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Jennifer Schultz (Minnesota)

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Jennifer Schultz
Image of Jennifer Schultz
Prior offices
Minnesota House of Representatives District 7A
Successor: Spencer Igo
Predecessor: Thomas Huntley

Elections and appointments
Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

Graduate

University of Minnesota

Ph.D

University of Minnesota

Personal
Profession
Health care educator
Contact

Jennifer Schultz (Democratic Party) was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 7A. She assumed office on January 6, 2015. She left office on January 3, 2023.

Schultz (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Minnesota's 8th Congressional District. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Jennifer Schultz lives in Duluth, Minnesota. She earned a Ph.D from the University of Minnesota in health economics. Schultz's career experience involves serving in the Minnesota Legislature and as a professor of economics.[1][1]

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2021-2022

Schultz was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Schultz was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Minnesota committee assignments, 2017
Health and Human Services Finance
Higher Education and Career Readiness
Taxes

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Schultz served on the following committees:

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's 8th Congressional District election, 2024

Minnesota's 8th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 13 Republican primary)

Minnesota's 8th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 13 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Incumbent Pete Stauber defeated Jennifer Schultz in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Pete Stauber
Pete Stauber (R)
 
58.0
 
244,498
Image of Jennifer Schultz
Jennifer Schultz (D)
 
41.9
 
176,724
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
384

Total votes: 421,606
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Jennifer Schultz defeated John Munter in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on August 13, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jennifer Schultz
Jennifer Schultz
 
91.0
 
32,149
Image of John Munter
John Munter Candidate Connection
 
9.0
 
3,194

Total votes: 35,343
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Incumbent Pete Stauber defeated Harry Welty in the Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on August 13, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Pete Stauber
Pete Stauber
 
90.5
 
36,928
Image of Harry Welty
Harry Welty
 
9.5
 
3,874

Total votes: 40,802
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Schultz in this election.

2022

See also: Minnesota's 8th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Incumbent Pete Stauber defeated Jennifer Schultz in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Pete Stauber
Pete Stauber (R)
 
57.2
 
188,755
Image of Jennifer Schultz
Jennifer Schultz (D) Candidate Connection
 
42.7
 
141,009
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
316

Total votes: 330,080
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Jennifer Schultz defeated John Munter in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on August 9, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jennifer Schultz
Jennifer Schultz Candidate Connection
 
86.1
 
38,545
Image of John Munter
John Munter Candidate Connection
 
13.9
 
6,199

Total votes: 44,744
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Incumbent Pete Stauber defeated Harry Welty in the Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on August 9, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Pete Stauber
Pete Stauber
 
91.0
 
51,410
Image of Harry Welty
Harry Welty Candidate Connection
 
9.0
 
5,075

Total votes: 56,485
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

To view Schultz's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.

2020

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 7A

Incumbent Jennifer Schultz defeated Tom Sullivan in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 7A on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jennifer Schultz
Jennifer Schultz (D)
 
70.5
 
16,021
Image of Tom Sullivan
Tom Sullivan (R)
 
29.4
 
6,684
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
29

Total votes: 22,734
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Jennifer Schultz advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 7A.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Tom Sullivan advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 7A.

Campaign finance

2018

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 7A

Incumbent Jennifer Schultz defeated Dana Krivogorsky in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 7A on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jennifer Schultz
Jennifer Schultz (D)
 
73.7
 
15,300
Dana Krivogorsky (R)
 
26.2
 
5,439
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
29

Total votes: 20,768
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 7A

Incumbent Jennifer Schultz advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 7A on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
Image of Jennifer Schultz
Jennifer Schultz

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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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 7A

Dana Krivogorsky advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 7A on August 14, 2018.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 31, 2016.

Incumbent Jennifer Schultz defeated Dylan Raddant in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 7A general election.[2][3]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 7A General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Jennifer Schultz Incumbent 70.50% 15,956
     Republican Dylan Raddant 29.50% 6,678
Total Votes 22,634
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State


Incumbent Jennifer Schultz ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 7A Democratic primary.[4][5]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 7A Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Jennifer Schultz Incumbent (unopposed)


Dylan Raddant ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 7A Republican primary.[4][5]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 7A Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Dylan Raddant  (unopposed)

2014

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election was held on August 12, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 3, 2014. Jennifer Schultz was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Becky Hall was unopposed in the Republican primary. Kristine Osbakken ran as a Green Party candidate. Schultz defeated Hall and Osbakken in the general election.[6][7][8]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 7A General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJennifer Schultz 62.1% 9,658
     Republican Becky Hall 33.3% 5,175
     Green Kristine Osbakken 4.5% 693
     Write-in Write-in 0.1% 23
Total Votes 15,549

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Jennifer Schultz did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Schultz’s campaign website stated the following:

Priorities
Freedom and Democracy
Freedom and democracy are under sustained attack at home and abroad.

Extremists have taken control of the Republican Party and the Supreme Court. They are attacking our most cherished freedoms: the right to vote and to free elections; the right of free speech and assembly; the right to have control over our own bodies and to access safe abortions; the right to organize unions; and marriage equality. The Republicans are trying to cover up the January 6 insurrection and deny the results of a free and fair election. There is a strong pro-Putin wing in the Republican Party that is ready to appease Russian aggression in Ukraine and elsewhere.

Pete Stauber signed onto a lawsuit that attempted to overturn the 2020 election without proof and voted against investigating the January 6th insurrection. He has endorsed Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, even as he is a convicted felon and faces over 90 other felony charges over multiple criminal cases.

Our Democracy is at risk and we cannot let MAGA extremism go unchecked. Preserving truth and democracy is more important than political allegiances.

Supporting Working Families
I support living wages and good benefits. As an economist, I know that a strong middle class is the foundation of our economy. It helps small businesses in our communities thrive and creates new jobs.

I support increasing the working family tax credit and extending the child tax credit that Congress recently allowed to expire because when working families do well, our economy and our communities do well.

I will grow our economy by growing the middle class and safeguarding retirement security—that means protecting Social Security and Medicare.

