Candidate Questionnaire
DFL Senate District 47

All Candidates  were advised to Email the completed questionnaire to senatedistrict47@gmail.com
a) To see examples, Go to www.sd47.org > Candidates page
b) Please attach a digital photo (headshot) medium size.
c) Later, we may request a 30-second YouTube video.
Thank you for participating in democratic elections. DFL SD47 encourages your efforts.

 

1 Candidate: Name___Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger_______________________________

(as written on the ballot)

Candidate’s Home Address____

 

2 Office you seek___House of Representatives, District 47A__________________________

 

3 Campaign: Committee Name__Campaign Fund for Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger_______

 

Address___PO Box 251221, Woodbury, MN 55125_________________________________

 

Phone Number: __612-770-7414______________________________

 

Contact Person___Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger or Amelia Hemmingsen________________

 

Email:___contact@amandaformnhouse.com_______________________________________

 

Website Address___www.amandaformnhouse.com_________________________________

 

Social media/ handle:

Facebook:  Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger for MN House

Twitter:  @Amanda_MNHouse

Instagram:  amandaformnhouse_______________________________

 

4 What three words describe your character?___Empathetic, Integrity, Hard working_______

 

5 Briefly, describe your qualifications

• Minnesota State Representative, District 47A (2023-present)

• Master of Science in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy (Humphrey School of Public Affairs, 2016)

• Master of Science in Genetics (Iowa State University, 2008)

• Business/Management Analyst (State of Minnesota, 2020-present)

• Legislative Analyst (State of Minnesota, 2020-2021)

• Union Member and Leader (Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, 2011-present)

• Paid Parental Leave Organizing Committee

• Government Relations Committee/Political Council

• Steward

• Board of Directors

• Department of Public Safety Meet and Confer Team

• Metropolitan Council Transportation Advisory Board Alternate (2021-present)

• MetroTransit Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit Community and Business Advisory Committee (2020-present)

• Woodbury for Justice and Equality Committee Member (2021-present)

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Strong and passionate public speaker

• Advocate for working families

• Effective lobbying skills

• Extensive analytical experience

 

6 What are your positions on 3-5 important issues? Explain:

1. Advocating for Working Families:  Minnesotans shouldn’t have to struggle to meet their basic needs.

2. Addressing Climate Change: It’s our responsibility to take care of the planet, and protect it for future generations.

3. Investing in Education: Education should be equitable and accessible to all.

4. Championing Healthcare:  All Minnesotans deserve access to affordable healthcare.

 

7 If you lose the endorsement, what is the #1 issue you would like the endorsed candidate to carry forward on your behalf?

As the endorsed candidate, my main policy is to champion a healthcare system that provides high quality and affordable care for Minnesotans and their families.______

 

8 Briefly describe your Campaign Plan (Date/Time/Location you need people to phonebank, host, door knock, or rally).

The final schedule is in progress and includes door knocking, phone banking, and both hosting and attending events.  The campaign will keep the senate district updated on volunteer opportunities as they arise.

 

9 What groups will push back against your campaign? How will you counter those detractors?

Every conversation is an opportunity to discuss our shared priorities.  I will stay true to my values of supporting families and investing in communities for both ourselves and future generations.  Standing up for working families, racial equity, and investment in programs like childcare and healthcare are core to my campaign.

 

10 Have you ever belonged to a labor union? No____ Yes__X__ Union  _MAPE___________

What is your experience with organized labor?

• Union Member and Leader for 13 years (Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE))

• Paid Parental Leave Organizing Committee

• Government Relations Committee member

• Elected statewide officer to the MAPE Political Council

• Steward

• Board of Directors

• Department of Public Safety Meet and Confer Team

 

11 Will you commit to support the endorsed candidate, should you not receive an endorsement?

Yes____ or No_____

The 2024 campaign season is just beginning.  With much still unknown about the field of candidates, it is too early to determine at this time.

 

12 What else should we know about you? ____________________________________________________________________________

 

Thank you for participating in democratic elections. DFL SD47 encourages your efforts.

1 Candidate:
Name (as written on the ballot): Sarah Yang

2 Office you seek: Ramsey County Commissioner District 7
3 Campaign:
Committee Name: Sarah Yang for County Commissioner
Phone Number: 612-442-2636
Contact Person: Sally Yang
Email: Votesarahyang@gmail.com
Website Address: votesarahyang.com
Social media/ handle: @votesarahyang

