{{Short description|American politician (born 1986)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Jessica Hanson | party = Democratic (DFL) | children = 2 | birth_place = | education = St. Catherine University (BS)<br>Metropolitan State University (MA) | constituency = District 55A (2023–present)<br />District 56A (2021–2023) | term_start = January 5, 2021 | predecessor = Hunter Cantrell | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|09|13}} | occupation = Senior network representative | website = {{URL|https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15563|Government website}} {{URL|https://www.jesshansonforhouse.com/|Campaign website}} | office = Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives }}
'''Jessica Hanson''' (born September 13, 1986) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2021. A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), Hanson represents District 55A in the southern Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Burnsville and Savage and parts of Dakota and Scott Counties.<ref name="legdb">{{Cite web |title=Hanson, Jessica "Jess" - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=15563 |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. Jessica Hanson (55A) - Minnesota House of Representatives |url=https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15563 |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=www.house.mn.gov}}</ref>
== Early life, education and career == Hanson was born and raised in Minnesota.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Q&A with House District 56A candidate Jessica Hanson|url=https://www.swnewsmedia.com/savage_pacer/news/election/q-a-with-house-district-56a-candidate-jessica-hanson/article_dd05c566-7fc9-57ba-b833-38e5fdc7b85b.html|access-date=2021-05-06|website=SWNewsMedia.com|language=en}}</ref> She earned a Bachelor of Science in social work from St. Catherine University and a Master of Arts in advocacy and political leadership from Metropolitan State University.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rep. Jessica Hanson (56A) - Minnesota House of Representatives|url=https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15563|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.house.leg.state.mn.us}}</ref> Hanson has worked as a dental network representative for Anthem since 2007.<ref name="legdb" />
Before her election to the legislature, Hanson led the Minnesota Campaign for Full Legalization, a nonprofit advocacy group focused on marijuana legalization.<ref name="thc">{{Cite web |last1=Condon |first1=Patrick |last2=Bierschbach |first2=Briana |date=May 22, 2021 |title=Despite slow progress at Capitol, legal marijuana supporters see momentum in Minnesota |url=https://www.startribune.com/despite-slow-progress-at-capitol-legal-marijuana-supporters-see-momentum-in-minnesota/600060233/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref>
==Minnesota House of Representatives== Hanson was first elected to district 56A of the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2020 after one-term DFL incumbent Hunter Cantrell announced he would not seek reelection. Hanson defeated former Republican state representative and state auditor candidate Pam Myhra by 3.3 percentage points in the general election.<ref name="2020result"/> Myhra challenged the 2020 election results, but a judge dismissed the case for the appellant's failure to state a claim and a lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.<ref name="legdb" /> Hanson has been reelected twice since redistricting, winning in district 55A by 6.1 points in 2022<ref name="2022result"/> and 6.8 points in 2024.<ref name="2024result">{{cite web |title=Results for State Representative District 55A, 2022 |url=https://electionresults.sos.mn.gov/results/Index?ErsElectionId=170&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=463&show=Go |website=Minnesota Secretary of State |access-date=April 30, 2025}}</ref>
Hanson authored "Travis's Law", which requires 911 operators to refer calls to mental health teams trained to deescalate serious mental health episodes. The bill was named after Travis Jordan, a man considering suicide who was shot and killed by Minneapolis police in 2018. Hanson's bill passed with bipartisan support and was signed by Governor Walz.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orenstein |first=Walker |date=2021-12-20 |title=What one Greater Minnesota city's experience says about the state's efforts to integrate mental health and police work |url=https://www.minnpost.com/greater-minnesota/2021/12/what-one-greater-minnesota-citys-experience-says-about-the-states-efforts-to-integrate-mental-health-and-police-work/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref>
Hanson has advocated the legalization of marijuana in Minnesota, arguing it should be done by legislation, not a constitutional referendum.<ref name="thc"/> She has said that regulating marijuana would benefit public health and public safety.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Faircloth |first=Ryan |date=July 9, 2022 |title=Minnesota Democrats make recreational marijuana legalization part of election pitch |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-democrats-make-recreational-marijuana-legalization-part-of-election-pitch/600188974/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref>
Hanson authored legislation to repeal a gag order on the study for a Dan Patch commuter rail line that would link Northfield, Minnesota to Minneapolis. She said that the line, which would run through Savage, Minnesota, could improve public transportation in her district.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Janet |date=February 10, 2023 |title=Lawmakers seek to lift gag order on commuter rail between Minneapolis, Northfield |url=https://www.startribune.com/lawmakers-renew-push-to-lift-gag-order-on-study-of-dan-patch-commuter-rail-to-northfield/600250676/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref> In February 2022, in response to high gas prices, she joined other DFL legislators advocating for a temporary repeal of the state gas tax.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pugmire |first=Tim |title=Some House DFLers pitch summer gas tax holiday |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/02/25/some-house-dflers-pitch-summer-gas-tax-holiday |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=MPR News |date=25 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
Hanson signed on to a letter calling on the Biden administration to stop Line 3, a tar sands pipeline proposed to cut through Minnesota tribal lands.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Keeler |first1=Heather |last2=McEwen |first2=Jen |last3=Kunesh |first3=Mary |title=OPINION EXCHANGE {{!}} Next up for Biden: Stop Line 3 |url=https://www.startribune.com/next-up-for-biden-stop-line-3/600015809/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=Star Tribune|date=27 January 2021 }}</ref>
Hanson serves as vice chair of the Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee, and sits on the Children and Families Finance and Policy, Higher Education Finance and Policy, and Human Services Policy Committees.<ref name="legdb" />
== Electoral history ==
{{Election box begin no change | title = 2020 Minnesota State House - District 56A<ref name="2020result">{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=136&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=465&show=Go|title=2020 Results for State Representative District 56A|access-date=February 22, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jessica Hanson | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 13,166 | percentage = 51.61 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Pam Myhra | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 12,316 | percentage = 48.28 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 28 | percentage = 0.11 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 25,510 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title = 2022 Minnesota State House - District 55A<ref name="2022result">{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=149&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=463&show=Go|title=2022 Results for State Representative District 55A|access-date=February 22, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jessica Hanson (incumbent) | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 9,668 | percentage = 53.04 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Gabriela Kroetch | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 8,549 | percentage = 46.90 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 12 | percentage = 0.07 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 18,229 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change |title = 2024 Minnesota State House - District 55A<ref name="2024result"/> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | candidate = Jessica Hanson (incumbent) | votes =12,114 | percentage =53.33 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Gabriela Kroetch | votes =10,576 | percentage =46.56 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes =24 | percentage =0.11 }} {{Election box total no change | votes =22,714 | percentage =100.00 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party }} {{Election box end}}
== Personal life == Hanson lives in Burnsville, Minnesota, and has two children.<ref name="legdb" />
== References == <references />
== External links == {{MN-legdb|15563}} * [https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15563 Official House of Representatives website] * [https://www.jesshansonforhouse.com/ Official campaign website]
{{Minnesota House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hanson, Jessica}} Category:Living people Category:University of Northwestern – St. Paul alumni Category:St. Catherine University alumni Category:Metropolitan State University alumni Category:Democratic Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Category:Women state legislators in Minnesota Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:1986 births Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature Category:Politicians from Burnsville, Minnesota