Why I’m running…

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The challenges we face in Minnesota—from deep racial disparities in homeownership to the rising costs of higher education—are not theoretical to me. They are personal. They are the stories of the families I grew up with, the neighbors I serve, and the foundation of my own family's journey.

I am the proud daughter of Rama and Hans, a Senegalese immigrant and a second-generation Dutch American. My parents raised me while running a small cleaning business and teaching in our public schools. Their experience—the dignity of hard work, the reliance on a strong union, and the constant fight for opportunity—is why I first ran for office, and it is why I am running for re-election now.

Delivering Historic Progress

When I first asked for your vote, I promised to bring bold leadership to the State Senate that puts the fight for racial justice and human dignity at the center of everything we do. In my first term, we turned that promise into reality. As your State Senator and Assistant Majority Leader, I have worked tirelessly to deliver real progress:

  • Passed 69 laws in my first biennium and an additional 25 bills this past year, proving that progress is possible when we stay focused on improving lives.

  • Protected Fundamental Rights: I co-authored the PRO Act to codify reproductive freedom and the Trans Refuge Act to protect gender-affirming care in our state.

  • Expanded Opportunity: We made college accessible for thousands of families through the North Star Promise tuition-free program and ensured no child goes hungry with Universal School Meals.

  • Reformed Our Justice System: I chief-authored legislation to ban the use of deception in police interrogations of juveniles and guaranteed no-cost phone calls for incarcerated and civilly committed Minnesotans to keep families connected.

  • Invested in Our District: I secured $122 million for local projects in District 66 and $132 million in local government aid.

The Fight for Our Values is Under Attack

While we have made historic strides, the progress we’ve fought so hard for is under a direct and coordinated attack. We are seeing a federal administration that actively targets our neighbors and demeans our community.

When the President refers to our Somali neighbors as "garbage" and sends ICE agents into our neighborhoods to terrorize immigrant families, it is a direct assault on our shared values and our collective humanity. These actions are designed to spread fear and division, but they only strengthen my resolve to protect every member of our community.

We have already felt the sting of regressive policies here at home, such as the repeal of healthcare access for undocumented Minnesotans—a cruel and racist rollback that I strongly opposed. I will not rest until we restore healthcare for all and ensure Minnesota remains a true refuge for everyone.

Why I Need Your Vote

I am running for re-election because we cannot afford to back down. We need a proven, bold leader in the Senate who isn't afraid to stand up to hate and who knows how to translate our values into law.

The fight for justice and human dignity is far from over. Join me in this fight, and together, we will continue to build a Minnesota where everyone—no matter where they come from or what they look like—is safe, successful, and treated with the dignity they deserve.

With gratitude,

Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten, District 66

Assistant Majority Leader