Reproductive Freedom
The Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade was wrong and will harm millions of people. It’s a fundamental right for every person to make their own health decisions with their doctor, not politicians. We must mobilize, organize, and elect representatives who will fight for our right to choose and codify these long-held protections into law.

Reproductive health and freedom is about more than access to safe and legal abortion. We need to ensure folks have hassle-free access to contraception and quality sex education.

In Congress, I will fight to prevent us from going back to a time when access to quality reproductive care was only available to the wealthy.

Aging and Retirement
SOCIAL SECURITY is one of the most important and effective programs to help Americans that we have ever instituted as a nation. I will never support any cuts or restrictions to Social Security. I am in favor of strengthening Social Security. Though it was never meant to serve as a retirement program, currently 20% of couples and nearly half of unmarried Americans rely on Social Security for at least 90% of their retirement. The majority of all Americans rely on it for at least half of their retirement. Efforts must be made to help Americans retire with dignity, and keeping Social Security strong is central to those efforts. Social security benefits need to increase with inflation and cost-of-living increases.

I strongly support MEDICARE and would oppose any weakening of the program. I also support its expansion to include other necessary health services such as eye glasses and hearing aids. The federal government should be able to negotiate drug prices in the Medicare program to help make drugs more affordable.

Older Americans are rightly concerned about rising PROPERTY TAXES. When property, sales, gas, and other similar taxes go up, it affects the poor and middle class far more than the wealthy, especially when they are on a fixed income in retirement. We must make our tax system more fair, and that means making the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share. One of the best things the federal government can do is give aid to local governments to help pay for education and infrastructure. That way, regressive local taxes like property taxes can be kept down.

We need to fix the LONG-TERM CARE system. The cost of long-term care is too high and has priced most Americans out. At the same time, the care providers are underpaid. I authored and succeeded in passing a bill in the Minnesota Legislature that increased pay for home care providers. In Congress, I will support efforts to provide Americans with financial protections for long-term care, promote programs that will help people remain in their own homes rather than be forced to go to a facility, and set strong standards for both at-home and facility care. We should make sure that all who need these services can get them, confident that they won’t be financially ruined or mistreated.

Mining
At events on the Range and in Duluth often the first question I am asked is about mining. Many who attend my events and listen to my response have asked me to write out my statement so they may share it with friends and neighbors. I have given this same response to environmental, labor, and pro-mining groups.

First, I fully support miners and our mining industry—100%. I’m a union member, active in my union (UEA-Education MN), former Duluth Central Labor Body delegate, former member on NE-Area Labor Council, and I am proud to have a 100% pro-labor AFL-CIO voting record. I am endorsed by many labor unions (USW, Iron Range & Duluth Building Trades, Carpenters, IBEW, Plumbers & Steamfitters, UFCW, Education MN, MN Nurses, MN AFL-CIO) and am working hard to earn the endorsement of ALL unions.

In speaking to all groups, I have learned that NO ONE wishes to pollute our water—not surface water and not groundwater. Everyone agrees on this point. Polluting our water would be devastating to our communities. Also, it would destroy our property values—often the only asset of many families. We also need to honor treaties with Native Americans and respect their sovereignty. Our tribal members need to be involved otherwise proposed mining will continue to be litigated.

I have also learned that people want jobs that pay a decent salary with good benefits throughout the district. They want their children to be educated here, to find jobs here and to raise their family here. Folks want to live close to their grandchildren.

Mining has been a divisive issue in the DFL for a long time. I will work to be a bridge between environmental groups and the mining industry. We’ve needed this bridge for a long time. The chasm will keep growing if we don’t start healing this divide. I have visited PolyMet, Talon and Twin Metals. I have also met with environmental groups, tribal members, and groups with concerns about mining. I have listened to all and will continue to listen.

First, we need to bring steel production to the Range—that includes the ability to recycle steel. Now that we are seeing investments in Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) and mini mills, the next step is producing steel. We have an advantage with our multimodal port to ship the steel. We can leverage President Biden’s Defense Production Act & the Inflation Reduction Act to build steel manufacturing on the Range. With high transportation costs of importing steel from other countries, like Ukraine, it is economically feasible to increase domestic steel production. We also need to strengthen taconite mining and that means encouraging steel companies to come to the table, so no mines are idled over fights for market share. I also encouraged President Biden to review the proposed sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon based on national security concerns.

Second, we need to invest in technology to make sure all mining can be done safely without polluting our water. To do this we should be investing in the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI), American Peat Technology (APT), and entrepreneurs to scale up current discoveries and develop new science that can address sulfate and other potential pollutants. NRRI has a product to address sulfate and sulfuric acid but needs funding. Think about how technology has changed over your lifetime. I believe in science and know that with public investments we can scale up and develop technological solutions to the problem of potential pollutants. We developed the technology to filter the forever chemical, PFAS, from water so I have confidence that we can find the solution to filtering sulfates. NRRI and APT need investments to scale up the technology they have developed. I want to work on securing federal funding to solve any possible mining problems so we can safely mine the minerals used in our daily lives.

Third, we need to update our permitting process. We also need to acknowledge that mining minerals and acting on permits to mine depend greatly on the price of minerals. Prices of minerals fluctuate and there is a high degree of uncertainty and risk in mining operations. We should be using the bank in the U.S. Treasury to help finance research and mining operations, given the high level of risk. We should be exploring other financing mechanisms so revenue from mining is not extracted from our state and our country. Why do we rely on multi-national corporations to operate and finance mining of our natural resources? Could we create state/tribal public—private entities or cooperative entities to operate mines? This could help address environmental concerns since residents, tribes and the state would be part owners with a greater interest in protecting our property and water. It may also lead to fewer shutdowns and idling along with greater job security. It would give us the opportunity to reinvest the mining revenue back into our communities rather than line the pockets of corporate shareholders.

Fourth, we should be exploring friendly neighbor agreements between the mining industry, government, tribes and residents. These agreements have been successful in other states, such as Montana. We can build off these agreements and tailor them to meet our needs.

