Monique Doward

Monique Doward (Forward Independence Party) is running for election to the Minnesota State Senate to represent District 11. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026.[source]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am an Independent candidate for Minnesota Senate District 11, endorsed by Forward Independence, and I am running to bring public service back to working families, rural communities, and people who feel unheard by government.

I am a former Kettle River City Council member, social worker, a public health doctoral student, and a community advocate. My background is in public health, social services, disability policy, local government, and rural community work. Through those roles, I have seen how policy decisions affect real people: whether a family can access health care, whether a parent can keep working, whether a senior can remain independent, whether a school can stay strong, and whether local government is transparent and accountable.

I am running because District 11 needs practical leadership that is not controlled by party politics. I believe in protecting essential services, investing in rural infrastructure, strengthening education, reforming social service systems, and holding government accountable at every level. My campaign is rooted in fairness, transparency, and the belief that government should work for the people it serves.

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?

I am running to protect essential services and strengthen rural public health. Families in northern Minnesota should not have to drive hours for care, wait months for mental health support, or go without basic utilities because systems are unclear or unfair. Health care, water, sewer, transportation, and disability services are public health issues, and District 11 deserves a senator who understands that.To invest in rural schools, jobs, child care, and infrastructure. Our communities need strong public schools, career and technical education, broadband, roads, bridges, and transportation projects such as Northern Lights Express. Infrastructure is not just construction; it is how people get to work, how businesses grow, and how small towns keep their future. That is why I am in this race to district 11.No one is exempt from the law, to bring accountability and fairness back to government systems. That means oversight of local government, protection against fraud, waste, and abuse, and reforms to social services and child support. Child support should help children while also helping parents stay employed, access training, and make consistent payments without being pushed deeper into poverty. District 11 needs this leadership and that is the reason I am running.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am personally passionate about public health, rural health care, education, infrastructure, social services, child support reform, disability policy, utility protection, and government accountability. I believe policy should be practical and people-centered. That means expanding access to care, supporting small rural schools, protecting basic utilities, creating job pathways, improving transportation, making child support fairer and more workable, and ensuring elected officials and local governments are held accountable to the public.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Forward Independence Party