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>> MARY: WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

I'M MARY LAHAMMER.

TONIGHT WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE 2023 FRESHMEN CLASS.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE AND REPRESENTATIVE CLASSES MINNESOTA HAS EVER ELECTED.

WE START WITH A STATE SENATOR WHO MADE HISTORY AS THE YOUNGEST WOMAN EVER ELECTED TO THAT OFFICE.

MEET SENATOR MOHAMED.

FIRST QUESTION FOR EVERYONE, IS WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN IN THE FIRST PLACE FOR THIS POSITION?

>> I WANTED TO RUN BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE WHAT PRESENTATION AND I WANTED TO SEE THE PEOPLE IN OUR STATE WHO LOOK LIKE ME TO BE REFLECTED IN OUR BODY.

>> Mary: AND YOU MAKE HISTORY, NOT ONLY ARE YOU COMING IN AS THE YOUNGEST BUT ALSO YOU GET TO BE PART OF NOT JUST THE FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR BUT ONE OF THREE BLACK WOMEN COMING INTO THE SENATE.

IS IT AMAZING TO HAVE SOME FELLOW PEOPLE TO COME IN THAT YOU'RE NOT MAKING HISTORY ALONE?

>> YEAH, I THINK DAY ONE, WE LAUNCHED OUR CAMPAIGN PEOPLE ARE WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD, I SAID I HOPE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE, I HOPE THERE ARE A FEW COME IN WITH ME.

>> Mary: IT'S GOTTEN ATTENTION.

I WAS JUST CHECKING GOOGLE, YOU'VE BEEN IN TEEN VOGUE, YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF HEADLINES.

DARE I SAY IT REMINDS ME A LITTLE BIT OF A STATE LAWMAKER I REMEMBER A FEW YEARS AGO, A CERTAIN NOW CONGRESSWOMAN HO GOT A LOT OF SIMILAR ATTENTION EARLY ON.

IS CONGRESSWOMAN OMAR A ROLE MODEL FOR YOU?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, CONGRESSWOMAN OMAR HAS PRETTY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES TO MY LIFE AS AN IMMIGRANTS, WE COME FROM SIMILAR BAKK BROWNED, OTH OF US WORKED AT CITY HALL PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED AND SHE IS AN INCREDIBLE ROLE MODEL AND SOMEBODY TO LOOK UP TO BECAUSE PRIOR TO HER, I NEVER SAW MYSELF IN OUR STATE OFFICE.

>> Mary: YOU WILL BE THE YOUNGEST SENATOR SERVING EVER ELECTED.

THE SENATE'S KIND OF AN OLDER BODY.

TALK TO ME ABOUT WHY YOUTH IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT YOU CAN BRING WITH THAT.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT, I MEAN, IT'S A LOT OF OLDER FOLKS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES AND DIFFERENT CAREERS AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THERE'S A YOUNG PERSON, 25-YEAR-OLD WHO'S GOING IN AND, YOU KNOW, THIS MEANS THAT PEOPLE IN OUR STATE, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEING THE EFFECTS OF OUR POLICY-MAKING ARE ABLE TO BE AT THE TABLE AND SAY, THIS IS HOW THIS AFFECTS MY LIFE AS A YOUNG PERSON.

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCED AT SPIEL-MAKING, WHETHER IT'S HOMEOWNERSHIM OR CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> Mary: DESTATE BEING YOUNG, YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF LIFE EXPERIENCE.

>> MY FAMILY AND I EMIGRATED FROM SOMALI WHEN I WAS NINE YEARS OLD, WE CAME HERE BECAUSE OF THE WAR AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE MINNESOTA THEIR HOME.

THEY CAME HERE BACK IN 2007, MADE SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS THEIR HOME AND HAVE STAYED EVER SINCE THEN.

BOTH OF MY PARENTS WORKED UNION JOBS.

MY MOTHER ACTUALLY NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO SCHOOL AND SO EDUCATION WAS LIKE A HUGE THING FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO EMIGRATE HERE OFTEN, ESPECIALLY FROM SOMALIA, THEY COME FOR EDUCATION, THEY COME HERE FOR A BETTER LIFE AND THEY KNOW THE PATHWAY TO A BETTER LIFE IS EDUCATION, RIGHT?

