Kaela Berg
Kaela Berg | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 55B district | |
| Assumed office January 5, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Alice Mann |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 15, 1973 |
| Political party | Democratic (DFL) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Burnsville, Minnesota |
| Education | Ricks College (AA) |
| Occupation |
|
| Website | Government website Campaign website |
Kaela Berg (born September 15, 1973) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2021. A member of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), Berg represents District 55B in the southern Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the city of Burnsville and parts of Dakota County.[1][2]
Early life, education and career
[edit]Berg earned an associate degree from Ricks College (now Brigham Young University–Idaho).[3]
Since 2003, Berg has been a flight attendant for Endeavor Air. She has also worked as a union organizer and representative. She worked as a union steward for United Steelworkers and the Association of Flight Attendants, and as director of the Minnesota Fair Trade coalition.[4][5]
Berg was a delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention for Bernie Sanders, and was critical of Hillary Clinton, saying, "she has blood on her hands."[6] Berg voted for Clinton after Sanders urged delegates to support Clinton to ensure Donald Trump would be defeated.[7][8]
Minnesota House of Representatives
[edit]Berg was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2020 and was reelected in 2022. She first ran after one-term DFL incumbent Alice Mann announced she would not seek reelection. In the general election, Berg defeated former Republican state representative Roz Peterson, who represented the district before Mann.[9] In 2020, Berg had her election results challenged, but a judge dismissed the case for failing to state a claim and a lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.[1]
Berg is the vice chair of the Labor and Industry Finance and Policy Committee, and sits on the Education Policy and State and Local Government Finance and Policy Committees. She also serves as an assistant majority leader for the DFL House Caucus.[1]
Berg is a member of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and is pro-choice.[10] In February 2022, in response to high gas prices, she joined other DFL legislators advocating for a temporary repeal of the state gas tax.[11]
Electoral history
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Kaela Berg | 12,179 | 52.31 | |
| Republican | Roz Peterson | 11,073 | 47.56 | |
| Write-in | 30 | 0.13 | ||
| Total votes | 23,282 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Kaela Berg (incumbent) | 9,288 | 58.42 | |
| Republican | Van Holston | 6,601 | 41.52 | |
| Write-in | 11 | 0.07 | ||
| Total votes | 15,900 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Personal life
[edit]Berg lives in Burnsville, Minnesota, and has two children.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Berg, Kaela - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
- ^ "Rep. Kaela Berg (55B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- ^ Gessner, John. "Race is set for open seat in District 56B". hometownsource.com. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
- ^ "House District 56B candidate questionnaire". hometownsource.com. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
- ^ Brodey, Sam (2017-05-24). "On trade, Donald Trump sounds like a Democrat. But can Democrats trust him?". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- ^ Brodey, Sam (2016-07-25). "Convention week: Can Democrats unify — and avoid drama?". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- ^ Condon, Patrick; Coolican, J. Patrick (July 28, 2016). "Minnesota DFL's Sanders, Clinton camps join in opposition to Trump". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- ^ stribcondon (July 28, 2016). "On convention's last day, Sanders rallies DFL delegates". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- ^ Pugmire, Tim (September 24, 2020). "State legislative races to watch". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- ^ Gessner, John (October 7, 2021). "Lawmakers join new Reproductive Freedom Caucus". Sun Thisweek. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
- ^ Pugmire, Tim (February 25, 2022). "Some House DFLers pitch summer gas tax holiday". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- ^ "2020 Results for State Representative District 56B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 55B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.