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Jeff Brand
Jeff Brand (Democratic Party) was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 18A. He assumed office on January 3, 2023. He left office on January 14, 2025.
Brand (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives to represent District 18A. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Jeff Brand earned a B.S. in anthropology from the University of Minnesota at Mankato. Brand's career experience includes owning a business.[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes yearly updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org
2023-2024
Brand was assigned to the following committees:
- Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee
- House Taxes Committee
- House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee
- Workforce and Business Development Finance and Policy Committee, Vice Chair
2019-2020
Brand was assigned to the following committees:
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 18A
Erica Schwartz defeated incumbent Jeff Brand in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 18A on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Erica Schwartz (R) | 51.6 | 12,282 |
 | Jeff Brand (D) | 48.2 | 11,480 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 42 | ||
| Total votes: 23,804 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Jeff Brand advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 18A.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Erica Schwartz advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 18A.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Brand in this election.
2022
See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 18A
Jeff Brand defeated incumbent Susan Akland in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 18A on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jeff Brand (D) | 51.0 | 9,530 |
| Susan Akland (R) | 48.8 | 9,119 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 23 | ||
| Total votes: 18,672 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Jeff Brand advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 18A.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Susan Akland advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 18A.
Campaign finance
2020
See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 19A
Susan Akland defeated incumbent Jeff Brand in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 19A on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Susan Akland (R) | 50.1 | 11,624 | |
| Jeff Brand (D) | 49.7 | 11,516 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 40 | ||
| Total votes: 23,180 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Jeff Brand advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 19A.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Susan Akland advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 19A.
Campaign finance
2018
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 19A
Jeff Brand defeated Kim Spears in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 19A on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jeff Brand (D) | 54.3 | 10,274 |
 | Kim Spears (R) | 45.5 | 8,603 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 30 | ||
| Total votes: 18,907 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 19A
Jeff Brand advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 19A on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Jeff Brand |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 19A
Kim Spears advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 19A on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Kim Spears |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jeff Brand did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Jeff Brand did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Jeff Brand did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Jeff Brand participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on September 4, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Jeff Brand's responses follow below.[2]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | Education
• Fully-funded schools with appropriate class sizes • Voluntary, state-funded pre-K for up to two years prior to Kindergarten • State-funded student lunch program • Invest in school social workers to tackle behavioral & mental issues • Tuition waiver for 2-year public college tuition for high demand jobs • Public/Private Job Training Incentive Program to train / retain MN workers Safe, Modern Transportation Options • Funding for four lanes of Highway 14 from Nicollet to New Ulm • A comprehensive transportation system because good roads are important for vehicle safety & the economy • Funding for transportation should be distributed equally to meet Metro & Greater Minnesota needs • Moderate increase in the Gas Tax to help pay for aging infrastructure • Increased funding ""Safe Routes to Schools"" funding and the Statewide plans for traveling and recreating across Minnesota • I support a moderate increase in the gas tax in order to fund or great and challenging transportation needs A Stable Economy for All Minnesotans Agriculture • Supporting our farming neighbors as they transition into 21st century technology & emerging markets • Developing new agricultural products out of potential cash crops such as industrial hemp and perennial kernza • Buffer tax credit and tax exemption for each acre of land locked up into buffer strips • Nitrates reduction practices that are win/win for farmers and their neighbors • Encouraging cover crops by subsidizing a portion of crop insurance Child Care • Funding for community grants to cover up-front costs of certification / training • Increase in the CCAP – 50% reimbursement for infant care and 100% for Basic Sliding Fee (BSF). • 3 day turn-around on CCAP reimbursements • Tax credits for employer-provided child care • Establishment of Ombudsman at DHS