In Minnesota House District 47A, Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, DFL-Woodbury, is running for a second term. Her Republican opponent is Teresa Whitson. District 47A covers  Woodbury and southern Maplewood.

General information about the Nov. 5, 2024, election is online at twincities.com/news/politics/elections including information on candidates for races in Ramsey, Dakota and Washington counties. To find out what’s on your ballot, where to vote and other election information, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s elections page at sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting.

Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger

Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger. (Courtesy of the candidate)

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Age: 40

What would your top priorities be if elected?

Fix broken healthcare system – Healthcare is a complicated and complex system. In our last session, we identified problems and gaps in the system so that we an have a starting point to create policy that works for Minnesotans. I want to finish what we have started by addressing affordable prescription drugs, safety for healthcare workers, and availability of providers and care. Affordable child care – We made great strides in helping working families in our community by enacting paid family and medical leave for all Minnesotans. However, we need to keep working for our families by ensuring access to affordable child care. I will work to explore government subsidies for child care facilities, remove excessive barriers to operating child care facilities, and to ensure we are paying child care workers fairly. Comprehensive ecosystem mindset – We took strides this year in historic environmental protections by passing the 100% Clean Energy by 2040 bill into law. Now we need comprehensive ecosystem policies that look not only at our energy sector, but also heating and transportation. We also need to find ways for better recycling of rare and precious metals.

What qualifies you to hold this position?

I have a unique blend of education in science and policy, as well as professional and legislative experience, allowing me to evaluate policies fully and comprehensively before voting on them. I listen to understand and believe in bringing people together, gathering as much information and perspectives as possible, and leading with community to make the best policy decision together.

What do you think is the primary role of government?

The role of the government is to ensure its people have access to healthcare, economic stability, and the ability to live independently. Each biennium, the government must set the budget to fund our state agencies so they can effectively serve and respond to the needs of Minnesotans.

How do you work to understand, and then learn from, opinions that differ from your own and people who disagree with you?

As a scientist, it is important that I gather multiple perspectives to have the information to make thorough, comprehensive, and robust policy. I intentionally engage with people in the community, experts in the field, and advocates to fully understand the issue through different lenses.

Website or contact information: amandaformnhouse.com

 Teresa Whitson (did not respond to questionnaire)

Party: Republican

Related Articles

Feeding Our Future fraud led to new grant controls, little progress recovering stolen money

Lisa Jarvis: Is weed bad for you? Marijuana’s health impacts still aren’t known

Hastings well tied to 3M ‘forever chemical’ pollution qualifies for settlement cleanup money

Letters: St. Paul’s rise in property taxes is unsustainable

Minnesota representative sues Keith Ellison, says deepfake ban violates First Amendment