4 What three words describe your character?
Committed. Passionate. Collaborated.

5 Briefly, describe your qualifications
I am the proud daughter of Hmong refugees, a community and family caregiver, and an advocate for education access. I am a first generation college graduate, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Youth Studies, and a Master’s Degree in Youth Development Leadership, both from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. I am passionate about championing the rights of people in my district, and providing vision and financial oversight for Ramsey County. I have spent the last five years working for the University of Minnesota’s TRIO Upward Bound Program, a national, federally-funded college access program which has been helping low-income, at-risk, and underserved youth to achieve their educational aspirations since 1965. In my job, I manage the TRIO Upward Bound tutoring program, student success tracking, and bi-annual enrichment events. My role at TRIO as a College Access Advisor and Academic Coordinator has been heavily influenced by my own involvement in the program during high
school, which helped pave my path to college and beyond. My previous public and/or political service included being an alumni of Americorps in Public Allies and National Civilian Community Corps. I am also a former organizer in the MNDFL’s Coordinated Field Team where I worked to Get Out The Vote. I also served as an organizer for
Ramsey County Commissioner Mai Chong Xiong’s campaign in 2022, and as the Campaign Manager for Saint Paul City Council member Nelsie Yang’s historic wins in 2019 and 2023. My professional, political, and lived experiences as a North Saint Paul resident will make me a responsible and effective Ramsey County Commissioner. My commitment to the Minnesota DFL party will help me to collaborate with current Commissioners and prioritize the democratic mission of community investment for the benefit of all Minnesotans.

6 What are your positions on 3-5 important issues? Explain:
1. Housing Stability and Affordable Housing Access:
We cannot afford to continue with our status-quo approach to the housing crisis in our
community, and must establish a more progressive spending structure for mortgage,
energy, and emergency assistance, along with increased access to county social
workers for at-risk and unhoused people.
In addition to housing stability measures, Ramsey County can double down on home
buyer and homeowner programs to help build generational wealth within disenfranchised communities. I am a current renter, and former resident of Section 8 Housing. I understand intimately the role that homeownership plays in the financial and housing stability of families. By tackling the challenge of vacant homes and lots in District 7, we can bring this stability to all residents. This will also support our property tax income, which will benefit schools, roads, and emergency services.
2. Community Economic and Career Development:
Supporting small businesses and investing in community development programs is not
just about economics; it's about building resilient and close-knit communities. Small
businesses are integral to the fabric of our neighborhoods, contributing to our
community's unique character and identity. I believe in harnessing the power of local initiatives, collaborating with stakeholders, and implementing policies that empower our entrepreneurs to build and sustain their future.
Business cannot thrive without dedicated and valued workers. I plan to prioritize racial
equity in workforce development by reducing the wage gap, promoting upward mobility, and dismantling systemic barriers to employment. I plan to engage with, and expand the work of the Economic Competitiveness and Inclusion Plan (2021) for Ramsey County.
3. Transportation Infrastructure:
Expanding our infrastructure and effectively integrating multiple modes of transportation is key to stimulating economic growth and promoting social equity by connecting people to opportunities. New commuter routes will help our region become a more attractive place to live in by reducing traffic congestion, reducing our carbon footprints, increasing accessibility, and growing our businesses. Increased dedicated bike paths, bus stops, and pedestrian-friendly streets are the key to creating connectivity between our neighborhood. By championing policies that expand and improve our transportation infrastructure, I aim to build a community that is not only environmentally responsible, but also economically vibrant, and inclusive for everyone.
4. Climate Justice:
As this unseasonably warm winter draws to a close, we Minnesotans are made ever
more aware of the impacts that corporate and governmental actions have had on our
world. Ramsey County has fallen behind Hennepin County in carbon-reduction and
waste mitigation programming and incentives. As County Commissioner, I will prioritize
our material reuse programming, both at the residential and commercial levels. I plan to join the Minnesota Chapter of the Carbon Leadership Forum to provide up-to-date
science to my constituents and fellow council members.
Beyond the global impact of climate change, I will look locally at the issues of
environmental justice that go hand-in-hand with neighborhood air, water, and noise
pollution. I will work to reduce harmful demolition and industrial waste, and prioritize the protection of disenfranchised and BIPOC communities from unfair environmental
impacts.

7 If you lose the endorsement, what is the #1 issue you would like the endorsed candidate to carry forward on your behalf?
The #1 issue that I want the next Ramsey County Commissioner for my district to tackle is affordable and dignified housing for all residents.
8 Briefly describe your Campaign Plan (Date/Time/Location you need people to phonebank, host, door knock, or rally).

The current Field Plan is to phonebank and door knock on Sundays, 10am-1pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 5:30pm - 8:30pm. 