to provide direct support to providers • Creation of standardized training and enforcement protocols for County licensors • Establishment of sub-committee to tackle training requirements, investigations, correction orders, and to identify regulations that should be eliminated Workforce Housing • Workforce housing tax credit focused on economic development and middle-income worker housing needs • Allowing for developers to create innovative solutions to solve project affordability issues such the removal of parking minimums, • Approving money to rehab existing buildings • Developing new financing packages such as a 15 year lease to own program Strong Unions • I strongly support the right for employees to collectively bargain with their employer • I do not support “right to work” laws which destroy union rights • I believe that strong unions are one of the hallmarks of a healthy Minnesota economy A Healthy Minnesota • Allowing Minnesota Care as option in the individual market • Create greater discounts for common medical devices & drugs • Allow paramedics, EMTs and First Responders to administer lifesaving drugs • Establishment of a commission to review policies and set up stricter sentencing guidelines for persons convicted of elder abuse. • Funding the construction of more community-based mental health facilities to address crisis across Minnesota • Increased wages for In-home Health Care Workers to encourage long-time career opportunities • Stop cutting or shifting money from Health & Human Services towards other funding commitments • More funding for Minnesota Officer Crisis Intervention Training program
The Great Outdoors • Developing better guidelines and involving more stakeholders in discussions centered around clean air & water • Additional funds to remove invasive species from our waterways, natural areas and preserves • Mitigating the effects of climate change • Doubling our Renewable Energy Standard (RES) • Incentivizing manufacturers and plants to reduce carbon emissions by reducing payroll taxes for compliance • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by increasing State electric vehicles Veterans • Lifetime Homestead Market Value Exclusion for surviving spouses so when they move, the exclusion follows them • Military Beneficiary Pay of Benefits protections to prevent predatory practices • State Veteran Home remodeling / upgrades |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | I have a passion to serve and study public policy in order to become effective at taking thoughtful action to be effective at changing the paradigm. The world is becoming more complicated and I wish to find a way forward to address the unique situations in an ethical and meaningful way.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[4]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Jeff Brand answered the following:
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else that best describes your political philosophy?
| “ | Audacity of Hope[4] | ” |
| “ | Not necessary, however it would be beneficial. I consider my two terms at the City Council level to be invaluable when addressing issues of the community.[4] | ” |
| “ | One of cooperative effort to accomplish effective legislation and also of checks & balances to the executive office.[4] | ” |
| “ | Absolutely. I believe that it is important to reach across the aisle and to also develop a network of allies within the party.[4] | ” |
| “ | Agriculture Finance, Agriculture Policy, Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance, Transportation Finance, Veterans Affairs, Property Tax and Local Government Finance.[4] | ” |
| “ | Seven years ago when I ran for the Saint Peter City Council, I never would have guessed that I'd be running for the Minnesota House of Representatives.[4] | ” |
| “ | I was in Courtland, Minnesota for a public comment event regarding Highway 14 from Nicollet to New Ulm. The plans involved building 4-lanes and to reroute highway 14 in a way as to make it safer to travel. I was standing next to another guy at a table with some blueprints spread out on it. I looked at him and asked ""what do you think of the proposal?"" The man turned to me and said ""I'm a firefighter in this town and I'm tired of pulling dead bodies from car wrecks."" That kind of story stays with you. I plan to recount this story to anyone that asked about my priorities regarding transportation.[4] | ” |
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.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Minnesota scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
In 2024, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 12 to May 20.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
- Legislators are scored on their support for the organization's principles, which it defines as "provid[ing] a basis for a constitutionally limited government established to sustain life, liberty, justice, property rights and free enterprise."
- Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 3 to May 22.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 11 to May 17. Special sessions were convened: June 12 to June 19; July 13 to July 21; August 12; September 11; October 12 to October 15; and November 12.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 8 through May 20.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 20 through May 21.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Minnesota House of Representatives District 18A |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Minnesota House of Representatives, "Rep. Jeff Brand," accessed April 24, 2023
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Jeff Brand's responses," September 4, 2018
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dean Urdahl (R) |
Minnesota House of Representatives District 18A 2023-2025 |
Succeeded by Erica Schwartz (R) |
| Preceded by Clark Johnson (D) |
Minnesota House of Representatives District 19A 2019-2021 |
Succeeded by Susan Akland (R) |
