Kobey Layne

Kobey Layne graduated from Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School. Layne earned a bachelor's degree from Hamline University in 2020 and a graduate degree from the University of Minnesota, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs in 2022. Layne's career experience includes working in retail.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Growing up, I was one of 8 children in a blended family. My mother, a homemaker, and my dad, a small business owner. Public service is a value I’ve always been committed to. In high school, I led my Interact Club, a subsidiary of Rotary International.

In college, I served as a resident assistant, helping students navigate personal and interpersonal conflict along with navigating the higher education system (many of them first generation students).

In the summer before my senior year of college, I participated in the Public Policy and International Affairs - Junior Summer Institute. This 7-week program prepared me to pursue further education in the realm of public policy and public affairs. I also served on the Hamline Midway Coalition board of directors, an organization that gathers community voices to inform the city of St. Paul’s policies.

I attended the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and graduated with a Master of Public Policy degree in 2022.

My first job post-graduation, was with Minnesota State Senator Jim Abeler serving as his Committee Legislative Assistant on the Human Services Reform Committee. I left the Republican Party in 2022 after realizing the party’s values do not truly align with my own. After being laid off from the Minnesota Senate after the 2022 election, I found a job in retail to pay my bills.

As a trans woman, one of my latest vocations is creating and organizing community in the Twin Cities trans community.

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?

Minnesota needs to uncouple itself from the American Oligarchs. The vision for Minnesota is one that recognizes that we need a transition away from corporations towards worker cooperatives and local small businesses. For too long have we had a “build and they shall come” infrastructure that caters to corporations as if turning the economic dials to the right corporate franchise tax rate, the right income tax rate, and right property tax rates will entice corporations to build in our state. It is a slap in the face to our hard working communities that want to start businesses that operate from a place of dignity for workers. Our communities have the knowledge and skills to build successful businesses - what they lack is access to capital.Healthcare is a right and it’s time to recognize that as a state. In the face of the One Big Beautiful Bill budget cuts and Medicaid payments being withheld, it is time for Minnesota to ensure everyone across this state receives healthcare.We must address housing affordability. We do this in the short term by passing legislation that caps rent increases to 3% with exceptions for organizations that provide affordable housing. We also need to invest in building more multi-family and transitional housing; however, investing in housing means nothing if we don’t limit the amount of housing organizations can buy, especially private equity firms.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m passionate about healthcare, disability services, dignity for workers through shared ownership of our workplaces, trans healthcare, and decriminalizing sex work.