Julie Vossen-Henslin

Julie Vossen-Henslin earned a high school diploma from MACCRAY High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota, Morris in 1981. Her career experience includes working as a business owner.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Julie Henslin offically announced her candidacy on April 20th, 2026 for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 16B, bringing a lifetime of hard work, deep community roots, and small-business experience to the race. Raised in a large family in Raymond, Julie learned the values of labor, responsibility, and respect for the land early on. After earning her degree from the University of Minnesota Morris, she dedicated her early career to healthcare administration and social services in Willmar, where listening to the resilience of everyday people fueled her lifelong passion for advocacy. Alongside her husband of 40 years, Steve, she eventually stepped into entrepreneurship, successfully launching and operating two local manufacturing businesses, Ductcap Products and KZ Sales.

Driven by the motto "Real People, Real Change," Julie's campaign focuses on putting people over politics by championing common-sense solutions for local farmers, healthcare stability, and economic growth. Her decision to run stems from years of dedicated local volunteerism and a profound desire to stand up for her neighbors against growing uncertainty and political chaos. As a mother, business owner and fierce community advocate, Julie is ready to bring authentic leadership, empathy, and persistence to St. Paul. She invites the residents of District 16B to join her in building a stronger, more stable future together.

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?

Community and Local Economy:

-Ag Roots: Raised on a Raymond farm, Julie learned the grit of field work early. She will fight for fairness for local farmers and protect the agricultural backbone of our region.

-Business Tenacity: As a co-owner of two Willmar manufacturing businesses, she knows how to manage payroll and create jobs. She will focus on cutting red tape for small businesses.

-Local Commitment: A lifelong volunteer for schools, the community closet, and local boards, Julie is dedicated to building strong, supportive communities.Compassionate Advocacy:

-Lifetime of Advocacy: Her career as a long-term care administrator and social worker in Willmar fueled her commitment to systemic reform. The resilience of those she served remains her "why."

-Voice of the Underdog: Spurred by growing anxiety and intimidation affecting her neighbors, Julie leads with deep empathy and persistence. She will be a fierce megaphone for the unheard.

-Stronger Together: Progress cannot happen in isolation. Julie's campaign invites unity, championing the idea that our district thrives when neighbors collaborate to solve challenges.Common-Sense Leadership:

-People over Politics: Julie is dedicated to the practical, real-world needs of everyday citizens. She focuses on stable leadership that puts our community and neighbors first.

-Common-Sense Focus: Her platform centers on bringing logic back to government. She will fight for law and order, healthcare stability, and balanced, practical immigration reform.

-Authentic Change: As a mom, wife, and small business owner, Julie is no career politician. Her slogan, "Real People, Real Change," is her promise to bring honest, candid leadership to St. Paul.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

-Agricultural Economic Fairness

-Small Business Deregulation

-Healthcare System Stability

-Common-Sense Immigration Reform

-Law and Order

-Due Process for All

-Rural Economic Development

-Senior Care and Long-Term Care

-Social Services Reform

-Land and Environmental Protections

-Affordable Energy, Housing, and daily products

-Mental Health Access

-Tax Relief and Fair Taxes on those making over a Million Dollars

-K-12 Education Funding

-Workforce Development and Vo-tech

-Veterans' Care and Benefits

-Infrastructure and Road Repairs

-Government Transparency

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

I am deeply rooted in agriculture, small business grit, local advocacy, and community. My determination to break out of my comfort zone and serve my community, comes from the example of many extraordinary American women leaders whose examples perfectly mirror my campaign's values.

These historic American women proved that real leadership is defined by courage, empathy, and practical results. From Shirley Chisholm's independent people-first approach and Frances Perkins' groundbreaking work in social advocacy, to the business grit of Maggie L. Walker and the relentless community focus of Harriet Tubman, their legacies set a powerful standard. They showed that true public service belongs to real people who are willing to step up, challenge the status quo, and fight for the underdog. I aim to follow their example by bringing that same authentic, common-sense leadership to St. Paul. By combining a deep commitment to family and ag with the practical tenacity of a small business owner, I am ready to put people over politics and work hard to build a stronger, more stable community for everyone in District 16B.

