Priorities

Affordability

  • Everyday life should be affordable. I support policies that lower the cost of basic needs like food, child care, and utilities, while strengthening consumer protections that prevent price gouging and unfair practices. Families deserve an economy that works for them, not one that drives up costs without accountability.

  • A strong economy is built by empowering workers, not by catering to powerful special interests. As a former MAPE union member, I understand firsthand the importance of fair wages, collective bargaining, and safe workplaces. I will support worker protections, defend paid family and medical leave, and fight for strong wages that let workers share in the prosperity they create.

  • Everyone deserves safe housing and access to high-quality health care they can afford. I bring practical, on-the-ground experience working with homeowners, renters, older adults, and people with disabilities on overcoming challenges with housing and health care. I am committed to expanding affordable housing options for all Minnesotans, allowing more opportunities to age in place, strengthening the workforce that provides direct care, and ensuring all Minnesotans have real choices about where and how they live.

Candidate Aisha Elmquist in a green jacket talking to a young man in a hat.

Accessibility

  • Every Minnesotan deserves accessible transportation, public spaces, and infrastructure that meets community needs. I am committed to making our communities more accessible by meeting people where they are and removing barriers to participation in daily life.

  • I believe government, at every level, should be easier to navigate and listen to the people it serves. I will support approaches that help people engage with government in practical, workable ways. As a candidate and as a legislator, I will show up in our communities, connect with residents and local organizations, and learn directly from community members what is working and where to make improvements.

Candidate Aisha Elmquist looking at a document with an older man.

Community

  • As a civil rights lawyer and public servant, I have spent my career defending the dignity and rights of all people. I will continue to protect fundamental rights as your representative, including reproductive rights and due process, and will push back against efforts to divide and attack people for who they are.

  • As a proud graduate of Mounds View High School, I know that every student deserves a world-class education. As the daughter of a school counselor and the mom of two school-aged children, I know our schools must support the whole child. Strong schools require fair educator pay, safe and inclusive learning environments, and support systems that address academic and mental health needs. I will back investments in K-12 and higher education that reinforce these foundations and improve graduation rates, career readiness, and affordability for students.

  • Minnesota’s natural beauty is essential to our health, our economy, and our way of life. I am committed to addressing climate change and protecting our lakes, rivers, habitat, and streams. Practical environmental solutions, from energy-efficient homes and workplaces to responsible land and water practices, can reduce costs for families and businesses while safeguarding our future.

  • Public safety means all Minnesotans are safe at home, at school, and in their communities. Our state must also engage in strong gun violence prevention. In 2023, the DFL Legislature passed legislation for Extreme Risk Protection Orders and universal background checks, which are already saving lives. We must build on this success by banning the sale of weapons of war and high-capacity ammunition magazines, while investing in prevention strategies that reduce gun violence and protect kids.

Candidate Aisha Elmquist walking down the street with her family in the snow.