SO GOING TO SCHOOL WAS REALLY IMPORTANT, ALTHOUGH MY MOTHER WORKED TWO JOKES, MY FATHER WORKED ALMOST THREE JOKES, THEY STILL CAME TO MY SCHOOL CONFERENCES.

THEY COULDN'T SHOW UP TO EVERYTHING BECAUSE THERE WAS NEVER -- YOU KNOW, THEY -- THEY HAD NINE KIDS, WE WERE MOVING AROUND A LOT BUT THEY KNEW HOW INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR US TO GO TO SCHOOL.

>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU LEARNED ABOUT GOVERNMENT AND INTERFACED WITH GOVERNMENT ON THEIR BEHALF.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> I REMEMBER BEING IN 7th GRADE AND TEACHING MY MOM THE CITIZENSHIP BOOK AND READING TO HER, MAKING HER UNDERSTAND SO THAT SHE CAN GO IN AND TAKE THE TEST AND HAVING HER MEMORIZE AND GET HER CITIZENSHIP.

I WAS THE PERSON WHO WAS THE 13-YEAR-OLD WHO WOULD GO TO THE DOCTOR WITH MY MOM AND TRANSLATE FOR HER.

AND IT WAS SO DIFFICULT TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THESE SYSTEMS.

>> Mary: AND THEN SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCE, WORK EXPERIENCE IS THROUGH GOVERNMENT, CORRECT?

>> I WORKED FOR A 26-YEAR-OLD COUNCIL MEMBER, SO AS YOU CAN TELL, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

I HELPED MANAGE HIS CAMPAIGN WHEN HE WAS RUNNING.

>> Mary: WE ARE STATISTICALLY STARTING TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE SHOW UP, GETS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS, VOTE.

I THINK THE SUPREME COURT DECISION WAS A BIG EMPHASIS FOR YOUNGER VOTERS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN VOTERS.

WHAT DID YOU LARRY FROM YOUNGER VOTERS OUT THERE?

>> FOR SURE THE SUPREME COURT, ROE V. WADE BEING OVERTURNED WAS WHAT TURNED YOUNG PEOPLE IS TO NOT ONLY SHOW UP AND VOTE, WE HAVE A DFL TRACK RECORD HERE, WE'VE SEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOUNG EOPLE ARE ALSO STAG THINGS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

I'M TIRED OF WAITING ON PEOPLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY I RAN, IT WAS SO TIRED OF WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING, TO SHOW UP FOR US YOUNG PEOPLE AFFECTED BY STUDENT DEBT, THEY'RE AFFECTED BY OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, OUR HOUSING CRISIS AND SO A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES, AS WELL.

>> MARY: OUR NEXT SENATOR STANDS OUT A BIT.

HE'S ONE OF MANY LAWMAKERS TO MAKE THE JUMP FROM THE HOUSE.

ERIC LUCERO, THE NEW SENATOR REPRESENTING DISTRICT 30.

SENATOR LUCERO, YOU ARE KIND OF A FRESHMAN BUT KIND OF NOT.

I AM MAKING AN EXCEPTION BECAUSE I SAID YOU'RE EXTRA INTERESTING.

>> I'M NOT NEW TO THE LEGISLATURE, I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING THE LAST EIGHT YEARS IN THE HOUSE.

>> Mary: WOULD IT SURPRISE YOU TO HEAR YOUR COLLEAGUES DESCRIBE YOU AS COLORFUL?

>> NOT AT ALL BECAUSE I DEFINITELY ENJOY COLOR.

ONE OF THE REASONS I WEAR THEM IS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE THE HEART.

I VERY MUCH AM JOYFUL, WITHIN THE HEART AND I LIKE TO EXPRESS THAT OUTWARDLY WITH WEARING AGAIN A NUMBER OF COLORS TO EXPRESS WHAT'S HAPPENING INSIDE.

I AM VERY MUCH ONE WHO IS IN FAVOR OF PROCESS, IN FAVOR OF JUNE HOLDING TRADITION.

THE UPPER BODY, AS THE SENATE IS CALLED, IS ONE THAT DEFINITELY HOLDS TO TRADITION.

>> Mary: TALK TO ME ABOUT THE VALUE OF DIVERSITY AND THE DIVERSITY YOU'RE BRINGING.