9 What groups will push back against your campaign? How will you counter those detractors?
While the majority of my community has been incredibly supportive of my campaign, I have faced criticism for my strong stances and forthright nature from political candidates who don’t share my views. I have also faced racism and sexism in my campaign, which I am well-equipped to handle with a strong team of BIPOC women on my team and 29 years of lived experience.
For fiscal conservatives who do not support my plans to reinvest in our communities in support of all residents, I will counter them with the latest science and sociological studies that show my plans will be transformative.
10 Have you ever belonged to a labor union?
No
What is your experience with organized labor?
As a University of Minnesota Employee, I work closely with members of multiple different unions, including the Teamsters Union, and the Clerical Workers Union. I stay up-to-date with current union initiatives, including the recent significant (back-dated) pay raises passed through multiple University of Minnesota union efforts. I am not a union member, but am in support of my colleagues who are, and their efforts for fair pay.
11 Will you commit to support the endorsed candidate, should you not receive an endorsement?
Yes____ or No_____
No, I believe that I am the best candidate and will continue to run my campaign without the endorsement. However, if it comes a moment I no longer feel that way then I will gracefully step aside and support the best candidate.

12 What else should we know about you?
I love my community and have chosen to run for Ramsey County Commissioner because I believe I can make a difference in the lives of my neighbors. I have an excellent team behind me during this campaign, and they will continue to support me as I affect change and promote the prosperity of all residents of Maplewood, North Saint Paul, and White Bear Lake.

1 Candidate: Betty McCollum (as written on the ballot)
Candidate’s Home Address: Saint Paul, MN
2 Office you seek: U.S. House of Representatives in Minnesota’s 4th Congressional District
3 Campaign Committee Name: McCollum for Congress
2327 Wycliff Avenue, Suite #115
Saint Paul, MN 55114
Phone Number: (651) 603-1505
Contact Person: Erik Myster, Political Director
Email: erik@mccollumforcongress.com
Website Address: mccollumforcongress.com
Social media/handle: Betty McCollum for Congress on Facebook
@VoteBetty on X

4 What three words describe your character?:
Respectful, Committed, Honorable

5 Briefly, describe your qualifications:
It has been my honor to represent the people of Minnesota’s 4th Congressional
District in the U.S. House of Representatives. As the Dean of the Minnesota
congressional delegation, I use my experience and seniority to advance the
priorities and protect the rights of 4th District families and all Minnesotans. I serve as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, where I am the lead Democrat on the Defense subcommittee and a senior member of the Interior- Environment subcommittee. Prior to my election to Congress, I served in the Minnesota House of Representatives and on the North St. Paul City Council while also working at Sears as a sales manager. My college degree is in education, and I was a substitute teacher. I grew up in South St. Paul, raised my family in North St. Paul, and now live in St. Paul.

6 What are your positions on 3-5 important issues? Explain:
● Defending our democracy from the threat posed by Donald Trump and the
MAGA Republican extremists who are attacking the fundamental rights and
freedoms of the American people.
● Protecting reproductive healthcare rights for all women and making universal
healthcare access for all Americans a fundamental right.
● Confronting the climate crisis with sustained investments in renewable energy and climate resiliency, along with an aggressive international diplomatic effort to lead the world to enact economic and technological policy changes that
protect our planet.
● Banning assault weapons, high-caliber magazines, and passing stronger laws to confront gun violence and end the proliferation of illegal firearms on our
streets.
● Protecting Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness by
prohibiting copper sulfide ore mining on federal land in the Rainy River
watershed. The BWCA is a 1.1-million-acre federal wilderness and national
treasure with pristine waters, remarkable biodiversity, and an irreplaceable
ecosystem that must be protected today and for future generations.

7 If you lose the endorsement, what is the #1 issue you would like the endorsed
candidate to carry forward on your behalf?:
I am running unopposed.

8 Briefly describe your Campaign Plan (Date/Time/Location you need people to
phonebank, host, door knock, or rally):

McCollum for Congress always runs a coordinated campaign with our DFL-
endorsed federal, state, and local candidates. My campaign will coordinate and
work hard in Senate District 47 focusing on joint literature and mailers, door
knocks, and phonebanks starting this summer until Election Day. I will work for a large voter turnout in SD 47 in support of our DFL ticket.
9 What groups will push back against your campaign? How will you counter those detractors?:
MAGA Republicans and election deniers. We must defeat the anti-democratic,
MAGA candidates and their agenda at the polls in November.
10 Have you ever belonged to a labor union? No _ Yes X Union: MEA, AFSCME
What is your experience with organized labor?:
I am proud to be a Labor Democrat! My voting record is pro-labor and I am so
proud to stand with my brothers and sisters in organized labor. I am also proud to have perfect scores on the most recent AFL-CIO, AFSCME, CWA, IAM, NEA, and UAW voting scorecards.
11 Will you commit to support the endorsed candidate, should you not receive an endorsement? Yes X or No _
12 What else should we know about you?:
I am the Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation and the Upper Midwest Region Delegation, consisting of Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. I am also Minnesota’s only member of the Appropriations Committee in Congress, which uniquely positions me to secure congressional funding for our district and the State of Minnesota and to make smart and sound investments in federal programs and agencies.
# # #
 

1 Candidate: Angie Craig
(as written on the ballot)
Candidate’s Home Address: Not disclosed
2 Office you seek: House of Representatives, MN-02
3 Campaign Committee Name: Angie Craig for Congress
Address: PO Box 22116, Eagan, MN 55122
Phone Number: (651) 409-3006
Contact Person: Rachel Rothman
Email: rachel@angiecraig.com
Website Address: angiecraig.com
Social media/ handle: x: @AngieCraigMN
What three words describe your character?
Dedicated, fighter, values-driven
Briefly, describe your qualifications: I have represented Minnesota’s Second Congressional District in the U.S. Congress since my election in 2018.