Finally, we all need to be at the table to discuss mining. This issue has divided our communities and families for too long. It’s time to come to meetings with an open mind on learning from all sides of the issue. We need to focus on the facts and the science from third parties with the expertise to educate and with no vested interest in any outcome. I’m confident that we can do this in a civil way. Our goal will be to listen, to understand, to ask questions, to appreciate the complexities and to get to a solution on how, when and where to mine.

Mining contributes less than 2% to our state GDP but it has an outsized impact on the people of northeast Minnesota. For the vitality of our communities, we need to diversify our industries and employment opportunities. I will work to do this by collaborating with our regional economic development experts to leverage federal funds for unique investments.

I am all in on this work. I have a track record of getting things done, being an independent thinker, asking good questions, and solving problems. There is nothing more I would rather do than be a champion for northern Minnesota and the people who live here.

Climate Change
Global climate change is affecting every part of the world, including Minnesota. In the last several years, Northern Minnesota has dealt with significant drought, massive forest fires and damaging floods. The science is clear: these issues will get worse unless we take urgent action.

I see an amazing opportunity for Northern Minnesota to be at the forefront of addressing climate change. We can be a global leader in environmental technology. There’s no reason for the U.S. to continue to subsidize oil and gas companies to the tune of over $20 billion annually, especially when they’ve raised the price at the pump dramatically while enjoying record profits. Instead, we could direct that money toward building dependable green infrastructure that reduces our reliance on volatile, autocratic regimes.

Northern Minnesota is uniquely positioned to take advantage of a shift to green energy. Our highly skilled and experienced workforce would welcome an influx of stable, union jobs created through building and maintaining sustainable alternative energy infrastructure.

Health Care For All
The rising cost of health care is one of the most important and urgent issues facing Minnesotans. Like many in our district, I am in favor of a single-payer system – what some call Medicare for All – that would dramatically cut down on costs associated with health insurance premiums and guarantee coverage for all Americans, regardless of income level.

We are proud that Minnesota offers the lowest premiums in the country on MNsure, our state health insurance exchange. Another great program is MinnesotaCare, which provides health care coverage for people with low incomes. MinnesotaCare was created with bipartisan support and has been successful for more than 30 years. This is a public option that could be expanded to more Minnesotans and used as a template to move us forward at the federal level so everyone can access affordable, quality healthcare.

It is easy to get lost in the details and in politics, but I never lose sight of the fact that, in the end, this is about real people facing some of the hardest and most terrifying experiences of their lives. Families should not have to worry that health care costs will ruin their finances in the wealthiest country in the world. Quality health care should be a right for all Americans.

Student Debt
We must address student debt. The average student accumulates $30,000 of debt, and the average starting salary with a four-year degree is $50,000. Fifty years ago, those figures would be $7,000 of debt and a $66,000 salary. In other words, it’s harder for people starting out in their careers now than it used to be. And we can’t continue down this path.

Minnesota is home to some of the best technical colleges and universities in the country. Lack of wealth should not deter someone who wants to pursue higher education and technical training. We must make sure that public post-secondary education is affordable and accessible, whether that’s technical school, obtaining an associate’s degree, or earning a bachelor's degree. People should not be saddled with a lifetime of crushing debt for pursuing a higher education.

Infrastructure
Quality infrastructure is essential to our quality of life. It’s the roads and bridges we drive on, power lines that deliver electricity, and pipes that bring us clean water. Taking care of these essential elements of daily life is one of the most fundamental functions of government.

The recent federal infrastructure bill is a great start, but we can do more. We must provide funding to address the basics of our traditional infrastructure like roads, bridges, water treatment and the electrical grid, as well as new infrastructure like broadband internet access.

Education
Our nation’s future relies on our public education system. I support increasing federal funding to our local schools at all levels, from Pre-K through college. Our teachers need to have resources and supplies for their classrooms, smaller class sizes, and sufficient wages so that they can best support and teach our children. Property value should not determine whether or not children have access to quality education. We need safe-school policies, onsite social workers and counselors, robust Pre-K programs and special education, and programs for at-risk or vulnerable students at every school across the district.

Public Safety
I support law enforcement. I am opposed to defunding the police—the police need to be fully funded. Good law enforcement is about protecting people and protecting our democracy.

The improvement of law enforcement and better law enforcement requires resources, not taking resources away. Police officers are professionals just as doctors, nurses, lawyers and teachers are professionals. Like any other profession, it is crucial that officers are both well supported and well trained, to achieve the high standards required to be effective in their complex roles.

Law enforcement officers must be accountable to people and to the rule of law. Law enforcement agencies need to be sufficiently supported to: (1) recruit the best and the brightest, who are dedicated to upholding the noble mission of protecting and serving all citizens; and (2), train these officers in sound techniques proven to ensure that they treat citizens respectfully and are thoroughly capable of de-escalating charged situations.

Law enforcement agencies are most effective when they have legitimacy in the eyes of the citizens they serve. To foster positive interactions and relationships between the police and communities, law enforcement agencies should be supported in their efforts to expand and enhance their community policing efforts, and to hire officers that demographically reflect the communities they serve.

Honoring Our Veterans
Our veterans deserve our utmost respect and admiration.

They put their personal safety—and future—at risk to protect ours. They stand up for us with courage and patriotism. We must stand up for them.

The Veterans Administration has been hollowed out, understaffed, and under-resourced. That must be reversed. The backlogs and long delays for medical and other services must be eliminated, and that means repairing and modernizing our veterans services. Higher and technical education opportunities must be assured and counseling services be made readily available, linking veterans to these opportunities and preparing them for good jobs in the civilian world. Access to adequate housing needs to be supported. Special attention needs to be paid to services dealing with PTSD, depression, and traumatic brain injuries.

Veterans Courts at the local level should be encouraged so that there are legal, chemical dependency, probation, and other services working as a team to help struggling veterans caught up in the justice system. We must make sure that the spouses and children of our active veterans have good housing, support services, and income, and that widows or widowers and children of heroes who lose their lives in the nation’s service are well provided for. Disabled vets and their families must receive the best possible care and support.

