Chris Brazelton
Elections and appointments
Personal
Contact
Chris Brazelton (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Minnesota House of Representatives to represent District 29A. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Brazelton completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Chris Brazelton was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She earned a bachelor's degree from Metropolitan State University in 1998. Brazelton began working as a child support officer in 2003. She previously worked for a law firm, as an advocate for survivors of domestic violence, and in children's mental health. Brazelton has served as president and member of GFWC of Delano, as chair and member of the Delano United Diversity Task Force, as a member of the Sustainable Farming Association, and as a member of AFSCME.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Chris Brazelton advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Joe McDonald advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Brazelton in this election.
Pledges
Brazelton signed the following pledges.
2022
See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2022
General election
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Chris Brazelton advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 29.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Bruce Anderson advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 29.
Campaign finance
2020
See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2020
General election
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Chris Brazelton advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 29.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Bruce Anderson advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 29.
Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary election
The Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary election was canceled. Mary Murphy advanced from the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary for Minnesota State Senate District 29.
Campaign finance
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Chris Brazelton completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Brazelton's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am a mother, wife, grandmother, foster parent, and child support officer. I have worked in the private, non-profit, and public sectors. I have volunteered in my community in many ways. I have a B.A. in Social Science, graduating with high honors. I value honesty and integrity and would bring these values to the legislature. I don't pretend to have all the answers to everything that ails us, but do believe in asking those with experience to work with us to find the best solutions.
- We need to treat climate change with the urgency it deserves. I have grandchildren and want their grandchildren to have a safe planet to live on. We have kicked the can down the road long enough.
- Gun violence and bad behavior is rampant. Many blame this on mental illness and yet we haven't done nearly enough to care for those who can't are for themselves. Accessible, affordable comprehensive health care, including mental health, physical health and reproductive health must be available to all. There are costs involved, yet It costs us too much as a society to ignore. We can't incarcerate our way out of these issues, nor should we.
- I am a Christian, and bring those values to decisions I make. I am NOT a Christian nationalist and believe that all should be free to practice their own faith if they have one.
Tax policies should not discourage innovation or investment. The costs to maintain civil society and the infrastructure needed to function should be fair and balanced with those who reap the most rewards contributing more.
I look up to the teachings of Jesus. If someone else said that I would run in the opposite direction as there are so many people who use their faith as an excuse to be judgmental of others. I look to teachings like the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount. I hope to remember to be kind, thoughtful, humble and hard working. I believe in a life of service to others and have done my best to live that. I haven't always succeeded, but a am a work in progress.
I can't possibly name just one resource. I am an avid reader. I regularly attend webinars and other learning opportunities. I believe in lifelong education to understand the human condition and continue to work on self-improvement. I grew up in a Republican household and became a Democrat as a young adult. Good and bad ideas are abundant, and the worst ideas come from narrow thinking. Decisions and policies affect everyone and should be made with that in mind, with input from stakeholders.
Integrity, transparency, honesty and fairness. We must balance the rights of the individuals in a free society with the responsibilities of all to maintain access to the tools that make life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness possible.
I would love to serve with honor and integrity. Finding common ground and connections with others helps me do my best to serve people as they wish to be served.
To listen to their constituents and represent them to the best of their ability and with honor. To protect and defend the Constitution and laws of this state without fear or favor.
A more civil society and a thriving planet.
I remember the bloodshed of 1968, the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Rev. Martin Luther King. I lost a grandfather and a great-grandfather in the same year, so all the deaths had a profound impact on me. No fair asking my age in a job interview.
I was one of 10 children who lived to adulthood 3rd to the oldest. My first job was babysitting, not only for my siblings but also for neighbors. Around the same time I used to go to work with my father who was in real estate. I memorized the sales pitches he used on the tour of model townhomes and then conduct some of the tours. Don't ask what I was paid.
The one I'm reading now. Then the next one. One book at a time.
All the good ones have more angst than I want to live with.
If I thought of one it would then be stuck in my head.
The legislature must be independent enough to address the needs of the various constituents yet I look to the governor to indicate priorities so that the two branches can work together. Despite all the wrangling, I know most people do this work to make a positive difference.
Maintaining a strong economy while addressing priorities such as climate change, healthcare, education, criminal justice and others.
Yes, to the degree that legislators know how things get done, but not so much that we become entrenched and unwilling to consider fresh approaches.
Not only beneficial, it is necessary. It takes a majority to agree on changes to get anything passed. That majority might not always come from the same people as we all have different ideas and priorities.
