On Feb. 16, just 11 days before the DFL caucuses, Rep. Frank Hornstein, a stalwart figure in Minnesota politics, announced that he would not seek re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2024.
With Hornstein's announcement, attention now turns to the race to fill his seat. Thus far four candidates have announced their intent to run for his seat and to try to secure the DFL endorsement.
We reached out to each candidate to hear directly from them about why they are running. We asked the candidates to limit their response to 300 words. Here’s what they had to say in their own words:
Katie Jones
For the first time in 22 years, residents of District 61A will choose a new leader to represent us in the Minnesota House of Representatives after Rep. Frank Hornstein recently announced his retirement.
Rep. Hornstein, or Frank to so many of us, has become a beloved fixture in our community as well as inside the Capitol. He will leave behind a legacy that has made our state more accessible and inclusive through his transformative transit funding and his outspoken voice for civil rights and human dignity.
Frank has been a personal mentor of mine for years — we worked together on climate and transportation policies that have now made Minnesota a national leader and model for the Midwest. I decided to run for this seat because as climate change and extremism continue to pose an existential threat to us all, there is so much more work for us to do for our city and state.
Our community has an incredible opportunity ahead of us as we determine our next generation of leadership at the legislature. As I talk with our neighbors, I hear concerns about climate change, racial and gender justice, public safety, housing, education and struggling business nodes in downtown and Uptown. These are all issues we need to address.
As an engineer, I solve tough problems every day. With a decade of experience serving on bodies including city and state committees and on the Wedge Neighborhood board, I’ve shown that I can deliver results. I want to fix what’s not working, consider the structural issues behind them, and cocreate durable solutions.
I hope to continue to bring the community-centered leadership Frank has inspired in so many of us as we boldly tackle the urgent challenges of this moment, and work together to build a more just, resilient and thriving Minnesota.
Dylan McMahon
I believe that community service and engagement is the cornerstone of a healthy democracy and thriving community. I’ve served on neighborhood organization boards, on the city’s Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee, and as chair of Senate District 61 DFL. I am running because I have the policy knowledge and leadership experience to confront the issues that plague our community and state. I have three priorities:
Economic Recovery. Minneapolis is the economic engine of the state, and District 61A covers both downtown and Uptown. Empty storefronts and vacant offices aren’t just headlines. Small businesses that make our communities walkable, workable and affordable need certainty from their political representatives before taking a risk. This issue is bigger than just 61A, and I want to champion this area in the legislature and entertain every idea to bring economic life back to Minneapolis.
Health Care. My older brother was severely handicapped and often in the hospital for the first half of my life. The only reason my working class family avoided bankruptcy, and thrived, was due to negotiated union health benefits. I support the expansion of MinnesotaCare currently being heard in the legislature. I also support 1115 waivers to ensure that our justice-involved neighbors don’t lose their access to medical assistance once no longer incarcerated and expanding benefits to include spending on housing. A housing-first approach has proven to be an early intervention that drives better health outcomes.
Housing. Everything starts with housing. Stable housing directly impacts the ability to live a healthy and productive life. The Twin Cities Metro is short about 80,000 housing units according to Up For Growth in 2022. Not all of this will be built in 61A. In fact, most of the construction happens in our first ring suburbs. Big apartment buildings are the most visible, but there are many more solutions to increasing density and creating housing. I hope to earn your support at the February 27 caucuses and March 23 Convention.
Isabel Rolfes
My name is Isabel Rolfes, and I am running for House District 61A.
With my experience at the State Capitol over the last three legislative sessions, I have gained the skills to pass transformational policy to deliver for our community.
As the Legislative Assistant to Majority Leader Jamie Long, I played a key role in engaging community, experts and stakeholders on issues that are most important to Minnesotans. My top priorities are:
Supporting our public schools. Fully funding our public schools to pre-Pawlenty levels so every student can succeed. Schools can’t thrive without teachers. When we invest in them, we invest in our kids.
Investing in policy that combats climate change to protect our future generations. This means monitoring the implementation of the 100% carbon-free energy bill and keeping our promises to Minnesotans for a clean future.
Investing in our small businesses that are the backbone of our community. We have seen the density of Uptown rise, but we haven’t seen the return of foot traffic on Hennepin. It's time we invest in our local businesses so everyone in 61A has access to what they need to thrive.
Having grown up in rural Minnesota, I learned about the variety of struggles people can face. In my time at the Capitol, I have been able to use that experience to build meaningful relationships with people on all sides of the political spectrum, Democrat and Republican. I know that no piece of legislation is passed alone, but is done through collaboration. And I know how to collaborate.
I am the candidate who has the experience passing a wide array of transformative legislation that helps all Minnesotans thrive. If elected I vow to engage meaningfully with the people of 61A and to amplify their voices and needs at the Capitol.
Please visit IsabelForHouse.com to learn more.
Will Stancil
I’m Will Stancil and I’m running to be your next state representative.
We need more prosperous cities, safer communities and accountable government. Minneapolis and Minnesota face intimidating challenges, but we also have significant resources and extraordinary potential. My campaign is about working with neighbors to get stuff done.
I’m a lawyer and a civil rights expert at the University of Minnesota. As a fifteen-year resident of Lowry Hill, I love this city and the neighborhoods of this district. I serve on the Lowry Hill Neighborhood Association board and a federal civil rights committee. I’ve worked with city officials, federal leaders, suburban mayors and national civil rights advocates.
As your legislator, my core focus would be urban prosperity in Minneapolis and the Twin Cities, achieved through the restoration of public safety and commercial vitality. I'd seek to reform the Met Council's unaccountable governance structure, so the council could focus on its true historic mandate: limiting sprawl, revitalizing growth in areas of intensely concentrated poverty and ensuring that wealthy suburban cities do their fair share to provide affordable housing.
I’ll work with anyone and everyone, as long as they share core values like tolerance and respect for democracy. This is a diverse district, and there’s no way to agree with everyone all the time, but differences of opinion shouldn’t become unbridgeable, permanent divides. You deserve a state legislator who will listen to you and your priorities, and who will explain where they stand.
I’m not afraid of numbers or policy details, and I’m also not afraid to fight on principle when necessary. I’ve spent my life and career working to build a fairer, more prosperous society where government works, everyone can feel included and everyone can feel safe. As your representative, my top priority would be serving you in this same way.