Creating Jobs
We must get aggressive as a country about creating high-paying, long-term jobs. It has become clear that we have sent far too many important and skilled jobs overseas. Many of our essential medical supplies, equipment, and drugs are manufactured overseas, and the backups in shipping during the pandemic resulted in lost lives at our hospitals. We must make sure that we can rely on domestic manufacturers and suppliers for these essential goods.

One of those essential goods is steel. Iron mining has been the pillar of the economy on the Range for generations, and the Range provides some of the best raw material for steel in the world.

A great source of many high-paying jobs will be pressing forward with renewable energy and a green infrastructure. This has the added benefit of addressing the urgent crisis of climate change.

We also need to address the fairness of our tax system. As the wealthy and corporations pay what they owe, we will be able to make sure that Americans receive the services they should expect. That means government jobs with good pay and good benefits and Americans able to rely on good services.

I have a proven track record of bringing state money home to my district in the Minnesota Legislature. I look forward to bringing jobs to the Eighth District in Congress.

Gun Violence Prevention
I support our 2nd amendment right and responsible gun rights for gun owners and hunters. Our societal issue with gun violence has nothing to do with the vast majority of guns Minnesotans own. I agree with the majority of Americans who support a ban on assault weapons. I also agree with the over 90% of Americans who favor background checks for any gun purchase made, checks that include criminal history and relevant mental health history. We should also expect anyone who owns a gun to have had some training, just like we expect drivers to be properly trained. The vast majority of gun owners are not only responsible but do not own guns capable of mass shootings. Common-sense gun laws are just that: common-sense.

Affordable Housing
Access to affordable housing is an ongoing crisis in our region and across the country. It’s escalated for decades.

Congress needs to find ways to assist local governments in providing adequate affordable housing. That means bringing back federal funding to invest in subsidized housing, revitalizing our aging housing stock, and providing incentives to build additional units. I also support a substantive Low Income Housing Tax Credit to help take some of the burden off of those struggling the most. Our communities and local industries grow when people can afford to live here. [9]

—Jennifer Schultz’s campaign website (2024)[10]

2022

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia
Released July 25, 2022

Candidate Connection

Jennifer Schultz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Schultz's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I’m running to advance the Minnesota values we all share—hard work, decency, fairness and helping one another. I grew up in a small town raised by a single mother. She taught my sister and I the value of hard work and helping our neighbors.

I’ll be addressing economic issues such as diversifying our economy, supporting workers, securing investments allowing regional growth, attracting good jobs, affordable health care, and tackling climate change. We need to respect treaties and tribal sovereignty, and as a daughter of a Vietnam veteran, I’ll be helping our veterans.

I’ll prioritize getting things done and solving problems. We do not need a representative who uses disinformation to divide our communities.

I will fight for fair policies, fair taxes, our freedom, and opportunities for our rural communities. We need to diversify our economy with investments in infrastructure, broadband, education, affordable housing, family farms and technology.

  • I will represent everyone based on our shared values, rooted in the idea that everyone deserves to live a life where they, their families, and their communities can thrive.
  • I will get things done for all of us. I have pledged to not accept any corporate PAC money. I will be accountable to the people, not corporations.
  • As a state legislator, I delivered meaningful results for workers, infrastructure and healthcare. I’ve done this by negotiating with people from all parties.
As your US representative, I will use my knowledge, experience and work ethic to improve our lives. My priority has always been serving the people I represent. I want to make positive changes in our state and our country, and the way to do that is together.

We need to fight for freedom and fight for our democracy. All of us value our freedom—freedom to vote, freedom for our kids to thrive with excellent public education, freedom for every single person and child to be able to learn to be themselves and to grow up healthy and safe, and freedom to choose whether and when to have a family.

The people of the 8th deserve better representation focused on your needs. I'm running for Congress because I believe when we invest in people, we all do better. I look forward to earning your support and working for you. For more information, please visit our website, JenSchultzForCongress.com.

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 website

Schultz's campaign website stated the following:

Health Care For All

The rising cost of health care is one of the most important and urgent issues facing Minnesotans. Like many in our district, I am in favor of a single-payer system – what some call Medicare for All – that would dramatically cut down on costs associated with health insurance premiums and guarantee coverage for all Americans, regardless of income level.

We are proud that Minnesota offers the lowest premiums in the country on MNsure, our state health insurance exchange. Another great program is MinnesotaCare, which provides health care coverage for people with low incomes. MinnesotaCare was created with bipartisan support and has been successful for more than 30 years. This is a public option that could be expanded to more Minnesotans and used as a template to move us forward at the federal level so everyone can access affordable, quality healthcare.

It is easy to get lost in the details and in politics, but I never lose sight of the fact that, in the end, this is about real people facing some of the hardest and most terrifying experiences of their lives. Families should not have to worry that health care costs will ruin their finances in the wealthiest country in the world. Quality health care should be a right for all Americans.


Supporting Working Families

I support a living wage. This means increasing the minimum wage and indexing it to inflation. We shouldn’t need an act of Congress to pay people more every time life gets more expensive. As an economist, I know that increasing the minimum wage helps the economy by pumping money into the marketplace, creating new revenue for businesses, and creating new jobs.

I support paid sick and safe time, paid family leave, an increase of the working family tax credit, and extending the child tax credit that Congress recently allowed to expire because when working families do well, our economy and our communities do well.


Student Loan Debt

We must address student debt. The average student accumulates $30,000 of debt after four years of college, and the average starting salary with a four-year degree is $50,000. Fifty years ago, those figures would be $7,000 of debt and a $66,000 salary, adjusted for inflation.

Minnesota is home to some of the best public colleges and universities in the country. Lack of wealth should not deter someone who wants to pursue higher education. We must make sure that public post-secondary education is affordable and accessible, whether that’s technical school, obtaining an associate’s degree, or earning a bachelor's degrees. People should not be saddled with a lifetime of crushing debt for pursuing a higher education.


Freedom And Democracy

Freedom and democracy are under sustained attack at home and abroad.

