Issues and Priorities
Building a brighter Minnesota
Jamie has now helped lead the DFL party through four sessions in the Minnesota legislature, including the 2023-2024 Trifecta — where the Democrats’ control of the House, Senate and Gubernatorial seats empowered them to pass legislation for paid and family leave, universal school meals, gun safety, cannabis reform, and more.
Below are his positions on key issues and deeper background on the legislation he has proposed and had passed.
Key Issues and Priorities
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As a leading voice on climate and clean energy in Minnesota, Jamie authored the 100% Clean Energy Standard, which was signed into law by Governor Walz in February 2023.
This puts Minnesota on a path to 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2040 — one of the top five such standards in the nation.
Additionally, Jamie believes and advocates for:
Making electric vehicles more accessible to Minnesotans through rebates and incentives
Expanding electric public transit across the state
Streamlining the clean energy permitting process to remove bureaucratic barriers blocking Minnesota's energy goals
Making it easier for commercial buildings to implement energy-efficient improvements
Strengthening Minnesota's community solar program
Protecting special natural places like the Boundary Waters from mining and other corporate interests
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Jamie has been a consistent champion for expanding voter access and protecting the integrity of Minnesota's elections, including by:
Protecting against voter suppression and racial discrimination in voting via the Minnesota Voting Rights Act, passed in 2024 and signed by Governor Walz.
Writing legislation that would expand early and absentee voting rights for all Minnesotans.
Pushing for an Independent Redistricting Commission to ensure non-partisan review of legislative and congressional districts.
Securing $1.6 million to help with Census mobilization across the state.
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Jamie is a relentless advocate for stronger gun violence prevention across the state. Under his leadership, Minnesota enacted universal background checks for gun purchases and "red flag" laws allowing authorities to confiscate firearms from people deemed a threat.
He continues to advocate for:
Banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines that are associated with deadly mass shootings.
Investment into stronger school safety measures and expansion of gun-free zones at Minnesota school events.
Expansion of safe storage laws to ensure guns are locked away from children and unsafe people.
Prohibiting “ghost guns” and 3D-printed firearms, which both lead to the rapid rise of untraceable weapons used in crimes.
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Jamie is a champion for education and during his time in legislature has:
Secured free breakfast and lunch for all public school children.
Proposed fully funding access to early childhood education.
Pushed for free community college and debt-free four-year college education.
Prioritized school safety initiatives, including a comprehensive gun control package, to help protect kids across all Minnesota schools.
Worked to close the special education funding gap and to increase per-pupil funding.
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Jamie believes every Minnesotan deserves access to affordable, quality healthcare, regardless of their income, zip code, or immigration status.
He was instrumental in securing funding for HCMC at a time when closure to the facility — Minneapolis’ only Level 1 Trauma Center — seemed imminent.
In his next term, Jamie will work to:
Expand access to affordable coverage for all Minnesotans, including aspiring citizen neighbors, through a public option expansion of MinnesotaCare.
Safeguard and expand reproductive healthcare and abortion access for Minnesotans, so healthcare choices are made by individuals — not the government.
Lower prescription drug costs and take on the pharmaceutical industry's price gouging so that Minnesotans won’t have to choose between life-saving medicine and their monthly bills.
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As housing becomes less and less affordable, Minnesota’s middle class shrinks. Jamie believes it’s time to bring down the cost of housing for homeowners and renters alike.
He proposes:
Expanding the supply of housing across the state, which will help stabilize housing costs.
Increasing tenant protections and protecting renters from corporate landlord exploitation.
Investments in homelessness prevention and housing stability programs so people can stay on their feet even when they’re experiencing adversity.
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During Jamie’s first term, the Legislature pushed through the strongest wage theft law in the United States in order to ensure that Minnesota workers were provided the wages they rightfully deserve.
Today, Jamie is working to:
Stand up for collective bargaining and help workers fight for a predictable work schedule.
Protect our Paid Family Medical Leave and Earned Sick and Safe time.
Expand the prevailing wage and ensure safety on the job for all workers.
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Jamie is the author of the Clean Slate Act to give second chances in housing, education, and more to those with low-level offenses with a crime free waiting period.
He also passed a law to cap probation at 5 years, to promote rehabilitation and reintegration, and authored the Hardel Sherrell Act to set better health care standards for jails.
He champions:
Ending mass incarceration and building a restorative justice system that will address root causes of crime.
Ending cash bail and moving to a risk-based system to keep Minnesotans safe while not basing incarceration on ability to pay.
Stronger police accountability measures to ensure that law enforcement is held to the same standards of transparency and justice as the communities they serve.