ELECTION CYCLE.

AND I REALLY THINK IT CAME DOWN TO TALKING TO PEOPLE FACE TO FACE AND GETTING TO KNOW THEM AND THEM MEETING ME, THAT REALLY MADE THE DIFFERENCE.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT THE SCOOTER, DID YOU GET MORE PLACES FASTER WITH THAT?

>> THE SCOOT EVERY, ABSOLUTELY WORKED AS A GOOD STRATEGY TO GET TO MORE DOORS.

SCOOTER.

>> Mary: AS YOU'RE SEEING RETURNS COME IN ELECTION NIGHT, WERE YOU THINKING, OH, MY GOSH, 'M SO GLAD I KNOCKED ON THAT EXTRA DOOR, I WENT TO THE PARK, I WENT TO THE CAFÉ.

WERE YOU FEELING LIKE EVERY LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA EFFORT WAS WORTH IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN THE RESULTS CAME OUT, I WAS ACTUALLY ASLEEP, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T COME OUT UNTIL 3:00 A.M.

BUT I HAD MY PHONE RIGHT NEXT TO ME, AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS LIGHTING UP AND FLASHING AND IT WOKE ME UP, AND I KNEW THEY MUST HAVE COME OUT.

SO I WOKE UP, GRABBED MY PHONE AND WAS THRILLED TO SEE THAT WE HAD WON!

>> Mary: AND REPUBLICANS DID WELL.

THEY MADE GAINS N MINNESOTA, NATIONALLY.

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WERE ABLE TO STOP THAT TIDE IN YOUR DISTRICT?

>> I REALLY THINK IT COMES DOWN TO THE PERSONAL CONNECTIONS.

SO INSTEAD OF BASING IT ON THINGS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ON TV THE MOST, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING BEING TALKED ABOUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA THE MOST, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I MADE THAT PERSONAL CONNECTION.

AND THEY GOT TO MEET ME, ALK TO ME, ASK ME QUESTIONS, AND THEY SEE THAT I'M A REASONABLE PERSON THAT CARES ABOUT PEOPLE AND JUST WANTS TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE.

>> Mary: AND NOW THAT YOU'VE WON, HAVE YOU HEARD THINGS THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T TELL YOU WHEN YOU'RE A CANDIDATE, LIKE, REPRESENTATIVE NEWTON SAID, OKAY, HERE'S WHAT IS REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN OU'RE UP THERE?

>> NO, NOT SO MUCH.

JUST THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO DO AS A FRESHMAN.

BUT I LOOK AT IT AS A TEACHER, I'M A LIFE-LONG LEARNER, I THINK LIFE-LONG LEARNING IS IMPORTANT, SO I THINK THIS FIRST, YOU KNOW, ROUND OF SESSIONS HERE IN THESE TWO YEARS AS BIG LEARNING OPPORTUNITY IF ME TO FIGURE OUT HOW -- FOR ME TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT ALL WORKS, WHAT I CAN GET DONE IN COMMITTEES, WHAT I CAN'T GET DONE.

THE NUMBER ONE THING WE KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER.

SO I'M EXCITED TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT TOPICS AND WHAT ISSUES DO WE HAVE IN COMMON THAT WE CAN GET TO WORK ON TOGETHER.

>> Mary: WE WE CAN WITH A LOOK AT TWO MORE FRESHMEN.

ONE IS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER FROM EDINA AND THE OTHER IS A MARINE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM BEMIDJI.

FIRST OF ALL, THE QUESTION I ASK EVERY NEW LAWMAKER IS, WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> YOU KNOW, I SERVED ON THE EDINA SCHOOL BOARD FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, AND ROLLED OFF MY TERM AT THE END OF LAST DECEMBER.

AAS I BOARD MEMBER, I REALLY SAW -- AS A BOARD MEMBER, I REALLY SAW DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, HOW THEY WORK.

MY WHOLE LIFE I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR DIFFERENT CAUSES.

THIS WAS KIND OF AN EVOLUTION OF THAT WORK, ESPECIALLY IN THE EDUCATION SPACE.