Extremists have taken control of the Republican Party and the Supreme Court. They are attacking our most cherished freedoms: the right to vote and to free elections; the right of free speech and assembly; the right to have control over our own bodies and to access safe abortions; the right to organize unions; and marriage equality. The Republicans are trying to cover up the January 6 insurrection and deny the results of a free and fair election. There is a strong pro-Putin wing in the Republican Party that is ready to appease Russian aggression in Ukraine and elsewhere.

Our incumbent Congressman signed on to a lawsuit that attempted to overturn the 2020 election, voted against the Voting Rights Acts and the Women’s Health Protection Act, against investigating the January 6 insurrection, and against the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. He is also one of the most vocal anti-choice advocates in Congress, calling it a priority ever since arriving in Washington.

It is vitally important to get out and vote this year and to support a candidate who will fight for our fundamental American values of freedom and democracy at home and abroad. I am that candidate for Congress in the Eighth District of Minnesota, and I urgently request your support.


Climate Change

Global climate change is affecting every part of the world, including Minnesota. In the last several years, Northern Minnesota has dealt with significant drought, massive forest fires and damaging floods. The science is clear: these issues will get worse unless we take urgent action.

I see an amazing opportunity for Northern Minnesota to be at the forefront of addressing climate change. We can be a global leader in environmental technology. There’s no reason for the US to continue to subsidize oil and gas companies to the tune of over $20 billion annually, especially when they’ve raised the price at the pump dramatically while enjoying record profits. Instead, we could direct that money toward building dependable green infrastructure that reduces our reliance on volatile, autocratic regimes.

Northern Minnesota is uniquely positioned to take advantage of a shift to green energy. Our highly skilled and experienced workforce would welcome an influx of stable, union jobs created through building and maintaining sustainable alternative energy infrastructure.


Mining

At events on the Range and in Duluth often the first question I am asked is about mining. Many who attend my events and listen to my response have asked me to write out my statement so they may share it with friends and neighbors. I have given this same response to environmental, labor, and pro-mining groups. All have been impressed with my response and the level of detail I provide. I believe it is my responsibility to fully answer every question. I also believe that I should be educating voters with facts that I have learned. So here is my full view on mining—I hope you share it.

First, I fully support miners and our mining industry—100%. I’m a union member, active on the Executive Committee of my union (UEA-Education MN), former Duluth Central Labor Body delegate, former member on NE-Area Labor Council, and I am proud to have a 100% AFL-CIO voting record. I am endorsed by many labor unions (USW, Iron Range & Duluth Building Trades, Carpenters, IBEW, Plumbers & Steamfitters, UFCW, EdMN, Nurses, MN AFL-CIO) and am working hard to earn the endorsement of ALL unions.

In speaking to all groups, I have learned that NO ONE wishes to pollute our water—not surface water and not ground water. Everyone agrees on this point. Polluting our water would be devastating to our communities. Also, it would destroy our property values—often the only asset of many families. We also need to honor treaties with Native Americans and respect their sovereignty. Our tribal members need to be involved otherwise proposed mining will continue to be litigated.

I have also learned that people want jobs that pay a decent salary with good benefits throughout the district. They want their children to be educated here, to find jobs here and to raise their family here. Folks want to live close to their grandchildren.

Mining has been a divisive issue in the DFL for a long time. I will work to be a bridge between environmental groups and the mining industry. We’ve needed this bridge for a long time. The chasm will keep growing if we don’t start healing this divide. I have visited PolyMet, Talon and will visit Twin Metals soon. I have also met with environmental groups, tribal members, and groups with concerns about mining. I have listened to all and will continue to listen.

First, we need to bring steel production to the Range—that includes the ability to recycle steel. Now that we are seeing investments in Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) and mini mills, the next step is producing steel. We have an advantage with our multimodal port to ship the steel. We can leverage President Biden’s Defense Production Act & the Inflation Reduction Act to build steel manufacturing on the Range. With high transportation costs of importing steel from other countries, like Ukraine, it is economically feasible to increase domestic steel production. We also need to strengthen taconite mining and that means encouraging U.S. Steel and Cleveland Cliffs to come to the table, so no mines are idled over fights for market share.

Second, we need to invest in technology to make sure all mining can be done safely without polluting our water. To do this we should be investing in the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI), American Peat Technology (APT), and entrepreneurs to scale up current discoveries and develop new science that can address sulfate and other potential pollutants. NRRI has a product to address sulfate and sulfuric acid but needs funding. Think about how technology has changed over your lifetime. I believe in science and know that with public investments we can scale up and develop technological solutions to the problem of potential pollutants. NRRI and APT need investments to scale up the technology they have developed. I want to work on securing federal funding to solve any possible mining problems so we can safely mine the minerals used in our daily lives.

Third, we need to update our permitting process. We also need to acknowledge that mining minerals and acting on permits to mine depend greatly on the price of minerals. Prices of minerals fluctuate and there is a high degree of uncertainty and risk in mining operations. We should be using the bank in the U.S. Treasury to help finance research and mining operations, given the high level of risk. We should be exploring other financing mechanisms so revenue from mining is not extracted from our state and our country. Why do we rely on multi-national corporations to operate and finance mining of our natural resources? Could we create state/tribal public—private entities or cooperative entities to operate mines? This could help address environmental concerns since residents, tribes and the state would be part owners with a greater interest in protecting our property and water. It may also lead to fewer shutdowns and idling along with greater job security. It would give us the opportunity to reinvest the mining revenue back into our communities rather than line the pockets of corporate shareholders.

Fourth, we should be exploring friendly neighbor agreements between the mining industry, government, tribes and residents. These agreements have been successful in other states, such as Montana. We can build off these agreements and tailor them to meet our needs.

Finally, we all need to be at the table to discuss mining. This issue has divided our communities and families for too long. It’s time to come to meetings with an open mind on learning from all sides of the issue. We need to focus on the facts and the science from third parties with the expertise to educate and with no vested interest in any outcome. I’m confident that we can do this in a civil way. Our goal will be to listen, to understand, to ask questions, to appreciate the complexities and to get to a solution on how, when and where to mine.

Mining contributes less than 2% to our state GDP but it has an outsized impact on the people of northeast Minnesota. For the vitality of our communities, we need to diversify our industries and employment opportunities. I will work to do this by collaborating with our regional economic development experts to leverage federal funds for unique investments.

