Liz Lee (politician)

This article is about the American politician. For the Australian politician, see Elizabeth Lee (politician).
Liz Lee
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 67A district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byJohn Thompson
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic (DFL)
ResidenceSaint Paul, Minnesota
EducationYale University (BA)
OccupationLegislator
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

Kaozouapa Elizabeth "Liz" Lee is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), Lee represents District 67A in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, including parts of Saint Paul in Ramsey County.[1][2]

Early life, career, and education

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Lee was born to Hmong refugees who emigrated to the United States from a Thai refugee camp after being displaced from Laos.[3] She was raised in public housing on the east side of Saint Paul, Minnesota, where she delivered papers for the Eastside Review.[4][3] In high school, she worked as a House aide to state representative Tim Mahoney.[4]

Lee earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Yale University.[5] She worked as a staffer for U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Representative Barbara Lee, and U.S. Representative Keith Ellison.[4] She worked as a nonprofit consultant before being elected to the state legislature.[4]

Minnesota House of Representatives

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Lee was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022. In the DFL primary she defeated one-term incumbent John Thompson, who was expelled from the DFL House caucus in 2021 amid domestic abuse allegations.[1][6][7][8]

Lee serves as vice chair of the Property Tax Division of the Taxes Committee and as an assistant majority leader of the House DFL caucus. She also sits on the Children and Families Finance and Policy, Education Policy, and Taxes Committees.[1] Lee is a member of the House People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus and the Minnesota Asian and Pacific (MAP) Caucus.[9]

Political positions

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Lee ran on a platform of rent stabilization, well-paying jobs, infrastructure, and health equity.[4] She joined a group of Minnesota legislators in urging the U.S. Census Bureau to reclassify several Asian ethnicities, including Hmong, saying the bureau "didn't do proper stakeholder engagement" with the Asian community.[10] At a press conference on anti-Asian hate crimes, Lee said she and the MAP Caucus would push for further gun regulations.[9][11]

Electoral history

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2022 DFL Primary - Minnesota State House - District 67A[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Liz Lee 2,168 88.93
Democratic (DFL) John Thompson 270 11.07
Total votes 2,438 100.0
2022 Minnesota State House - District 67A[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Liz Lee 6,320 75.13
Republican Scott Hesselgrave 2,077 24.69
Write-in 15 0.18
Total votes 8,412 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2024 Minnesota State House - District 67A[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Scott Hesselgrave 3,178 25.74
Democratic (DFL) Liz Lee (incumbent) 9,133 73.96
Write-in 37 0.30
Total votes 12,348 100.00
Democratic (DFL) hold

Personal life

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Lee lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota and identifies as Hmong.[1][15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Lee, Liz - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  2. ^ "Rep. Liz Lee (67A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  3. ^ a b Koenning, Anna (2022-03-24). "Rep. John Thompson faces challengers Hoang Murphy, Liz Lee in endorsement race". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  4. ^ a b c d e Adwan, Noor (2022-11-09). "Liz Lee wins state House seat representing St. Paul's East Side". Sahan Journal. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  5. ^ "Rep. Liz Lee (67A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  6. ^ Van Berkel, Jessie (August 11, 2022). "Minnesota legislative battles shape up after Tuesday's primary". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  7. ^ Bakst, Brian (2022-08-09). "Minn. incumbents mostly beat back challenges". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  8. ^ Coolican, J. Patrick (August 9, 2022). "Rep. John Thompson ousted after first term by Liz Lee". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  9. ^ a b Olson, Rochelle (January 23, 2023). "Minnesota Asian and Pacific Caucus leaders say they live in state of 'red-alert,' mourn shooting victims". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  10. ^ Asher, Abe. "Census Bureau's classification of Asian ethnic groups is harmful, some Minnesota lawmakers say". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  11. ^ Griffith, Michelle (January 23, 2023). "Minnesota Asian and Pacific Caucus announces anti-hate legislation, advocates for gun control". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  12. ^ "2022 DFL Primary Results for State Representative District 67A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  13. ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 67A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  14. ^ "Results for All State Representative Races". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  15. ^ MPR News Staff (2022-11-09). "Candidates of color see gains in Minnesota legislative, local races". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
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