>> Mary: DID YOU KNOW IT WAS GOING TO BE AN OPEN SEAT?

I'M GUESSING SOCIALLY, YOU MIGHT HAVE KNOWN REPRESENTATIVE EDELSON, DID YOU KNOW SHE WASN'T RUNNING, HOW DID THAT GO BEHIND THE SCENES?

>> YOU KNOW, HEATHER DID ALERT ME AND LET ME KNOW THAT SHE WASN'T GOING TO SEEK THE SEAT AGAIN.

SO I HAD SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT.

IT'S A BIG DECISION.

IT WAS NOT SOMETHING I MADE OVERNIGHT.

>> Mary: YOU'VE BEEN IN MINNESOTA AND EDINA LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW THIS DISTRICT HAS EVOLVED FROM COMPLETELY REPUBLICAN TO OTALLY COMPETITIVE TO SAFE SEAT.

DID IT FEEL SAFE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT DID.

BUT I THINK THAT THERE -- I NEVER APPROACH THINGS THAT THERE'S EVER A SAFE SEAT.

I THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT THAT WE INCLUDE ALL CONSTITUENTS IN CONVERSATIONS.

THAT'S HOW I SERVED ON THE EDINA SCHOOL BOARD, TOO.

SO I DOOR KNOCKED EVERYBODY.

I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE ACROSS THE AISLE THAT I KNEW WEREN'T GOING TO VOTE FOR ME, AND I GOT A LOT OF TEXTS FROM THEM ON ELECTION NIGHT CONGRATULATING ME.

>> Mary: WHY DO YOU THINK EDINA AND FIRST-RING SUBURBS LIKE THAT HAVE GOTTEN LESS COMPETITIVE AND BLUER OVER TIME?

>> FISCALLY THE SUBURBS ARE MORE CONSERVATIVE, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT A LOT OF THE SOCIAL ISSUES AND, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT THEY SEEM TO BE DRIVING A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION.

I THINK A LOT OF THE SUBURBS IN THE METRO, INCLUDING EDINA COMMUNITY, ARE TAKING A STAND WITH THEIR VALUES.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO TREAT PEOPLE ND LET PEOPLE LOVE WHO THEY WANT TO OVE, LET PEOPLE LIVE HOW THEY WANT TO LIVE, AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY AND NOTHING IS HELD AGAINST THEM.

I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE TO ACTUALLY HOW MINNESOTANS LIVE.

>> Mary: WE HAVE TO BE HONEST, NOT EVERYBODY ROOTS FOR EDINA.

[ Laughter ] CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

KIND OF THE CITY EVERYBODY LOVES TO HATE IN MINNESOTA.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, YES, I'VE LEARNED THAT.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE LEARNED, I MEAN, I'VE STAYED THERE, WE MOVED TO MINNESOTA NOT KNOWING ANYBODY, WE CHOSE EDINA, BUT I WILL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, EDINA'S A PASSIONATE, ENGAGED COMMUNITY.

AND WE GET A LOT OF STUFF DONE.

AND WE'RE ALSO PROGRESSIVE THINKING.

AND SOMETIMES WHEN THAT HAPPENS, YOU LAND ON TOP.

>> Mary: WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN?

>> ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY COMMUNITY.

BEING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, HAVING LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND, I WAS KIND OF TIRED OF THE WAR MONGERING AND THE AGGRESSION THAT WAS GOING ON TOWARDS LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> Mary: DID YOU SEE AN EVOLUTION, IN POLITICS, IT'S SWINGING ALL OVER THE PLACE, TOO.

LAW ENFORCEMENT IS VILIFIED.

OKAY, NOW WE NEED LAW ENFORCEMENT.

MAYBE THEY'RE NOT SO BAD.

ARE YOU SEEING KIND OF THIS BACK AND FORTH, KIND OF PENDULUM SWING ON THE ISSUE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT?

>> IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO GO WITH THE FLOW OF PEOPLE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU LIVE AND HOW MUCH OF A RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

MY SEAT IS BEMIDJI.