I am all in on this work. I have a track record of getting things done, being an independent thinker, asking good questions, finding answers, and helping people. There is nothing more I would rather do than be a champion for northern Minnesota and the people who live here.


Infrastructure

Quality infrastructure is essential to our quality of life. It’s the roads and bridges we drive on, power lines that deliver electricity, and pipes that bring us clean water. Taking care of these essential elements of daily life is one of the most fundamental functions of government.

The recent federal infrastructure bill is a great start, but we can do more. We must provide funding to address the basics of our traditional infrastructure like roads, bridges, water treatment and the electrical grid, as well as new infrastructure like broadband internet access.


Affordable Housing

Access to affordable housing is an ongoing crisis in our region and across the country. It’s escalated for decades and now it’s been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congress needs to find ways to assist local governments in providing adequate affordable housing. That means bringing back federal funding to invest in subsidized housing, revitalizing our aging housing stock, and providing incentives to build additional units. I also support a substantive Low Income Housing Tax Credit to help take some of the burden off of those struggling the most. Our communities and local industries grow when people can afford to live here.


Reproductive Freedom

The Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade was wrong and will harm millions of people. It’s a fundamental right for every person to make their own health decisions with their doctor, not politicians. We must mobilize, organize, and elect representatives who will fight for our right to choose and codify these long-held protections into law.

Reproductive health and freedom is about more than access to safe and legal abortion. We need to ensure folks have hassle-free access to contraception and quality sex education. Our LGBTQ+ community, and especially the transgender community, must have access to healthcare that covers gender-affirming care.

In Congress, I will fight to prevent us from going back to a time when access to quality reproductive care was only available to the wealthy.


Education

Our nation’s future relies on our public education system. I support increasing federal funding to our local schools at all levels, from Pre-K through college. Our teachers need to have resources and supplies for their classrooms, smaller class sizes, and higher wages so that they can best support and teach our children. Property value should not determine whether or not children have access to quality education. We need safe-school policies, onsite social workers and counselors, robust Pre-K programs and special education, and programs for at-risk or vulnerable students at every school across the district.


Honoring Our Veterans

Our veterans deserve our utmost respect and admiration.

They put their personal safety—and future—at risk to protect ours. They stand up for us with courage and patriotism. We must stand up for them.

The Veterans Administration has been hollowed out, understaffed, and under-resourced. That must be reversed. The backlogs and long delays for medical and other services must be eliminated, and that means repairing and modernizing our veterans services. Higher and technical education opportunities must be assured and counseling services be made readily available, linking veterans to these opportunities and preparing them for good jobs in the civilian world. Access to adequate housing needs to be supported. Special attention needs to be paid to services dealing with PTSD, depression, and traumatic brain injuries.

Veterans Courts at the local level should be encouraged so that there are legal, chemical dependency, probation, and other services working as a team to help struggling veterans caught up in the justice system. We must make sure that the spouses and children of our active veterans have good housing, support services, and income, and that widows or widowers and children of heroes who lose their lives in the nation’s service are well provided for. Disabled vets and their families must receive the best possible care and support.


Aging And Retirement

SOCIAL SECURITY is one of the most important and effective programs to help Americans that we have ever instituted as a nation. I will never support any cuts or restrictions to Social Security. I am in favor of expanding Social Security. Though it was never meant to serve as a retirement program, currently 20% of couples and nearly half of unmarried Americans rely on Social Security for at least 90% of their retirement. The majority of all Americans rely on it for at least half of their retirement. Efforts must be made to help Americans retire with dignity, and keeping Social Security strong is central to those efforts. Social security benefits need to increase with inflation and cost-of-living increases.

I strongly support MEDICARE and would oppose any weakening of the program. I also support its expansion to include other necessary health services such as eye glasses and hearing aids. The federal government should be able to negotiate drug prices in the Medicare program to help make drugs more affordable.

Older Americans are rightly concerned about rising PROPERTY TAXES. When property, sales, gas, and other similar taxes go up, it affects the poor and middle class far more than the wealthy, especially when they are on a fixed income in retirement. We must make our tax system more fair, and that means making the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share. One of the best things the federal government can do is give aid to local governments to help pay for education and infrastructure. That way, regressive local taxes like property taxes can be kept down.

We need to fix the LONG-TERM CARE system. The cost of long-term care is too high and has priced most Americans out. At the same time, the care providers are underpaid. I authored and succeeded in passing a bill in the Minnesota Legislature that increased pay for home care providers. In Congress, I will support efforts to provide Americans with financial protections for long-term care, promote programs that will help people remain in their own homes rather than be forced to go to a facility, and set strong standards for both at-home and facility care. We should make sure that all who need these services can get them, confident that they won’t be financially ruined or mistreated.


Creating Jobs

We must get aggressive as a country about creating high-paying, long-term jobs. While we are currently suffering through a period of global inflation caused by the pandemic disrupting our supply chain, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and price gouging due to market concentration, it has become clear that we have sent far too many important and skilled jobs overseas. Many of our essential medical supplies, equipment, and drugs are manufactured overseas, and the backups in shipping during the pandemic resulted in lost lives at our hospitals. We must make sure that we can rely on domestic manufacturers and suppliers for these essential goods.

One of those essential goods is steel. Iron mining has been the pillar of the economy on the Range for generations, and the Range provides some of the best raw material for steel in the world. I favor iron mining expansion. I am also in favor of precious metals mining if it can be done safely without polluting our water.

A great source of many high-paying jobs will be pressing forward with renewable energy and a green infrastructure. This has the added benefit of addressing the urgent crisis of climate change.

We also need to address the fairness of our tax system. As the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share, we will be able to make sure that Americans receive the services they should expect. That means government jobs with good pay and good benefits and Americans able to rely on good services.

I have a proven track record of bringing state money home to my district in the Minnesota Legislature. I look forward to bringing jobs to the Eighth District in Congress.