I have a great deal of respect for Becky Lourey and how she worked hard behind the scenes to create Minnesota Care. I respect the values and integrity of Paul Wellstone. I also grew up respecting my grandfather, Raymond Julkowski, who represented NE Minneapolis in the House and Senate for a total of 20 years (between 1935 and 1955). He was honest and worked to build relationships to help bring us out of the Depression, expand the airport, and even reopen a local bank.
A friend of mine grew up on a farm. He was the youngest of many children. His mother died of sepsis when she miscarried and her doctor sent her home without removing the fetus rather than risk performing an abortion and face legal challenges. The family lost the farm and my friend was sent to Boys Town. Another friend almost died from a tubal pregnancy because her doctor refused to abort. These both happened before Roe v Wade. I understand the concerns of good people who hate the idea of abortion. I understand that abortions may be necessary and the decision must be left to the pregnant woman according to her faith and under her doctor's care. I also believe that contraception should be available to those who need it to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.
Don't have one. I'm not good at structured jokes. If I was I would probably have a different career.
Yes, as time permits or as soon as possible thereafter.
It depends on the priorities at the time and progress towards them. We need to make more progress on border-to-border high-speed internet. Our transportation infrastructure is in serious need of reliable funding. Green energy development is critical.
SD29 DFL, AFSCME, Education Minnesota, National Association of Social Workers-MN, SEIU, Friends of the Boundary Waters Action Network, Stonewall DFL, Gender Justice Action PAC. Our campaign has also received designation as 2024 Ranked Choice Voting Democracy Champion, Mental Health NOW.
All of them! It will be hard to choose. Children and families finance and policy fit most closely with my current profession, but really all of them are important.
Absolutely necessary to maintain a civil society.
This is not an easy answer. I see problems with how small groups can push through initiatives in other states that are not always well-worded or thoroughly examined. I would hope that good ideas would still be brought forward by the legislative body whose members are tuned-in to their constituents.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2022
Chris Brazelton completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Brazelton's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Christine “Chris” Brazelton. I was born into a large family, third of eleven children. My family insisted we attend Catholic schools, but couldn’t afford to pay for them. I worked my way through high school to pay my own tuition. Hard work is second nature to me. Anyone who knows me will tell you, I don’t rest when there is work to be done.
My husband Larry and I have two children of our own plus have been foster parents to several more. We have a growing family of grandchildren. To help provide for my family, I worked in customer service, sales and marketing before returning to school to finish my degree. I graduated from Metro State University with a BA in Social Science. A survivor of domestic abuse in my younger years, I have worked as an advocate in a non-profit agency to support other survivors, in children’s mental health, and am now a child support officer.
- I am running for office because we have become so polarized that it seems nothing can get done anymore. To live in a free, civil society we have rights and responsibilities. When we listen to each other with a goal of understanding each other’s experience and perspective, we often agree far more that we disagree. We just seem to have lost the art of listening. I not only work full time but also volunteer with several organizations, often in leadership roles. With my background in business, non-profits and public service I believe I have enough experience to be able to understand what people want and will work hard to represent my constituents.
- For years we have talked about the need for mental health services but have done little to make sure they are accessible to the people who need them the most. Those who have been traumatized by war and other violence need space and time to process the trauma. People are leading lives of quiet desperation until they break, causing damage and heartache to themselves and others. The costs to our families and our communities are immeasurable. We need to invest in mental healthcare now to save these costs in blood and treasure later.
- We need an economy that works for everyone, and where everyone can find meaningful and life-supporting work. To do this, we have to assure quality education to our children and the children of our neighbors. We’re going to continue to need to tap into the best and brightest to solve the problems of the future, those we haven’t even begun to comprehend but that our grandchildren will face.
We need to look beyond the conveniences of today and take climate change seriously. Those who make a fortune off of fossil fuels are spoon feeding us messaging that convinces us to ignore the dangers of poisoning our air and planet. We know that hurricanes and tornadoes are becoming more frequent and more violent. Droughts and the fires that follow in some areas while torrential rains and flooding in others are causing devastation, huge loss of life and property damage in the billions. While we may debate the degree to which these natural events are made worse by human actions, our failure to act is a cost we and future generations cannot afford.
These problems may seem insurmountable. For me, it comes back to human relationships. Listening to each other with the goal of understanding. We call care about our children. We all want them to grown up and raise their children in a better world.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2020
Chris Brazelton completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Brazelton's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My name is Chris Brazelton. I am running for State Senate in District 29 which covers much of Wright County. I live in Delano. I graduated summa cum laude with a BA in Social Science. I am running for office to create a more solid foundation for our citizens to flourish and realize their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This means preparing for a long-term future, not just the next fiscal quarter. Clean energy, safe and productive schools, affordable higher education that does not result in a lifetime of debt, honest and fair elections with full participation, repaired infrastructure, affordable access to health care including mental health, livable wages, safe communities, fairly policed and the list goes on. People who will be affected by changes in laws should have a seat at the table in making sure that the impact is as just and fair as possible. My career up until now has included several years in sales and marketing, non-profits including domestic violence prevention and children's mental health, paralegal, and 17 years as a child support officer. My husband and I have two adult children, several grandchildren and foster children who remain in our hearts.