>> >> THE DIVERSITY THAT I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED IN MY MUM OF YEARS ON THE FLOOR MUTTS HIM TIMES IS NOT ONE OF SKIN COLOR OR THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT RELATE TO THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE OVER.

I SAY THAT AS A MINORITY MISS, AS A HISPANIC, MARRIED TO A MINORITY.

MY SIBLINGS ARE THEMSELVES MARRIED TO MINORITIES, SO ALL MY NEICES AND NEPHEWS ARE MINORITIES.

WE HAVE A RAINBOW OF DIVERSITY THROUGHOUT MY FAMILY, BUT I BELIEVE THE GREATEST DIVERSITY IS NOT ONE THAT WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER, THE GREATEST DIVERSITY THAT'S IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO CONVERSATIONS IS THE DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT, DIVERSITY OF OPINION.

>> Mary: MUCH HAS BEEN MADE NATIONALLY BY PUNDITS ABOUT THE INROADS REPUBLICANS HAVE MADE IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

ARE YOU SEEING THAT IN MINNESOTA AND IS THAT A GROWTH AREA FOR YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REPORTERS TALK TO ME ON THIS ONE, AS WELL.

HISPANICS ARE FAMILY-ORIENTED, THEY VERY MUCH CARE ABOUT THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR THE CHILDREN, THEY VERY MUCH CARE ABOUT THE ABILITY TO HAVE AND EXERCISE THEIR INDEPENDENCE, THEIR ABILITY TO WORK HARD, ENGAGE IN SACRIFICE AND DELAYED GRATIFICATION, TO BE ABLE TO CHASE THEIR DREAMS AND CATCH THEIR DREAMS.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PRIORITIES AND PLATFORM MORE CLOSELY ALIGN WITH THE VALUE SET OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITIES AS A LARGE.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK VOTING, AN ISSUE YOU CARED ABOUT.

- YOU JOINED A LAWSUIT, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT AND WHY YOU WERE SUCCESSFUL?

>> MINNESOTA ELECTION LAW AND MINNESOTA ELECTION INTEGRITY IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING THAT MINNESOTANS EXPECT AND DESERVE.

I SUED SECRETARY OF STATE SIMON, I AS A CO-PLAINTIFF ON THAT.

WE LOST IN FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT BUT WE WON IN THE 8th CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS, CITING A NUMBER OF THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, THERE IS NO COVID EXCEPTION TO THE CONSTITUTION AND NUMBER 2, THE LEGISLATURE HAS PLENARY AUTHORITY TO CREATE ELECTION LAW.

>> Mary: SO ELECTION INTEGRITY IS IMPORTANT TO YOU.

I BELIEVE -- >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Mary: YOU WERE AT MINNESOTA'S VERSION OF HE JANUARY 6 STOP THE STEAL RALLY.

ARE YOU AN ELECTION DENIER.

TALK TO US ABOUT WHERE YOU'RE AT ON THAT.

>> I BELIEVE IN ELECTIONS AND ONE THAT IS MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER IS CYBER SECURITY.

I HAVE CREATED AN ENTIRE CAREER OF AUTHENTICATING AND THEN GIVING ACCESS BASED ON AUTHENTICATION.

AUTHENTICATION IS PROVING ONE IS WHO THEY CLAIM TO BE.

>> Mary: DO YOU QUESTION THE RESULTS SPECIFICALLY?

DO YOU THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP WON REELECTION?

>> I CAN SPEAK TO THE ELECTORS THAT ARE THE PRODUCT OF THE ELECTION IN INNESOTA AND THAT IS, MINNESOTA'S ELECTION LAW IN THE 2020 ELECTION WAS NOT FOLLOWED.

SECRETARY OF STATE SIGH MONDAY BROKE MINNESOTA ELECTION LAW AND -- >> Mary: O YOU THINK IT AFFECTED THE RESULTS, DO YOU THINK THE RESULTS ARE TAINTED?

>> IN MINNESOTA'S ELECTION, I THINK THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONFIDENT IN THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTION SYSTEM S ERODED.

>> Mary: YOU CAME FROM THE MINORITY IN THE HOUSE, YOU GO TO THE MINORITY IN THE SENATE.

