Issues

Julie knows that mining and connected industries are the backbone of our economy, and a way of life here on the Range. As the wife of a MinnTac production truck driver, Julie will be a champion for the Iron Range, and work with legislators of either party to fight for good-paying mining jobs and put a stop to policies that threaten the future of mining in Minnesota. Dave Lislegard says he supports mining, but votes for Metro party leaders in St. Paul who work side-by-side with those who fight against projects like PolyMet and Twin Metals. 

Julie is a strong supporter of our law enforcement and wants to restore trust and respect for the work they do. Julie will have the backs of our men and women in law enforcement, and make sure they have the resources and training they need to protect communities across Minnesota. 

Life is precious. Julie will champion life at the legislature, protecting the unborn, ensuring quality care and dignity for our aging loved ones, and being an advocate for Minnesotans with disabilities.

Julie will support projects like PolyMet and the Line 3 replacement pipeline, and work to bring more skilled labor jobs and development to our communities. Julie was a member of AFSCME during her time with Virginia Schools, and Julie's husband is a union member at MinnTac, so she knows the importance of unions, and the quality of life they provide for families across the Iron Range.

Dave Lislegard voted for a massive 70% gas tax hike that would have hit rural drivers and communities hardest. Julie knows that we can fund basic priorities like roads and bridges using money we already have. Currently, half of the tax you already pay on auto parts and repairs goes to the General Fund. It's time to dedicate all of that money to fixing our roads—not expensive trains—and make sure that our area gets the funding it deserves. 

Health care is too expensive for too many families in Minnesota. Julie will fight to reduce health care costs, expand the number of plan options for families, and work to protect rural hospitals. One easy step is to get rid of the "sick tax" that Dave Lislegard and Democrats supported in 2019 that makes health care more expensive for every Minnesotan. Instead of raising health care taxes, Julie will fight to lower them, saving you money on every procedure, doctors visit, and premium. 

Minnesota has $1 billion budget surplus, meaning government is taking more money than it needs from hardworking taxpayers. Julie will work to lower taxes so families can keep more of their hard-earned money, and focus on eliminating the unfair tax on social security benefits for seniors. 

Hunting and gun ownership are part of the Iron Range way of life. Julie will stand up to the Metro Democrats who want to restrict the Constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners, and be a strong advocate for Minnesotans' Second Amendment rights.

Students should be valued the same whether they're from Minneapolis or Mountain Iron. Julie will work to balance out the funding gap between rural and Metro schools, and make sure our region gets its fair share of state education funding. Julie will also promote vocational tech schools that will connect more people with good-paying job opportunities in the trades, and fill job openings we see across the state.