Dear Friend,

My name is Jamie Long and I'm the DFL-Endorsed candidate running to represent you in the Minnesota House. Our current Representative Paul Thissen has been a tireless advocate for us, and I will work hard to continue to champion progressive values.

I’m running to bring my experience in grassroots advocacy and progressive politics to the State House. I am honored to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Keith Ellison, running his Minnesota office for over five years. I’ve dedicated my career to public service, working as an environmental attorney, and as a policy expert specializing in energy and transportation. 

My wife Melissa and I have made our home in Southwest Minneapolis since returning to Minnesota. Melissa and I were high school sweethearts and this year was a big one for us: we celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary and welcomed our first child, Ryan, to our family.

Working for Keith has taught me that change comes from the bottom up, and I’ve tried to live this philosophy. I’ve worked with a local non-profit to help confront climate change by bringing community solar to southwest Minneapolis. As recent chair of my neighborhood council, I have promoted local civic engagement, hosting civics and issue forums to help neighbors be informed.

I am committed to ending opportunity gaps that persist by race, gender, class, sexual orientation, and gender identity. We can start with single-payer healthcare for all Minnesotans, to close our disparities in health outcomes. We need to stop mass incarceration and reform police training and accountability standards. As a new parent, I also know the need for Paul Thissen’s work on paid sick leave and affordable child care, so no one has to choose between their child and their job.

I pledge to bring new energy and innovative ideas to the State Capitol. I’m proud to have as my campaign Co-Chairs four outstanding advocates for Southwest Minneapolis – Representative Frank Hornstein, Senator Scott Dibble, Councilmember Linea Palmisano, and Councilmember Lisa Bender. 

Working together, we can not only champion progressive causes, we can also organize our district – a DFL vote engine for the state – to keep Minnesota blue. Nearly 8,000 fewer people vote in our district in non-Presidential elections. With Governor Dayton winning by just 9,000 votes in 2010, our district could make the difference, and I would love your help to turn out the vote.

I look forward to talking with you in the coming months and to hearing your ideas.

Sincerely,

Jamie Long