WHAT ABOUT THAT CLOSE MARGIN?

HOW TOUGH ARE VOTES GOING TO BE?

ARE THINGS GOING TO BE BIPARTISAN, IS NO ONE ALLOWED TO EVER BE SICK?

HOW IS IT GOING TO WORK?

>> A ONE-SEAT MAJORITY IS THE MOST CHALLENGING OF ANY MAJORITY.

IT IS VERY TOUGH AND SO WHEN THERE ARE EXTREMISTS IN THE CAUCUS WHO ARE GOING TO PUSH THE RADICAL PROPOSALS WHICH I HAVE NO DOUBT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, IN THE DEMOCRATS CAUCUS, THAT ONE-SEAT MAJORITY IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.

>> OUR NEXT FRESHMAN DUO HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON.

THEY BOTH COME FROM VERY COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS OUTSIDE THE METRO AREA.

BOTH WON VERY COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS OUTSIDE THE METRO.

ONE IS A TV METEOROLOGIST, THE OTHER IS USED TO BEING ONE OF FEW WOMEN IN THE ROOM.

YOU'RE WELT-KNOWN TV METEOROLOGIST IN THE AREA BUT YOU COULDN'T BE POLITICAL.

I DON'T KNOW IF FOLKS KNOW THAT BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY CAN'T WHEN YOU'RE IN TELEVISION AND JOURNALISM BE POLITICAL SO HOW DID FOLKS KNOW THAT THEY COULD TAP YOU AND HOW DOES HAT HAPPEN?

>> I WORKED A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THE SCENES ON SOME HOUSE CAMPAIGNS IN THE PAST AND MY WIFE IS ALSO ON CITY COUNCIL IN MOORHEAD.

>> ary: ONE THING WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF METEOROLOGISTS WHO ARE JOURNALISTS TAKE A SIDE, ESSENTIALLY AND THE ONE POLITICAL ISSUE WE PRETTY CONSISTENTLY HAVE NOW SEEN IS METEOROLOGISTS SAY CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL AND THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT.

IS THAT OMETHING YOU TOO HAVE BEEN OUTSPOKEN OWN AND CAN BE EACH MORE SO NOW?

>> YES, ND IT IS, YOU KNOW, I WOULD TRY, IN MY TV BROADCAST, ONCE A WEEK, I DID LIKE A LITTLE CLIMATE FEATURE AND I WOULD SHOW THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, OUR GROWING SEASON IS GETTING A WEEK LONGER ON EITHER SIDE, THE SPRING AND THE FALL AND THAT'S A SIGN OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE HEAVY RAINFALL EVENTS, THAT'S A SIGN OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> Mary: IS THERE REALLY SOMETHING AT A STATE LEVEL THAT LAWMAKERS CAN DO POLL SEAL-WISE ON CLIMATE CHANGE?

>> YEAH, I THINK WE NEED TO BE A LEADER IN THE COUNTRY AND MOVE TOWARDS MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY.

>> Mary: THERE HAD TO BE SOME MOMENTS WHERE YOU KNOCK ON A DOOR AND SOMEBODY SAYS, MY TV METEOROLOGIST IS ON MY FRONT TEP.

[Laughter] >> YES, YES, SO IF THEY HAD NOT HEARD I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE, THERE WAS A ITTLE PUZZLED LOOK AND I WOULD SAY THIS IS OUR NOW DOORSTEP FOR CAST AND I'LL SHOW UP EVERY DAY ON YOUR DOORSTEP AND GIVE YOU THE WEATHER FORECAST.

>> Mary: PEOPLE KINDS OF LOVE TO HATE METEOROLOGISTS.

THERE IS A SAYING IF I GOT MY JOB WRONG THAT MUCH, I WOULD NEVER HAVE A JOB, ISN'T THAT THE MOST CLICHÉ THING?

>> IT IS THE MOST CLICHE THING AND ONE TIME I HAD PREPARED A LIST OF, YOU KNOW, OTHER PEOPLE THAT THAT APOLICE TO, LIKE BASEBALL PLAYERS BEING IN THE TOP, YOU HIT 400, IT MEANS YOU FAILED 60% OF THE TIME BUT YOU'RE GOING TO THE HALL OF FAME.