Guns And Gun Violence

There is a long tradition in Northern Minnesota of hunting with rifles. Many who live on farms and in more remote parts of the state also keep a rifle or two on hand. Our societal issue with gun violence has nothing to do with the vast majority of guns Minnesotans own. I agree with the majority of Americans who support a ban on assault weapons. I also agree with the over 90% of Americans who favor background checks for any gun purchase made, checks that include criminal history and relevant mental health history. We should also expect that anyone who owns a gun to have had some training, just like we expect drivers to be properly trained. The vast majority of gun owners are not only responsible, but do not own guns capable of mass shootings. Common sense gun laws are just that: common sense.


Public Safety

I support law enforcement. I am opposed to defunding the police—the police need to be fully funded. Good law enforcement is about protecting people and protecting our democracy.

The improvement of law enforcement and better law enforcement requires resources, not taking resources away. Police officers are professionals just as doctors, nurses, lawyers and teachers are professionals. Like any other profession, it is crucial that officers are both well supported and well trained, to achieve the high standards required to be effective in their complex roles.

Law enforcement officers must be accountable to people and to the rule of law. Law enforcement agencies need to be sufficiently supported to: (1) recruit the best and the brightest, who are dedicated to upholding the noble mission of protecting and serving all citizens; and (2), train these officers in sound techniques proven to ensure that they treat citizens respectfully and are thoroughly capable of de-escalating charged situations.

Law enforcement agencies are most effective when they have legitimacy in the eyes of the citizens they serve. To foster positive interactions and relationships between the police and communities, law enforcement agencies should be supported in their efforts to expand and enhance their community policing efforts, and to hire officers that demographically reflect the communities they serve.[9]

—Jennifer Schultz's campaign website (2022)[11]

2020

Jennifer Schultz did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2014

Schultz's website highlighted the following campaign themes:

Health Care

Providing quality health care for all Americans has been a passion and a profession for me. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act has provided access to health care for ten million previously uninsured Americans, and that is only the beginning. Minnesota is already a leader in creating programs for health care access and quality care, but program modifications and creative problem solving will be needed in the future. As an economist specializing in health care issues and an educator specializing in health care management, I am eager to roll my sleeves up and work on those solutions for Duluth and Minnesota.

We need to have health care that provides access for all Americans to efficient and effective care that does not bankrupt them, the state, or the country. As a legislator, I will work to reduce the price for health care services, lower health insurance premiums and increase access to care. MNsure, our state health insurance exchange, has relatively low premiums but high deductibles (out-of-pocket spending). For those who qualify for subsidies, it works well. But for many, health care is not affordable. We need to fix our health care system so it works for all of us.

Reproductive Health

I am pro-choice and believe that politicians should stay out of a woman's personal and private decision whether or not to have an abortion. We need to focus on reducing the need for abortion by preventing unintended pregnancies and supporting women who choose adoption. Research shows we can cut unintended pregnancy and pregnancy by teens in half or more by education and availability of birth control.

In 2012 new federal laws re-confirmed that churches would not be required to offer insurance coverage for birth control to church employees. I strongly support freedom of religion. But corporations that operate hospital systems, universities and private businesses, including those affiliated with a church, should not be allowed to discriminate when it comes to individual employees' access to birth control. Female employees of different faiths, not their corporate employers, should have the freedom to make personal and private decisions about the use of birth control. This is in keeping with the historic separation of personal and public responsibility for religious beliefs.

Economic Justice

We need an economy that works for all of us, not just the 1%. One percent of the U.S. population owns 40% of all wealth, while 80% of the population owns only 7% of all wealth. Low-income and middle-class families are struggling. Working families are the engines of our economy. They spend their hard earned dollars, contribute to economic growth and help all of us.

Minimum Wage

Anyone who works full time (or even more) should be able to afford decent housing, transportation, food, clothing, and health care. Raising the state minimum wage and indexing it to inflation is an important step to ensure this. The current minimum wage does not cover basic necessities. As an economist I know that real world economic data shows that increasing the minimum wage actually helps state economies by pumping money into the marketplace, creating new revenue for businesses and creating new jobs.

In addition to advocating for increasing the minimum wage I would advocate for tax reform initiatives to help working families and small businesses. As a legislator I would discuss the importance of extending unemployment benefits and increasing the earned-income tax credit with our U.S. senators and representatives.

Education

I attended public schools and am a product of a public education system that received much more funding than it does today. Strong public education has been the engine that drove both equality and economic growth in the United States through the 20th century. Strong public education creates people who are prepared to hold jobs or to pursue further education or training to find places in the economy and create a more productive work force.

International research has shown that spending levels for K-12 education and teacher training correlate strongly with healthy economic growth and a national ability to react to market and economic changes. Good education helps countries to “land on their feet.” Furthermore, studies suggest that early childhood education has very high rates of return on investment of 7-10%.

Unfortunately, public education has been allowed to erode in the United States over the last thirty years. Funding has been cannibalized to lower taxes or to pay for pet projects.

Funding for education must be restored to former levels and expanded. The state should shoulder the majority of pre-K--12 funding to ensure that education does not become dependent on individual wealth in cities and towns. States must also invest in higher education to meet the demands by businesses for a trained work force.

Teachers must be supported so professional quality teachers are attracted to schools and retained through their careers. Research in education and teacher training must be funded.

Although testing is important to improve quality, children and schools must be protected from the tendency of high stakes testing to become an end in itself. Failing schools in low-income neighborhoods should receive added funding and attention to correct problems, rather than being demonized and closed.

Historically, the federal mandates for special education were accompanied by plans for federal funding of programs. This funding was blocked by conservatives to fund tax cuts and military spending, and because of disrespect for education that served working class children and children of color. Special education mandates should be funded by federal money so that funding for mainstream education is not eroded by special education, and school leaders are not pressured to degrade special education programs to save money.

Environment

As the mother of two young children, environmental issues have a special meaning for me. I am dedicated to preserving both the safety and aesthetics of our environment so that my sons may enjoy it. My son, Otis, loves the Dr. Seuss book, The Lorax. The story is about consumerism, greed and the environment. Each time we read this book, I feel compelled to do something. For as the Lorax states, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

As an economist, the issue of pollution has special resonance as well. Pollution is a way that businesses and others pass part of the cost of operation off to other people, especially current and future taxpayers.

