Hi Neighbor, I'm Jess!
I’m Jess — a lifelong public servant, air pollution scientist, and mom running for the Minnesota State House to represent District 43B. I’m running because our community deserves a progressive leader who will fight for working families, defend our democracy, and ensure that our kids inherit a future with clean air, strong public schools, and real opportunity for every family.
For my entire career, I’ve worked to protect public health and our planet — serving in federal agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and coordinating clean household energy programs for the World Health Organization. In every role, I’ve brought people together across differences to solve complex problems with science, integrity, and collaborative leadership. I’ve navigated difficult political landscapes, built coalitions across ideological divides, and worked to create better living conditions for working families here at home and communities around the world.
Starting the week of inauguration, the Trump administration dismantled my agency, USAID — abruptly shutting down lifesaving programs and firing nearly all staff, including me. I saw firsthand the human consequences abroad — and the corruption and cronyism behind those decisions here at home. Losing my job didn’t weaken my commitment — it strengthened it.
As a federal employee, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution. When my job ended, my oath didn’t. Instead, I turned that promise toward my neighbors. I worked to strengthen, connect, and support our community during an increasingly fragile moment for our democracy. This past year reaffirmed my belief that leadership is about courage, accountability, and standing up when it truly matters. Running to represent our community is how I continue to honor my oath to our country.
I’m also a proud union member of AFSA, the union of federal Foreign Service Employees. When my agency was dismantled and employees fired, our union became the last line of defense — standing up for our jobs, our rights, and the rule of law. That experience deepened my support for organized labor; strong unions are essential to protecting working people and our democracy.
I am running for State House because our district deserves a representative who will:
- Protect public health and our future through science-based policy and bold climate action.
- Serve with integrity — bringing principled, ethical leadership for affordable, safe communities and strong public schools.
- Defend democracy and stand with our neighbors — especially immigrant families.
As a parent with kids in our local public schools, I feel the need to strengthen our school system in my bones. And from my work around the world, I know what it means to fight for a future that is safer, fairer, and more hopeful — not just for my family, but for all of ours. As a scientist and experienced public servant, I know how to deliver results, build coalitions, and turn values into action. When I lost my job after my agency was dismantled, my family didn’t retreat — we leaned in. Around bowls of oats at our kitchen table, my kids and I started weekly civic classes about what it means to participate in a democracy, how we stand up when our government fails to protect people in big and small ways, and why our voices still matter. Those conversations strengthened my resolve to serve and to rise to meet this moment.
This campaign is rooted in a simple belief: courage is contagious.
We need fresh energy and courageous progressive leadership — leaders who understand the magnitude of the threats facing our communities and who serve with integrity. I believe this is a moment when people of moral conscience must do more — and that’s why I’m stepping up to serve. Real power has always belonged to the people, and when we choose to use it together, we can transform what’s possible for our community. Let’s do this.
#yesforjess
Serving our Community
- Volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Unidos, and regular volunteer at my son’s school in the Robbinsdale district
- Active participant in DFL Senate District 43 in 2025, co-organizing multiple large-scale community events to foster civic connection and democratic engagement (e.g. Democracy on Draft, Donuts for Democracy, etc)
- Founder of neighborhood affinity group that held weekly meetings and organized local non-partisan events (e.g. Ice Cream Social for Democracy)
- Co-Founder of the MN Aid Alliance, local collaborative of folks with ties to international development dedicated to community support, resisting executive overreach and fostering a vibrant democracy
- Dedicated advocate for families, kids, and vulnerable communities, actively participating in PTA meetings and supporting immigrants in our community
What I’m Fighting For
- Clean air and a healthy environment — science-based policy and bold climate action
- Affordable, thriving communities — with real solutions to gun violence that keep our kids, schools, and communities safe
- Strong public schools with the resources every student deserves in their local district
- Integrity in government — ethical, accountable leadership that puts people before politics
- A democracy that protects all of us. Period.
A Little More About Me
When I’m not working or spending time in the community, you’ll probably find me:
- Running on our local trails - and looking for the biggest hills!
- Chasing my kids around the playground (seriously - they call this game “Mommy Chase”)
- Listening to bluegrass or folk music
- Cross-country skiing or sledding the moment there’s snow; camping and hiking when there isn’t!
- Drinking coffee and sampling donuts around town