>> Mary: WE'VE HAD CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR, CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE O MAKE THAT PIVOT FROM A TV JOB INTO POLITICS.

WHY WERE YOU SUCCESSFUL?

>> WHAT I AM ON THE AIR IS THE WAY I AM IN REAL LIFE, OO, AND I LIKE TO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M FAIRLY APPROACHABLE AND CAN ALK, I MEAN, I DON'T -- YOU KNOW, I'M ON TV AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE GET ALL STAR-STRUCK BUT I'M JUST A GUY WHO GOES TO THE GROCERY STORE JUST LIKE YOU DO.

I HAD A BOSS ONE TIME TELL ME YOU'RE LIKE AN OLD PAIR OF SLIPPERS, YOU CAN PUT THEM ON AND YOU'RE COMFORTABLE TO WATCH.

>> Mary: DID YOU GET TO KNOW SOME OF THE DWI VERSE POPULATIONS YOU'LL BE REPRESENTING?

>> I DID.

THE DOOR-KNOCKING OPENED MY EYES A LOT BUT I KNEW IT WAS THERE JUST FROM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE NEW BUSINESSES THAT WERE JOINING WERE DEVERSE IF I HAD.

I ALSO SAW IT WITH UNITED WAY, ALL THE BOARDS I SERVE ON, I SAW IT HAPPENING AND COMING AND THE BIGGEST THING WHICH REALLY WAS IN A SENSE TO ME WAS THAT THE SOMALI GROUP CAME TO ME AND ASKED IF I WAS THEIR CANDIDATE.

SOME OF THE LEADERS PULLED ME IN TO MEETINGS, WE TALKED A LOT, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WITH ABOUT A WEEK LEFT, THERE WAS A GROUP OF SOMALI LEADERS THAT SAID, WE WANT YOUR BROCHURE, WE WILL DOOR-KNOCK FOR YOU IN THESE APARTMENTS THAT ARE PROBABLY DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO GET INTO.

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, I TRANSLATED ALL MY LITERATURE INTO SOMALI, AS WELL.

SO I HAD THAT GOING ON WITH THE IDEA OF THESE ARE NEW WORKFORCE PEOPLE.

THESE ARE STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO SCHOOL.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> Mary: LOOKS LIKE YOU REALLY MADE OUT AND MADE AN EFFORT TO SAY I CAN'T ATTRACT VOTERS HERE.

>> I WENT WITH THE INTENTION OF ATTRACTING THEM AND GETTING TO KNOW ME.

I STAND FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AND EQUITY FOR EVERYONE.

>> Mary: HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE MINORITY?

>> I JUST AM GOING IN WITHOUT THAT IDEA THAT I'M A MINORITY.

I MEAN, YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR WHOLE LIFE, YOU CAN BE A MINORITY IN A LOT OF THINGS AND YOU JUST GOT TO KEEP ON GOING AND IT'S WHO YOU ARE, NOT NECESSARILY WHAT YOU DO.

IMTHAT'S THE TRUE SKILL OF A LEADER IS BEING EMPATHETIC, CURE OWES, ATTENTIVE AND NOT CLOSING YOUR EYES TO OTHER THINGS AND HAVING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE THINK I'M UNREALISTIC AT TIMES BECAUSE I AM THE GLASS IS THREE-FOURTHS FULL BUT I'VE BEEN THAT WAY MY WHOLE LIFE AND I DON'T WANT MY CHARACTER TO CHANGE.

YOU KNOW, OUR NEW LEADER, LISA DEI MUTE IS GOING TO BE REALLY GOOD WITH CLACK BRAGS.

>> Mary: YOU KNOW HER, YOU KNEW HER BEFORE SHE CAME FAMOUS, RIGHT?

>> I DO AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN SHE FIRST WAS ELECTED, I TOLD HER, DON'T PLAY FAVOR -- FAVORITESSISM WITH ME BECAUSE I'M YOUR FRIENDS ALREADY BUT I'LL TAKE ALL I CAN GET.

SHE'S A NEIGHBORING DISTRICT AND WE HAD MET A LONG TIME AGO, SHE WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AT THE TIME BUT WE ARE BOTH CANCER SURVIVORS.

SHE'S AN INFECTIOUS LEADER.

