Members running for office

MAPE members from Rochester to Duluth are seeking to extend their public service as government employees to service in government as elected officials with MAPE endorsements boosting their campaigns. 

According to Political Council Chair and MAPE PAC Board member Nicole Juan, already this cycle, the MAPE PAC has made endorsements “nearly in the double digits” and it’s usually zero in an off year like 2025. Juan said the MAPE PAC Board typically only screens for state races but does screen former or current MAPE members running for local office. “In part, the reason we established a local endorsement policy is because we want to encourage our members to run for public office. We think it’s really powerful when working class folks take elected positions.  MAPE members understand government, policy and the impacts of the positions the elected bodies take. We also know local offices are often a pipeline to state office,” she added.  

Region 17 Director David Clanaugh is running for the District 4 seat on the Duluth City Council. “I am very honored that people reached out to me and encouraged me to run for the City Council,” Clanaugh said. “It’s more than the candidate – it’s about the team. We’ve already knocked on hundreds of doors and voters are telling me they want to be heard and engaged as partners. Governmental services are facing some very challenging times – who better to address this than those who are doing the work?”  

Clanaugh serves as a clinician at the Minnesota Sex Offenders Program. In addition to his human services experience, he has a nonprofit background in affordable housing and youth services with extensive small business engagement. “My district has a thriving small business community along with significant socio-economic challenges. It also has struggled to have strong council representation – I hope to change that,” he added.   

Clanaugh said he was proud to receive a campaign endorsement from MAPE’s Political Action Committee (PAC), “As a strong labor person, receiving my union’s endorsement first, that’s an affirmation on what I’m about and how we work together. It meant a lot.”  Learn more at: https://www.davidclanaughforduluth.com

Local 901’s Xiongpao (Xp) Lee said it was also important to him to receive an endorsement from MAPE’s PAC. “MAPE members do so much good work that is pivotal to the state of Minnesota – they are the unsung heroes of the administration,” Lee, a senior planner for the Department of Health, said. “We have to make sure MAPE employees are protected and can collectively bargain and negotiate their needs as a union. I consider my endorsement a badge of honor.”    

Lee recently won his special election primary for House District 34B. Lee had previously served on the Brooklyn Park City Council until he left last year to concentrate on his new family; his son Arkin was born in February 2025.  

Lee said he and his wife were feeling “very blessed” with the birth of their baby “then the tragedy happened.” The Lees lived only a few houses from former Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, who were assassinated in their home in June. “It was traumatizing – we’re still feeling it in the neighborhood. Folks were calling me and asking me if I was going to run for her seat. I want to continue following in her footsteps. No one will be able to fill her shoes. She was a compassionate, community-oriented leader and I will do my best to fulfill her vision for the state of Minnesota and move our progressive agenda forward. This is the best way to honor her,” Lee said.  

Lee’s top issue is health care, “I work in health equity for the State and definitely want to support the lowering of prescription drugs, health care for our most vulnerable, seniors, those who are homeless, veterans, folks with disabilities, LGBTQ+, and others. I want to help our caucus move toward a health-care-for-all plan – there will be a lot of work to get that done. 

“Our district has two of the largest school districts in the state – I want to make sure they get what they need in terms of teachers, support staff, administrators, family and community involvement, and ensure everyone feels safe in their schools so teachers can teach and students can learn,” Lee added. The special general election for HD34B is on Tuesday, Sept. 16. Learn more at: www.xpleeformnhouse.com

Minnesota State Representative Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger received her third campaign endorsement from MAPE’s PAC this summer in the Senate District 47 special election. Her Senate primary is Aug. 26 and the special general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 4. The PAC previously endorsed her twice when she ran, and won, in House District 47A.  

“The ability to have my union siblings, who know how government works and its importance, has been very helpful and humbling. MAPE members have been instrumental in helping us to reach our campaign goals from door knocking to fundraising,” Hemmingsen-Jaeger said.  

Hemmingsen-Jaeger is a Policy Analyst with the Department of Human Services.  

“It was a tough decision to run for the Senate because I enjoy my time in the House. This Senate race is an opportunity to serve all my community – my district doesn’t just end at Radio Drive – and I will have a chance to serve all of Woodbury and South Maplewood,” Hemmingsen-Jaeger said.  

She said she will concentrate on “maintaining the wins we achieved in 2023 and 2024 like paid family and medical leave, 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, investments in education and doing what we can to insulate Minnesota from the cuts coming from the federal government.”More information at: www.amandaformn.com 

Minnesota State Representative Kim Hicks represents District 25A in Rochester and has been endorsed twice by the MAPE PAC for successful races in 2022 and 2024. She is a program representative in the Department of Human Services.  

“I believe we need to have the expertise and passion in our elected officials, and it shouldn’t just be the ruling class who serve. MAPE members are committed to knowing how government works and are committed to doing the job,” Hicks said. “Labor, working people and their families are at the center of everything we do; their workers get drowned out by corporations and we need to keep workers at the forefront.”  

Human services and child welfare are important legislative interests of hers. Hicks said her focus next year will be on “protecting our wins in the current political dynamics.”  

She urges any MAPE members who are interested in running for political office to consider it, “Do it! You understand how government works, know what is working and not working, you bring deep subject matter to the job and are able to make the lives of Minnesotans better every day.” More information: Rep. Kim Hicks (25A) - Minnesota House of Representatives

Other MAPE members holding elected office include Peter Butler, Coon Rapids City Council, Helen Bassett, Robbinsdale School Board; Aaron Wagner, Robbinsdale City Council and Monica Weber, South St. Paul School Board.