YOU KNOW, SO, WE HAVE A VERY STRONG LIKE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT THERE.

BUT THEN YOU GO TO PARTICULAR PLACES INSIDE THE CITY, YOU MAY NOT REALLY CARE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AS MUCH.

BUT WE REALLY NEED TO GET AWAY FROM THIS, DO NOT DICTATE THE WHOLE STATE OF MINNESOTA LAW ENFORCEMENT BY PARTICULAR ACT BY ONE PERSON.

IT'S REALLY EASY TO PAINT US WITH A BROAD BRUSH.

BUT WHAT I WANT YOUR IEWERS TO KNOW IS WHAT I WANT THEM TO FOCUS ON IS ACTUALLY FOCUS ON THE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL, MAYBE THAT AGENCY THAT MIGHT BE HAVING THE PROBLEM, AND NOT FOCUS ON THE WHOLE STATE OF MINNESOTA AS THE HOLE, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME VERY VERY VERY GOOD OFFICERS OUT THERE THAT E NEED TO ENCOURAGE, GET OUT THERE, KEEP DOING HE GOOD WORK THAT THEY HAVE AND SUPPORT THOSE GUYS.

>> Mary: SO YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH SOME HEADLINES, SOME BACKLASH FOR BEING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, TOO.

>> YUP.

>> Mary: THERE WAS SOME TOUGH STUFF.

THE HEADLINE WAS A JUDGE SAYING YOU DIDN'T TELL THE TRUTH IN COURT.

WHAT'S THE TRUTH?

>> THE TRUTH IS THAT I NEVER LIED.

I HAD LEGAL GUIDANCE DURING THAT WHOLE TIME.

I JUST ACTUALLY GOT A LETTER BACK FROM THE JUDICIARY BOARD, BECAUSE I FILED A COMPLAINT ON THAT PARTICULAR JUDGE, SO I GOT A RULING BACK THAT WAS IN MY FAVOR, SHOWING THAT THEY FOUND MISCONDUCT IN HIS BEHAVIOR.

ON MY CAMPAIGN, IT REALLY BOTHERED ME A LOT BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE JUDGING ME BY THAT.

WE AS LEGISLATORS NEED TO COME OUT THERE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE NEED TO COME OUT THERE AND BE A LITTLE BIT MORE VOCAL THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

AND WE HAVE SOME VERY GOOD LEGISLATORS RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL, BUT WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A WHOLE BECAUSE WITHOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE DON'T HAVE STABILITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Mary: AND WHAT ABOUT THE POLITICAL COMPETITIVENESS, BECAUSE THIS WASN'T COMPLETELY AN EASY CAKE WALK FOR YOU, WAS IT?

I MEAN, TELL US, HOW CLOSE WAS YOUR RACE?

>> IT WAS RELATIVELY CLOSE.

I ONLY ON BY, I THINK, 850 VOTES, IS SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE.

IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A TIGHT RACE.

IT WAS BECAUSE I BELIEVED THE JUDGE'S RULING HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT.

IT PUTS A BAD TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH.

>> Mary: WE'LL BE BACK NEXT TIME.

IN THE MEANTIME, YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, THAT'S TPT.ORG/AATC.

THERE YOU CAN REWATCH ANY PARTS OF THIS SHOW AND INTERACT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU CAN ALSO LEARN HOW TO WATCH THE HOUSE, SENATE, FLOOR SESSIONS, COMMITTEE HEARINGS, PRESS CONFERENCES, AND MUCH MORE ON THE STATEWIDE PBS STATION YOU ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" FRIDAY NIGHT.

THAT'S OUR SHOW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM >> "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... MANITOBA HYDRO, PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, A LEADING PRODUCER OF THE FUELS MINNESOTANS RELY ON EVERY DAY.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY, GENERATING OVER $4 BILLION FOR OUR STATE SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY, PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY, A SOVEREIGN TRIBAL NATION IN SCOTT COUNTY.

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

HEALTHIER - HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE.

>> "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.