>> MARY: IT'S HARD TO TIE MARY FRANCES CLARDY TO ONE PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND BUT ALL OF THEM, SHE SAYS, HELP HER SERVE CONSTITUENTS IN HER SUBURBAN DISTRICT AFTER HER FAMILY MADE HISTORY.

>> I ANNUAL A TEACHER BY PROFESSION AND I SEE ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS AND WHATEVER IS HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOL HAPPENS KIND OF IN THE COMMUNITY, AND MY WHOLE BACKGROUND JUST KIND OF LINED UP.

THE TIME WAS RIGHT.

>> Mary: NEW SEAT, OPEN SEAT, DOES THAT HELP?

>> YES, YES, THIS AS A TOTALLY NEW SEAT.

EVERYTHING THAT I'VE DONE IN LIFE KIND OF LIKE LINED UP, YOU KNOW.

I KNOW VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT START RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE AND SAY, I'M GOING TO BE A POLITICIAN BUT WHAT I'VE DONE IN THE PAST, I ORKED IN HOUSING, WORKED FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, I WORKED FOR SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, I HELP PEOPLE FIND RESOURCES, WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSIONER NORTH CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

LEARNED ABOUT THE DISCRIMINATION PIECE AND THEN I ENDED UP TEACHING BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER, WHEN SHE WAS, LIKE, LITTLE KID, JUST STARTING SCHOOL, SHE WAS ALREADY READING AND WRITING AND DOING MATH FOR THIRD GRADE BUT HER TEACHER SAID, COULD YOU PLEASE KEEP THE BEADS QUIET IN HER HAIR.

SO THAT KIND OF-THAT WAS A CALL TO ACTION.

>> Mary: AND GOT THE LEGISLATION, I'M WATCHING THE CROSSTOWN ACT MOVE.

>> YES, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND I WANTED TO BE A MENTOR FOR STUDENTS THAT LOOK LIKE ME.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN BURNSVILLE AND MY FAMILY WAS THE FIRST BLACK FAMILY OUT THERE IN 1956.

THERE WERE A LOT OF BARRIERS THAT WE WENT THROUGH.

MY PARENTS HAD TO PUT 40% DOWN ON THEIR HOME WHEN THEY PURCHASED IT.

THERE WERE DEATH THREATS AND THAT TYPE OF THING BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY NICE PEOPLE AND MY MOM KIND OF WONDERED WHY THIS FARMER KEPT, LIKE, DRIVING PAST OUR THREE AND A HALF ACRE HOME AND SHE FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS OUT THERE TO, LIKE, PROTECT US AND PROTECT THE FAMILY WHEN MY DAD WAS AT WORK AT NIGHT.

AND MY PARENTS HAVE BEEN FABULOUS.

THEY STRONGLY BELIEVE IN EDUCATION, THEY WERE BOTH -- THEY MET AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND SO ONE THING THEY DID IS THEY ALWAYS MADE SURE THAT, LIKE, ALL OF US KIDS HAD ACCESS TO COLLEGE AND, YOU KNOW, THEY WORKED REALLY HARD TO DO THAT BUT THEY PAID FOR ALL OUR SCHOOLS, WHICH GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY.

JUST A BLESSING AND I TRIED TO DO THE SAME THING WITH MY KIDDO.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE DISTRICT TALK TO ME ABOUT THE DISTRICT AND WHAT YOU HEARD FROM VOTERS?

>> I HAVE A REALLY COOL DISTRICT.

MY DISTRICT IS SUBURBAN AND A LITTLE URBAN.

WE HAVE AN ARRAY OF HOMEOWNERSHIP, WE AVE PREMIER AND MANUFACTURED HOMES TO HOMES THAT ARE PROBABLY SOME OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE STATE.

>> Mary: I WAS GOING TO SAY, REALLY ONE OF THE MORE DIVERSE DISTRICTS ON EVERY SCALE, ECONOMICS, HOMES, RACIALLY DIVERSE, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES.

HOW DO YOU HANDLE ALL THAT?

>> I'M EXCITED.

I'M KIND OF -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY I'M AN EXTROVERT BUT I'M NOT, BUT I'M NOT AN INTROVERTS BUT I LOVE EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO OFFER.

