Minnesota State Senate District 40 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Minnesota, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Minnesota State Senate District 40 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

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• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Minnesota State Senate District 40

Incumbent John Marty defeated Rachel Japuntich in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 40 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Marty (D)	64.8	26,490
		Rachel Japuntich (R)	35.1	14,371
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	42

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 40,903
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

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.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Rachel Japuntich (R)

Education: As a graduate of our state’s public education system, I believe our public schools can provide a foundational education for students to be successful in life. However, today our public-school students are falling behind with ~50% of students are below their grade level for math and reading We must do better for our students, teachers and parents – our students are the future of Minnesota. To improve our public education we need to: Reduce unnecessary burdens on our teachers so they spend more time doing what they love – teaching students, Reduce state mandates to allow school districts to better serve the unique needs of their students, Increase curriculum transparency to parents so they know what is taught to their children.

Public Safety: Everyone in Minnesota deserves to have safe communities to live in. The past few years have shown an erosion in public safety, with many crimes on the rise in the state. Improving public safety requires a number of efforts from the community, government and justice system. Communities need to fully fund and support police departments. Police need to strengthen relationships and build trust among the communities they serve. Prosecutors need to fully charge and prosecute criminals. Courts must increase penalties for repeat offenders. Government must find bipartisan improvements to the juvenile justice system.

Economy: Minnesota families are feeling the burden on their wallets from record inflation, rising costs of living, high taxes and the financial stress from the pandemic. Minnesota is ranked 4th highest for state tax burden, with a 10.19% a state tax burden. During a time of economic stress on many families and businesses due to the pandemic, our state had a record surplus. It is time we reduce the financial burden on families and lower taxes, so that families can keep more of their hard-earned dollars.

John Marty (D)

We must address climate change--human-generated impacts on climate are causing more frequent and severe tornados, droughts, floods, and fires. Despite the destruction, we continue pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, making the problem worse. I am pushing for bold action; we cannot afford to continue tinkering when this is a crisis that can destroy our children’s future. If we don't address this issue with the urgency required, no other issue will matter for future generations. I authored legislation that jumpstarted Minnesota’s solar industry, and am pushing for a stakeholder process to develop a transition plan to a carbon neutral economy, as well as legislation that would bring in market incentives to speed up progress.

Americans pay twice as much for healthcare as other countries but have worse health outcomes. Most people have insurance, but coverage has gaps, and often fails to cover needed care. High out-of-pocket costs make care unaffordable and drive many into debt. I have taken on powerful special interests with a health reform bill that would focus on keeping people healthy and getting the care they need – it prioritizes patients, not profits. My proposal would create a Minnesota Health Plan, which would deliver healthcare for everyone, with no exceptions, providing comprehensive benefits. People would choose their medical providers, without concern about networks. And, importantly, it saves money & would be affordable to all.

Many hardworking Minnesotans are unable to make ends meet despite full-time jobs. I believe that all workers deserve paid family and medical leave. I have authored legislation to provide a living wage, access to affordable childcare, and boost the earned income tax credit, so all workers can support their families. I work for tax reform, so those who are most fortunate economically pay their fair share, and those who struggle, get a fair shake.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Rachel Japuntich (R)

I am passionate about building a better future for Minnesota families through improving education, improving public safety, and reducing financial tax burdens. I am a new leader with new ideas and will collaborate to solve the problems our state is facing right now.

John Marty (D)

I am passionate about protecting our democracy and giving people a voice. If we work together, we can build a better future for all. I know we can make our communities safer so people don't need to worry about violent crime; I know that we can provide healthcare for all, a clean environment, and a fair shake for those who have been left behind. Yes, there are serious threats to our democracy, but together, we can defeat those threats, and strengthen and preserve our democracy.

See also

More about these elections:

• Minnesota State Senate elections, 2022

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