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.

  • Learn where candidates running for office in your community stand on the issues.
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Voter Guide

Minnesota State House District 40A

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 the state spending. A forum for this race will be held on September 16, 2026, at 8:00 pm (map).More MN forums are available at https://www.lwvmn.org/2026-candidate-forums.

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  • Candidate picture

    Aisha Elmquist
    (DFL)

  • Candidate picture

    Luis Withrow
    (Rep)

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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Campaign Website http://www.voteelmquist.com
telephone 6513002298
Facebook (Full URL) http://www.facebook.com/voteelmquist
Campaign Email info@voteelmquist.com
My top priorities include making life more affordable, supporting strong public schools and pathways to good jobs, and building safe, connected communities. On affordability, I will work to expand affordable housing and child care options, lower health care and other costs, protect paid family and medical leave and worker rights, and support opportunities to age in place. On education and jobs, I will support K-12 and higher education, career and technical education, and apprenticeships. On safe, connected communities, I will defend fundamental rights, including reproductive rights and due process, support gun violence prevention, expand accessibility, and advance environmental solutions that protect our future and reduce costs.
A strong economy is one where people can afford to build a life and businesses can find the workers they need. I would address rising prices by tackling housing and child care shortages, high health care costs, and workforce shortages. We need to pay attention to corporate consolidation, private equity, and practices that reduce competition and raise prices. The state can support small businesses and work with employers and educators to align training with labor needs and expand the workforce.
By serving as a civil rights attorney, I have seen how discrimination in housing and other systems can shape opportunity for generations. I support strong civil rights enforcement, first generation homebuyer and down payment assistance to address redlining's legacy, investments in public schools that help every student succeed, pathways to good jobs, and restorative justice policies. We should measure progress and keep improving programs to ensure they help close disparities.
Yes. Protecting people's civil rights has been central to my career. Minnesota's Constitution should clearly guarantee equal rights and protect people from discrimination. Putting these rights in our Constitution gives them stronger, lasting protection. I support putting a strong Equal Rights Amendment before Minnesota voters, including protections based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, and sex, including pregnancy, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation.
Clean water protection requires long-term investment and cooperation across city boundaries. In our district, that includes Rice Creek Watershed District work to reduce runoff and protect lakes and streams and groundwater monitoring and treatment related to TCAAP. I also support strong water and energy standards for data centers, energy efficient building codes, and cleaner technologies like heat pumps and EVs that lower emissions and household costs.
Public safety means being safe at home, school, work, and in our communities. I support well-trained law enforcement and first responders, mental health crisis response, and early support for young people. I want to build on Rep. Kelly Moller's outstanding work for survivors of sexual assault and support services for survivors of domestic violence. I also support safe firearm storage, background checks, extreme risk protection orders, and bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Citizens United was one of the U.S. Supreme Court's worst decisions. It gave wealthy interests far too much power to shape elections through outside spending. We need systems in place that reduce that influence, including strong disclosure of who ultimately funds independent spending, reasonable contribution limits, and Minnesota's Political Contribution Refund so campaigns can rely more on voters and less on big money.
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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.