Minnesota and North Dakota Voter's Guide

Forum Communications Co., in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Minnesota and of North Dakota, is providing this voter guide to help keep you informed ahead of the 2024 election.

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Voter Guide

Minnesota State House District 16B

House - State Representatives serve in the Minnesota House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the state legislature. They write and vote on legislation to create, repeal, or change state laws affecting many issues, like health care, the environment, and the economy. They also vote on state taxes and state spending.

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  • Candidate picture

    Dave Baker
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Julie Henslin
    (DFL)

Biographical Information

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (750 characters)

What will you do to support a vibrant economy across Minnesota and to address inflation? (500 characters)

What legislation, if any, would you support to address racial or ethnic disparities in Minnesota? (500 characters)

Do you support the adoption of a ballot issue to add the Equal Rights Amendment into the Minnesota State Constitution why or why not? (500 characters)

What legislation, if any, would you support to protect clean air and water in Minnesota? (500 characters)

What legislation, if any, would you support to meet the need for safe communities? (500 characters)

What changes to legislation would you support to reduce the influence of big money in elections? (500 characters)

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Accessible, Affordable Healthcare: Quality healthcare must be reachable for every family and senior in District 16B. I will fight to protect regional clinics, lower out-of-pocket costs, and ensure rural communities receive essential care.

Empowering Families & Main Streets: Communities thrive when we build from the bottom up. I'm dedicated to lifting up our workforce, family farmers, and small businesses by easing tax burdens, driving real economic opportunity and making big corporations pay their fair share.

Accountable Government & Infrastructure: State government must be transparent and accountable. I will demand strict oversight of state spending while prioritizing local roads, clean water, high-speed internet, and public safety.
Lower Costs for Families Fight inflation by cutting taxes for middle-class families and seniors, easing everyday expenses, and lowering healthcare and energy costs.

Support Local Businesses & Farms Cut unnecessary red tape for Main Street businesses and support our family farmers to keep jobs, agriculture, and local investments thriving.

Strengthen Workforce & Infrastructure Invest in vo-tech training and ensure state tax dollars fix local roads, keep water clean and expand broadband access.
DEED Emerging Entrepreneur Funding: Support state grants through the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for the Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program, providing targeted micro-loans and capital access for new immigrant & POC small business owners across Greater Minnesota.

Rural Healthcare & Language Access: Authorize state grant funding for rural clinics to hire multilingual health navigators, expanding care access for non-English speaking families and seniors.

I support adding the Equal Rights Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution to permanently enshrine fundamental equality for every Minnesotan. Placing the ERA in our state constitution ensures long-term protections against discrimination that future legislatures cannot overturn. This amendment guarantees basic rights across gender, race, and background—protecting women and families while safeguarding healthcare access, bodily autonomy, and equal opportunity to strengthen rural communities.
As a Rep I would enact protections through statutory policy, state budget appropriations and agency oversight. I would authorize funds through the Clean Water Fund for SWCDs to provide grants for farmers to adopt best practices. I'd sponser investment into municipal drinking water treatment plants and support regulation of harmful chemicals. I will support appropriatioins for MPCA and fund climate resilience programs. Everyone deserves confidence in the water they drink and the air they breathe.
Recruitment & Training Grants: Support programs like Pathways to Policing & the Philando Castile Training Fund.

Rural 1st Responders & EMS Aid: Enact dedicated state aid & equipment grants for rural EMS, fire deptartments and ambulance services.

Victim Services and Community Crime Prevention: Back legislative appropriations for local domestic violence shelters,victim advocacy programs and local legal aid to protect vulnerable residents while providing dollars for substance abuse prevention.
Strengthen Public Financing & Expand the Political Contribution Refund: Update MN's Public Campaign Finance Program and raise the PCR limit.

Close Dark Money Disclosures & Increase Transparency: Require full public disclosure for independent expenditure committees and Super PACs.

Limit Foreign-Influenced & Mega-Donor Influence: Restrict corporations with significant foreign ownership spending in Mn state and local elections & enact caps on PAC contributions.
Powered by League of Women Voters Education Fund

The League of Women Voters of Minnesota and North Dakota crafted the questions sent to the candidates in the Spring of 2024. They reached out to candidates based on contact information in their public candidate filings. Candidates with email addresses were invited and reminded with emails. Candidates with only mailing addresses were sent a letter. Candidates with phone numbers received a phone call as well.

Candidate responses are published as they responded and have not been edited, except when responses were longer than the given character limit. In those cases, the responses are truncated.

VOTE411 is brought to you by the League of Women Voters Education Fund and League of Women Voters of Minnesota Education Fund. The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any political party or candidate for office.