- Economics - in order to pay living wages the economy must be strong
- Education - for an economy that works for everyone, access to an inspiring education must be affordable at all levels
- Environment - in order to have a planet for our descendants, we must take care of the one we've got
-Community policing - both police officers and the residents they are sworn to protect deserve respect
-Health care - basic physical, emotional and mental health needs must be met for our residents to thrive
-Infrastructure - our roads, bridges, transit systems, water treatment systems, high speed internet access must be built and maintained throughout our state My paternal grandfather, Raymond Julkowski, was the first of his family to be born in the United States. His parents were Polish immigrants. His older brother was a parish priest at the Polish Catholic Church in Silver Lake, Minnesota and used what small salary he was paid to put my grandfather through law school. My grandfather walked from Northeast Minneapolis to his office in the Foshay Tower downtown because he couldn't afford streetcar fare. Four years later, in 1934 he was elected to his first term as a State Representative to the Minnesota Legislature. After two terms he ran for a seat as State Senator and won, serving three more terms. He worked hard to establish banking regulations and improve the MSP airport. During his term he reopened a community bank that had closed during the Depression. To avoid conflict of interest, he sold his interest in the bank to the person who eventually turned the bank into the Northeast State Bank. He was an honest man, and his 20 years of service in the Legislature included the proudest moments in his life.
Integrity and transparency are important. People need to know where I stand after consideration of the information available, and how I am voting.
I believe in working hard to achieve the goals of any organization I belong to. My friends say I probably say yes too often as I serve in many local organizations. They're probably right. The experience I've gained and the goals we have met have made it worthwhile.
In the spring and summer of 1968 I was eight years old. My father's business went bankrupt and we had to move. Then Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, then Bobby Kennedy. I also lost my maternal grandfather and paternal great-grandfather that year. The losses to our family and our country had a profound impact on me.
I attended a Catholic High School . My parents could not afford to pay the tuition for their ten children, so we were expected to work and save our money to pay our own tuition. I babysat and cleaned houses until I was old enough to get a "regular" job. I was a waitress earning $1.35 per hour plus tips. I eventually got extra hours as a cook. Once out of high school I worked many jobs, as a secretary and rental agent for a real estate company. My first long term job was working for a manufacturing company. I started in the factory, then was promoted to customer service, special markets, and eventually sales and marketing.
I grew up loving the Perry Mason series. So much that I seriously considered attending law school. The idea of championing the rights of the wrongly accused appealed to me. When the rose-colored glasses came off, I found other ways of helping people who needed it. I still am drawn to the law and how it can be a tool for justice.
While a unicameral legislature may seem more efficient, it also does not allow for a balance of opinions between houses that must be negotiated to find common ground that exists with a bicameral system. There are obviously pros and cons to each system. The advantage of a unicameral legislature also includes the possibility of lower cost, fewer salaries and per diem expenses to pay.
I think it is important for state legislators to have a good idea of how government functions so they can hit the ground running. The orientation sessions for new members are helpful. Experience is a good thing, however after a while it comes at the risk of legislators becoming entrenched in their power and stuck on old ideas, less open to new options to address new challenges.
Balancing the needs of the many disenfranchised citizens with the need for a strong economy is always a challenge. We also face climate change, recovering physically and economically from the losses suffered during the pandemic, and the demand for changes in the delivery of social services including how we address public safety.
Ideally, they remain as part of the checks and balances of government, yet work with each other respectfully to come up with a framework for policy and budget, with the legislature responsible for getting the details right.
Absolutely! In order to make the best use of the diversity of experience and talents brought to the legislature, it is critical that legislators know and respect one another's strengths and abilities.
In order to create and maintain integrity in the process, redistricting should be done by an independent panel. Districts should be drawn in a contiguous fashion to include a cross section of residents, maintaining the natural diversity of the district, not carved out with the intention of creating districts that favor one party or another.
I have a background in human service, so I am interested in that committee. My district includes a lot of rural areas and family farms, so agriculture is important. Honestly, what ever committees I am assigned to I will do what I have always done and work with the community to understand their needs and how they want to be represented in that sphere of governance. I have so many interests, I am certain I will make a valuable contribution to what ever committee assignments I am given.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
External links
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 4, 2020
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Lisa Demuth
Majority Leader:Harry Niska
Representatives
Republican Party (67)
Democratic Party (66)
Vacancies (1)