Mining

I favor mining, an industry that has a long history of contributing economically to our area and an improving record of environmental safety. I understand the need for copper in our electronic devices and in alternative energy sources such as wind turbines. However, considerable care must by used in introducing new forms of mining with histories of much higher environmental and economic risks.

Because copper-nickel mining is such an important issue, I have made great effort to research both sides of the debate. I have read summaries of the EIS, and I have discussed copper-nickel mining with community members, elected officials, soil scientists, geologists, biologists and hydrologists. I attended the public forum on PolyMet at the DECC, listened to public testimony and have spoken to those who testified.

Careful review by both state and federal environmental agencies must be made, and the ultimate decision regarding environmental safety must, as much as possible, be made based on science. The role of elected officials is not to approve or reject a project, but rather to put a good regulatory framework in place. I do not believe we should lower environmental standards. Copper-nickel projects must demonstrate that mining can meet current standards. If they cannot then we must wait until new technology is developed.

The Duluth Complex where these minerals are found covers a vast area and there are about 20 sites that are being explored for copper-nickel mining. We deserve to know what the impact will be on our water, air and ecosystems if all proposed sites were mined so I would also demand a general environmental impact study for all exploratory sites for copper-nickel mining. Additionally, I would request a cost-benefit analysis, which differs from an impact study, so we know the trade-off between economic growth and environmental damage.

When new mining projects are implemented, the companies responsible must be held liable for any potential damage. In particular, companies must be prevented from abandoning responsibility by bankruptcies and other financial methods. The mining industry in some parts of the country has a bad record in this regard, and a sizable number of “superfund” sites are abandoned mines whose environmental damage has been foisted on federal, state, and local governments.

My experience as an economist best positions me among the candidates to address financial assurances. I would propose we use the classic economics of the marketplace. New mining projects should be required to post bonds to cover the cost of potential clean up, underwritten by reliable bonding companies. Bonds should be in the hundreds of millions or billions of dollars, since history indicates that costs are often in that range.

Copper-nickel mining should only be considered when effective risk assessment is complete and adequate performance bonds are in place. As a state legislator I will continue to meet with community members and experts to review our regulatory framework, and I will use my expertise in economics to ensure these projects will truly benefit our state.

Carbon emissions

Minnesota should continue leadership in encouraging both individuals and businesses to minimize carbon output, especially through means that are cost effective, including more efficient use of fuel, greater use of public transportation, and more effective insulation and building techniques. This has the added dividend of protecting the country from the political and economic costs of imported oil.

Beauty

In addition to protecting the environment from damage, we need to protect the aesthetics of our environment. This is not only desirable from a quality of life standpoint, but also from an economic view. The value of our environment is very high, both as a source of income from tourism and recreation, and as a factor in attracting and retaining businesses and resident taxpayers.

Human Rights

Minnesota’s strong human rights record has recently been improved by the passage of laws protecting same sex marriage and rejection of laws threatening the right to vote.

The LGBT community needs additional protections, including protection against workplace, health care and housing discrimination as well as economic protection by extending tax and other financial benefits to gay marriage and non-conventional couples.

The treaty rights of Native Americans and legislative rights extended to Native Americans should be protected by the state government. Race-based attacks on Native American rights should be opposed by the state. Furthermore, human rights of many other ethnic groups are being attacked by some forces and the state should intervene to protect them.

Human rights of workers have been eroded by recent court decisions. The state should protect workers from sexual abuse, bullying, and other unfair treatment.

Undocumented immigrants do not forfeit human rights due to their immigration status, and the state should intervene to protect them both in the workplace and elsewhere. The state should use care in dealing with efforts of some other branches of government to prosecute undocumented immigrants so that it does not interfere with human rights of the immigrants.

Voting rights are the paramount right in our political system. The state should resist all efforts to make voting by the elderly, the poor, racial minorities, students, and disabled people more difficult. Same day registration and absentee voting policies have made Minnesota and Duluth national leaders in voter turnout. We should be proud of our voter turnout and protect these policies.

Unions

For our country to function well, the value of work must be maintained and the economy not allowed to deteriorate into one that values only capital and capital management.

The erosion of unions has been accompanied by erosion of income and quality of life for millions of workers and by the concentration of wealth among fewer and fewer people. Unions must be maintained, and the right to organize and to bargain extended to more workers.

Pensions that were created as part of bargaining contracts that gave up current income for future income must not be destroyed to placate investment bankers.

It is an economic fact that the strongest periods for our economy coincided with the strongest times for unions. It is also a fact that many other developed countries have stronger union systems than ours, and that the strongest economic performances over the last twenty years have been posted by economies with strong union involvement.

Unions help both the economy and workers, and strengthening and protecting unions and other workers’ organizations works for the benefit of all of us.

Public Safety

I support laws that help keep guns out of the hands of convicted felons, domestic abusers, and the dangerously mentally ill. We need to require background checks for all gun purchases. We need to close the gun show loophole in the current background check system to cover all gun sales, not just sales by gun dealers. We need to stop selling military-style assault rifles and extra-large capacity ammunition magazines. We need to do more to protect our public safety.[12][9]

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.


Jennifer Schultz campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* U.S. House Minnesota District 8Lost general$1,255,402 $1,231,132
2022U.S. House Minnesota District 8Lost general$694,758 $655,103
2020Minnesota House of Representatives District 7AWon general$31,493 N/A**
2018Minnesota House of Representatives District 7AWon general$34,260 N/A**
2016Minnesota House of Representatives, District 7aWon $31,078 N/A**
2014Minnesota House of Representatives, District 7aWon $63,777 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Minnesota

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.

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2022

In 2022, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 31 to May 23.

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.


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015



See also


External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
Thomas Huntley (D)
Minnesota House of Representatives District 7A
2015-2023
Succeeded by
Spencer Igo (R)


Senators
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
Tom Emmer (R)
District 7
District 8
Democratic Party (6)
Republican Party (4)