What are your positions on 3-5 important issues? Explain:
1. The economy - I am committed to lowering costs for working families.
2. Reproductive rights - I will not stop fighting until every woman’s fundamental right to control her own body is protected and Roe is restored.
3. Healthcare - I know what it’s like to grow up without health insurance, and I’m fighting to ensure every Minnesotan has access to quality, affordable healthcare.
If you lose the endorsement, what is the #1 issue you would like the endorsed candidate to carry forward on your behalf?
I am running unopposed for the DFL endorsement.

Briefly describe your Campaign Plan (Date/Time/Location you need people to phonebank, host, door knock, or rally).
Our campaign is currently identifying volunteers - if anyone is interested in joining our campaign, please contact jessica@angiecraig.com. In addition this, our campaign will begin canvassing and phone banking to reach out to persuadable voters immediately after my GOP nominee is
announced.

What groups will push back against your campaign? How will you counter those detractors?
The National Republican Congressional Committee has already pushed back against my campaign and listed it as a top target this year. They are going to pour millions of dollars into this district against me, and we are prepared to counter those detractors with a grassroots driven campaign. I can only win this seat if every DFLer is ready to cast their ballot and defend our democracy.
Have you ever belonged to a labor union? No
What is your experience with organized labor?
I am endorsed by the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, and many other labor organizations.
Will you commit to support the endorsed candidate, should you not receive an endorsement? I am running unopposed for the DFL endorsement.

What else should we know about you?
I’m honored to run for re-election for the Second Congressional District and I look forward to earning your vote this year.

Thank you for participating in democratic elections. DFL SD47 encourages your efforts.

1 Candidate: Name: Ethan Cha
(as written on the ballot)

2 Office you seek State Representative
3 Campaign: Committee Name, Friends for Ethan Cha
Address: 8362 Tamarack Village, 119-321
Phone Number: 651- 285-1980
Contact Person: Ethan Cha
Email: ethanchamnhouse@gmail.com
Website Address: www.ethanchamnhouse.com
Social media/ handle,FACEBOOK: ethanchamnhouse

4 What three words describe your character? Sincere, Compassionate, Listener

5 Briefly, describe your qualifications: I am the current elected State House Representative for Woodbury 47B. I champion the people of Woodbury and fight for Democratic values.

6 What are your positions on 3-5 important issues? Explain:
1. I champion ERA and promote and protect the reproductive rights of Minnesotans.
2. I champion the environment, support renewable energy initiatives, and protection of Minnesota’s clean water.
3. I currently am the chief author of a climate mental health bill and banning of flavor tobacco products in Minnesota.
4. I am in support of more mental health resources, facilities, and services for Minnesotans.
7 If you lose the endorsement, what is the #1 issue you would like the endorsed candidate to carry forward on your behalf? Address the impact of mental health due to climate change

8 Briefly describe your Campaign Plan (Date/Time/Location you need people to phonebank,
host, door knock, or rally).
In my last campaign year of 2022, we knocked over 25,000 doors in SD 47B, raised over $70,000 to protect this seat, and won by 53% of the votes. I plan to work as hard again this year knocking on doors, raising capital, and getting voters out to the polls to ensure we have a victory this November.

9 What groups will push back against your campaign? How will you counter those detractors?
Republicans will target our district once again to try to win a majority in the House. We need to keep on the doors and get the message out. Voter turnout is the path to winning this November. We will not finish the work we started if we do not return next session in the House majority.

10 Have you ever belonged to a labor union? No
What is your experience with organized labor?
Minnesota is a labor state, I support labor unions and I am endorsed by Labor (AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Liuna, Teamsters, Education Minnesota, MNA)

11 Will you commit to support the endorsed candidate, should you not receive an endorsement?
Yes

12 What else should we know about you?
I am humbled and honored to serve Woodbury District 47b as the current elected representative. I currently serve on the Committee of Agriculture, Housing, Legacy, Commerce, and the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement. I am also the Chair of the Minnesota Asian Pacific Legislative Caucus.Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve our community.

Thank you for participating in democratic elections. DFL SD47 encourages your efforts.