>> Mary: YOU HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL FROM SCHOOL BOARD TO WORKING FOR THE CITY, HOW DOES THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE HELP YOU HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AT THE STATE LEVEL?

>> I HAVE ALSO BEEN ON TWO BOARDS, APPOINTED BY TWO DIFFERENT GOVERNORS AND THE REASON I'M BRINGING THAT UP IS THAT I DEALT WITH A LOT OF POLICY.

I WAS ON THE BOARD OF TEACHING AND ON THE BOARD OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.

>> Mary: MUCH HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT THE RECORD AMOUNT OF DIVERSITY COMING INTO THE CAPITOL AND SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE YOU GET GOVERNMENT, THE LAYERS THAT IT IS HOUSE HAS BUILT IN THAT DIVERSITY ISN'T COMPARTMENTALIZED BUT KIND OF SYSTEMIC THROUGH THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE APPROACH.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF HOW DIVERSITY IS BEING HANDLED IN THE LEGISLATURE?

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL BECAUSE, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S A VISUAL.

IT CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND IT, AND ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, MINNESOTA'S DONE A LOT OF GROWTH, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

THESE CONVERSATION ATTENTION ARE MORE NATURAL OR OKAY TO HAVE SO I THINK WITH THAT AND WITH MAKING POLICIES, AND KEEPING THE VIEW OF, LIKE, EQUITY WITH OUR DECISIONS, WE'LL BE OKAY, AND WHEN I SAY THAT, I'M NOT JUST TALKING EDUCATION, I'M TALKING ENVIRONMENTAL OR, YOU KNOW, JUST SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE, EVERY DECISION IF IT'S MADE THROUGH THE VIEW OF, LIKE, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, WILLIE BE OKAY.

>> MARY: OUR FINAL FRESHMAN BEAT OUT THE LONGEST SERVING DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT TO FLIP A DISTRICT IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

HER BACKGROUND IN THE CRISIS IN LONG-TERM CARE MOTIVATED HER TO RUN.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE?

>> YOU KNOW, I SPENT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AS A NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR WITH MY HANDS ON THE GLASS, HOLDING THE HANDS OF DYING RESIDENTS AND I THOUGHT, WE SPENT -- I SPENT DECADES TRYING TO SET UP PERSON-CENTERED CARE FOR SENIORS AND I THOUGHT THIS IS NOT PERSON-CENTERED CARE WHEN THEY'RE DYING ALONE.

AND HAVING HAD BREAST CANCER AND EIGHT SURGERIES AND I'M FINE NOW, I THOUGHT I HAD MY MOM WITH ME AND MY KIDS AND MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND THESE WOMEN HAVE ALL BEEN ALONE.

>> Mary: THIS AS NOT N EASY RACE.

HOW CLOSE -- >> NO.

>> Mary: IN THE VERY ENDS?

>> 33 VOTES, SO... TO THE POINT EVERY VOTE COUNTS, IT TRULY DOES.

>> Mary: AND THAT WAS THROUGH A RECOUNT SO YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT, AS WELL.

>> YES, YES.

[Overlapping Conversation] >> IT WAS 35 NOTES ON THE NIGHT OF ELECTION AND WITH THE RYE COUNT IT CHANGED TWO TO IT WAS NET 33.

IT JUST SHOWED EVERYBODY THAT THE PROCESS WAS VERY TRANSPARENT AND WORKED.

LET'S MAKE THE FUTURE HAPPEN FOR ALL MINNESOTANS.

>> Mary: YOU HAD A HARD RACE IN TERMS OF -- ONE OF THE LONGEST SERVING IN THE LEGISLATURE, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT, 46 YEARS.

SO IT WAS A 46-YEAR INCUMBENT AND VERY HARD TO BEAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS DOOR-KNOCKING, I KNEW THAT, I KNEW IT WASN'T GOING TO BE AN EASY THING, I JUST KEPT AT IT, STAYING FOCUSED.

I DIDN'T PERSONALIZE IT.

