Erin Ningen

Erin Ningen's career experience includes working as a counselor.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I grew up and cut my political teeth on Minnesota's Iron Range, which shaped my commitment to hard-working families and public service.

​I studied history and political science at Bemidji State University. I gained invaluable insight into effective leadership working for trusted Minnesota leaders like Governor Rudy Perpich, Congressman Jim Oberstar, and Senator Paul Wellstone. During this time, I had the chance to serve in Minnesota state government when I was appointed by the governor to serve two terms on the Minnesota Community College Board and one term on the Minnesota State University Board.

​Today, my life remains centered on serving our community. Working overnights as a 988 crisis call specialist and part-time as a restaurant server keeps me directly connected to the everyday struggles of working families. I am running for the House of Representatives to bring common sense, grounded leadership to District 7A. From protecting our public schools and local industries to exploring innovative energy solutions for our abandoned mine pits, I will fight for a prosperous future that lifts up everyone in Northern Minnesota. Because I am not taking any special interest money, there will be no doubt that my time, my energy, and my votes belong exclusively to the people of the Iron Range.

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?

​Working families and retirees who built our community deserve a high quality of life. Yet, Range families must drive hours just to see a dentist or receive medical care. We must aggressively protect rural healthcare.

​We must also fiercely defend public schools. Our system faces a push to defund public education while a flawed funding formula puts rural districts in financial distress. Education is the pathway out of poverty; our kids deserve to build a future based on hard work, not a ZIP code. You either invest in education or build prisons; I will always choose to invest in public education.Public service should be about serving the people, not career longevity or personal gain. Trust in government is broken because too many politicians put their own interests or those of large corporate donors ahead of the people. We must pass real reform to return power to voters. I am calling for strict term limits to end career politicians, and an outright ban on lawmakers trading stocks while in office. Most importantly, we must get big money out of politics. Because I refuse to take a single dime of special interest money, my votes will always belong exclusively to the people of the Iron Range​Our community needs independent leadership ready to seek out innovative ideas that create stable, good-paying jobs for the Iron Range. We must fully support our current industries while aggressively expanding into new sectors, moving our economy past the unpredictable boom-and-bust cycle. By combining our region's rich natural assets and robust transport networks with the unmatched skill of our local workforce, we can build a diverse, resilient future. Working together, we can unlock new economic opportunities and ensure our communities thrive for generations to come.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

​I am passionate about restoring working-class representation to state government. Today, only about 2% of our legislature comes from the working class. As an overnight shift worker, I know firsthand that if the people making the laws don’t share the daily realities of the people living under them, the system will never work for everyone. I am dedicated to bringing the perspective of everyday working families—who clock in, balance tight budgets, and rely on public services—directly to St. Paul to ensure our laws actually serve all of us

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I had a lot of respect for Paul Wellstone, a true champion of the people.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, humility, critical thinking skills, compassion, and life experience.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To listen to all sides of an issue and make an independent determination basically on what's best for the people they represent.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That when somebody, somewhere needed something, I stopped and helped.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Program Coordiator, Summer "Handicapped" Rec Program. (vernacular at the time) i did this for 5 summers.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Single parenting. In today's world a single parent must manage to replace the income of 2 earners, without sacrificing the love, attention and stability that kids deserve.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Amicable.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Jobs. Jobs. Jobs.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes. We have far more in common than that which separates us.

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

Elvis died.