Image via leighformn.com
Leading up to the Nov. 3 General Election, the Roseville Reporter will publish Q&A responses from candidates on the ballot. Readers can get to know the candidates and learn about their goals and stances on current issues to make an informed decision come Election Day.
Candidates sent their responses to the Roseville Reporter via email. The Roseville Reporter remains neutral and publication of a candidate’s responses does not indicate endorsement.
Leigh Finke
Candidate for House District 66A
House District 66A represents Roseville precincts 08 through 10; St. Paul Ward 4 precincts 01 through 03, 08 through 10, 11 and 13 and Ward 5 precinct 10; and the cities of Falcon Heights and Lauderdale.
Find your representative here.
Background
Occupation: State Representative
I’m a Minnesota native, raised in Delano and Maple Grove. I graduated from Bethel College, earned my master’s at DePaul University, then worked in journalism and media production and for the ACLU of Minnesota. In 2022, I became the first out trans woman elected to the Minnesota Legislature. In my first term, I was chair of the Queer Legislators’ Caucus and now serve as the House Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus. USA Today named me Minnesota’s Woman of the Year in 2023.
Minnesota has experienced fraud. What specific safeguards and checks and balances do you intend to develop and support to see that this does not continue?
DFLers are furious that taxpayer dollars intended to support families, seniors, people with disabilities and children have been stolen through fraud. Every public dollar should serve the public good, not scammers, shell companies or criminals who exploit Minnesotans.
We must stop fraud before it starts, hold those responsible fully accountable and protect the programs serving vulnerable Minnesotans.
I voted to create Minnesota’s independent Office of Inspector General, which will investigate anyone receiving public dollars and coordinate across state agencies. It must be fully funded and independent when it opens in 2027.
I also authored HF 4976 to strengthen the Minnesota False Claims Act. It raises damages, protects whistleblowers, holds owners and investors liable when they know about fraud and don’t report it and lets the State Auditor share suspected fraud with the Attorney General.
We must not allow fraud to disrupt our compassion for those in need. I remain committed to serving all of Minnesota’s residents. But our state must increase oversight and stop this crisis.
Given the current economic situation, what ideas do you have to help with affordability issues?
As a former renter in Midway for years, I know what rising rent does to a family budget. Add rising gas and grocery prices under the Trump administration, plus his cuts to health care, and life is becoming increasingly unaffordable
On housing, we need more housing options and stronger renter protections, including zoning reform to allow for more housing quickly. There are so many solutions to this problem and we need an every tool in the toolkit approach: state bonding to build public and affordable housing, limits on corporate buy-to-rent purchases and limits on how fast landlords can raise rents.
This year we passed $40 million in rental assistance and HOA reform, but there’s more money needed to solve this problem, which is why I support taxing the wealthiest Minnesotans and corporations to ensure we can continue to provide a safety net in the face of these cuts.
Small costs add up, too, and every dollar counts, which is why I am glad that my bill requiring free drinking water at large ticketed events is now law.
Identify and expand on three major initiatives you would like to work on in the upcoming session. How do you plan to work across the aisle to gain support for your ideas?
- The Equal Rights Amendment. Civil rights are eroding, and our rights are at risk. The ERA will put our many protections into the state constitution, ensuring they will provide long term protection. I am the author in the House, and am very excited to carry it over the finish line.
- Safe storage of firearms. I carried this legislation in 2025 and will continue to carry the firearm Safe Storage bill until we pass it. We can reduce suicides and accidental firearm deaths, building on my bill requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms.
- Accountability for federal agents. I’ll reintroduce my bills banning masks for all law enforcement, including federal agents, and requiring clearly marked vehicles to transport detained people. Secret-police tactics must end.
With the tie in the legislature, I have experience working with Republicans to get things done. Two of my bills, free water at large events and a tree-planting initiative, became law. I’ll continue to do that work in good faith with anyone willing to collaborate.