LOOK, I LIKE THE INCUMBENT, TOO, IT IS ABOUT WHAT DO WE NEED FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND YEARS TO COME, ND I THINK AT THIS POINT IT'S GREAT TO BE A LIFELONG VOLUNTEER BUT I SIGNED A THING SAYING I WILL SELF-RETIRE IN 10.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM THE NEXT GENERATIONS TO SERVE AND I THINK AT SOME POINT, WE LOSE OUR RELEVANCY BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES AND IT DOESN'T INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATIONS TO GET ACTIVE.

>> Mary: YOU TALKED ABOUT NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATION, I KNOW IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST CRISES IN EMPLOYMENT THAT WE HAVE STATEWIDE.

TALKS TO US ABOUT FIRSTHAND WHAT YOU'VE SEEN AND THE DIFFICULTY IN RECRUITING AND RETAINING PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

>> WE'VE ALWAYS STRUGGLED TO HAVE ENOUGH STAFF BUT I THINK THE PANDEMIC JUST HEIGHTENED AN ALREADY EXISTING ISSUE IN MINNESOTA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR PEOPLE, IT BECAME A SITUATION OF VACCINATED, UNVACCINATED, AND FEELING DEFEATED GETTING FINED AND GETTING DEFICIENCIES, YOU KNOW, IT JUST MADE A LOT OF AIDES SAY -- AND NURSES SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M GOING TO GO MAKE A LIVING SOMEWHERE ELSE.

I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE.

>> Mary: WHAT LEGISLATION CAN ELP IMPROV AND SAVE THE INDUSTRY?

>> I FEEL IT'S A TWO-PRONGED DEAL.

WE NEED TO DEAL WITH REIMBURSE.

, NURSING HOMES GETS REIMBURSED MONTHS AND YEARS AFTER WE PROVIDE THE CARE, ASSISTED LIVING'S, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE RATES IS VERY LOW AS IS NURSING HOMES.

AND IT IS OTHER THING IS THE REGULATORY PROCESS ISN'T ALWAYS A COMMON SENSE APPROACH.

WHAT REGULATIONS ARE WE GOING TO HOLD AS A STANDARD.

I DON'T WANT PEOPLE DYING ALONE, EVER, IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

I GREW UP ON A FARM WHERE WE TREATED CATTLE BETTER THAN THAT SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE AT THE END OF OUR LIFE WE HAVE THE BEST CARE FOR OUR SENIORS.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH CARE JOURNEY?

I BELIEVE YOU WROTE A BOOK ABOUT IT.

>> I DID, I WROTE ABOUT IT.

SEPSIS IS WHAT ALMOST KILLED ME, I DIDN'T KNOW ONE IN THREE HOSPITAL DEATHS ARE SEPSIS AND I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS VULNERABLE AT 8, OR DENTAL WORK OR SURGERY.

HIGH-RISK IS FOR ANY AGE SO I WROTE A BOOK, YOU KNOW, THE SCARS YOU CAN'T SEE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE SCARS ARE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT HAPPENED IN COVID.

>> Mary: WHAT WERE THE TOP ISSUES YOU HEARD FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

>> YOU KNOW, A STRONG ECONOMY.

PEOPLE WANT MINING UP IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA, WE'VE GOT THREE COURSES TO SUPPORT A GREEN PLATFORM, SO TO SAY, THEY DON'T WANT IT HAPPENING IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, THEY WANT MINNESOTA TO LEAD THE WAY.

THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A REASONABLE LIVING SO THEY CAN SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.

CHILD CARE, CREATING BUSINESS PLATFORM FOR BUSINESSES WANT TO COME IN SO WE HAVE PLATFORM OF A TAX BASE BESIDES JUST PERSONAL HOMEOWNERS, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, SOCIAL SECURITY TAX, I RAN ON THAT AS DID DEMOCRATS THAT WE WERE GOING TO ELIMINATE THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX.

THEY'RE GOING TO HOLD US TO IT.

WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT, GET THAT DONE.

>> Mary: WHEN I WAS TOLD ABOUT YOU, I BELIEVE THE WORDS WERE SHE'S A ROCK STAR.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HEARING THAT FROM YOUR CAUCUS?

[Laughter] >> OH, I DON'T -- YOU KNOW, I HOPE I CAN -- I'VE BEEN SERVING MY ENTIRE LIFE.

THIS IS A NEW WAY TO SERVE AS A LEADER.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MINNESOTA AN EVEN BRIGHTER STAR.

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

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

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