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

-Prioritizing practical real-world needs of everyday citizens over partisan division, special interests, and political games.

-Empathy and Compassion

-Authenticity and Transparency

-Grounded Experience

-Common-Sense Problem Solving

-Community Minded

-Candid Communicator

-Accountable and Persistant

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

-Crafting common-sense legislation

-Securing fiscal fairness for the District and State

-Protecting regional mainstays

-Providing Direct Constituent Advocacy

-Ensuring State budget accountability

-Strengthening district stability

-Maintaining trasparent communication

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want my legacy to be simple: I want to leave District 16B stronger, safer, and more unified than it was when I started. Long after my time in office, I hope people remember me as a leader who cut through the noise, stayed true to our roots, and always put the practical needs of our neighbors ahead of politics. I want to prove that you don't need to be a career politican to make a real difference-you just need to care about people and be willing to do the hard work.

Above all, I want this campaign to serve as a reminder that anyone can do anything they truly set their mind to. It takes grit to step out of your comfort zone, but real change only happens when ordinary citizens decide to stand up and lead. I especially hope to inspire the next generation of women in our commmunity. Women are far more capable, resilient, and resourceful than we are often given credit for. We manage households, run businesses, sustain farms, and anchor our communities every single day. If my time in St. Paul can prove that a woman's voice belongs at the highest levels of leadership, then that is a legacy I will be incredibly proud of!

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

The ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature is a healthy partnership built on mutual respect and shared accountability, not a constant tug-of-war for power. While they are seperate branches designed to keep each other in check, they ultimately serve the exact same employers: the taxpayers of Minnesota.

When the system works the way it should, it functions a lot like a successful business partnership. The governor provides a clear executive vision for the state, while the legislature acts as the direct voice of our local communities. This ensures that the unique needs of districts, like 16B are actually reflected in the state's budget and laws. A good governor shouldn't try to bypass the legislature with heavy-handed executive orders, and a good legislature shouldn't just oppose the governor for the sake of political theater.

True success happens when both sides leave the partisan talking points at the door, sit down at the negotiating table, and focus on practical common sense. When leadership prioritzes regular people over party loyalty, we can finally pass stable, long-lasting policies that help our schools, support our farmers, and keep our communities safe.

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

Looking ahead at the next ten years, Minnesota's biggest hurdle is going to be protecting and sustaining rural communities. We are an incredible state, but right now, the gap between the metro area and Greater Minnesota is putting a real strain on our local economies and our way of life.

First, we are facing a massive workforce shortage. Our population is aging, and we simply do not have enough young families or skilled workers staying in our smaller towns. This hits our regional manufacturing shops, main street businesses, and family farms directly. If local employers cannot find the labor they need, it stunts our economic growth and threatens the survival of our tight-knit communities.

Second, our rural healthcare and senior care systems are at a breaking point. Local clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes are struggling with severe shortages and a lack of staff. We have to stabilize these facilities and support the healthcare workers. If we don't, our neighbors won't have access to the basic care they need to live and age with dignity in their own hometown.

Finally, we have to keep our ag economy viable. Our farmers are the backbone of this state, but they are constantly squeezed by sky-rocketing input costs and heavy-handed regulations from St. Paul. We need common-sense policies that give family operations the flexibilty to run their businesses without being weighed down by bureaucratic red tape that doesn't fit the reality on the ground.

By focusing on these practical issues-keeping jobs local, protecting medical infrastructure, and standing up for our famers-we can keep Minnesota strong and stable for the next generation.

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

Compromise isn't a sign of weakness; it is the only way to actually get things done for our community and state. When politicans dig their heels in and refuse to budge, nothing moves forward, the system stalls, and everyday people pay the price. Real leadership means sitting down at the table, listening, and finding a practical path forward.

That doesn't mean selling out your values or giving up on what matters. It just means recognizing that no one person or party has all the answers. By focusing on simple common sense instead of political games, we can pass stable, long-lasting laws that protect our farmers, back small businesses, and keep our communities and neighbors safe. At the end of the day, we accomplish much more when we work together.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

MN DFL, MN 7th Congressional District, MN Senate District 16, MN Young DFL, MN Rural DFL, Planned Parenthood, Indivisible Kandiyohi County