{{Short description|American politician (born 1981)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Kristi Pursell | state_house = Minnesota | district = 58A | predecessor = Todd Lippert | term_start = January 3, 2023 | constituency = 58A (2023-present) | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|02|13}} | birth_place = Rochester, Minnesota, U.S. | education = St. Olaf College (BA)<br />University of Minnesota, Duluth | party = Democratic (DFL) | occupation = {{hlist|Non-profit executive director|Legislator}} | spouse = Michael | children = 2 | website = {{URL|https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15571|Government website}} {{URL|https://www.kristipursell.com/|Campaign website}} | image = Kristi Pursell 2023.jpg }}
'''Kristi Achor Pursell''' (born February 9, 1981) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Pursell represents District 58A in southern Minnesota, which includes the city of Northfield and parts of Dakota, Rice, and Scott Counties.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Pursell, Kristi - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=15571 |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. Kristi Pursell (58A) - Minnesota House of Representatives |url=https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15571 |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=www.house.mn.gov}}</ref>
== Early life, education and career == Pursell was born in Rochester, Minnesota, and graduated from St. Olaf College with a bachelor's degree in English and environmental studies. She also received a graduate certificate in environmental education from the University of Minnesota Duluth.<ref name=":0" />
Pursell served five years as the executive director of Clean River Partners, an environmental nonprofit organization based in Northfield. She has also been a leader in grassroots organizations, including the Land Stewardship Project, ISAIAH MN, and TakeAction MN.<ref>{{Cite web |last=THOMPSON |first=PAMELA |title=Clean River Partners executive director announces bid for House of Representatives seat |url=https://www.southernminn.com/northfield_news/news/clean-river-partners-executive-director-announces-bid-for-house-of-representatives-seat/article_98717a83-fb5f-56a4-bc76-d8a2a4594412.html |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=Southernminn.com |date=17 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref> She worked as executive director of the Cannon River Watershed Partnership.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bjorhus |first=Jennifer |date=April 16, 2021 |title=Conservationists mend fragmented habitat in Cannon River area of Minnesota |url=https://www.startribune.com/conservationists-mend-fragmented-habitat-in-cannon-river-area-of-minnesota/600046890/ |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref>
== Minnesota House of Representatives == Pursell was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022. She ran for an open seat created by legislative redistricting and the retirement of one-term DFL incumbent Todd Lippert.<ref name=":0" />
Pursell serves as vice-chair of the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee and sits on the Elections Finance and Policy, Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy, and Education Finance Committees.<ref name=":0" />
=== Political positions === Pursell authored a bill that would restore a citizens' oversight board to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency that would be able to approve or deny agency policy. The previous board was eliminated in an end-of-session deal in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Way |first=Ron |date=March 27, 2023 |title=OPINION EXCHANGE {{!}} Restore citizen voices to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency process |url=https://www.startribune.com/restore-citizen-voices-to-minnesota-pollution-control-agency-process/600262404/ |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref> According to Pursell, she introduced the bill, which ran into opposition from rural legislators, because "I've heard from many Minnesotans who feel like the MPCA treats industry as its clients rather than centering people and our natural environment".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orenstein |first=Walker |date=2023-03-15 |title=Critical of MPCA, some Minnesota DFLers want citizens board back |url=https://www.minnpost.com/environment/2023/03/critical-of-minnesota-pollution-control-agency-some-dflers-want-to-revive-citizens-board-idea/ |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2023, Pursell authored bipartisan legislation that would fund rural broadband infrastructure across the state. In final negotiations, DFL leadership announced $100 million in rural broadband spending, which Pursell called "the largest commitment the state has made to date for broadband".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orenstein |first=Walker |date=2023-03-24 |title=How far will Minnesota lawmakers' $100 million broadband spending plan go? |url=https://www.minnpost.com/greater-minnesota/2023/03/minnesota-lawmakers-likely-to-spend-100-million-on-broadband-how-far-will-that-go/ |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Electoral history ==
{{Election box begin no change | title = 2022 Minnesota State House - District 58A<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=149&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=469&show=Go|title=2022 Results for State Representative District 58A|access-date=February 25, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Kristi Pursell | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 11,362 | percentage = 54.48 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Gary Bruggenthies | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 9,481 | percentage = 45.46 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 13 | percentage = 0.06 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 20,856 | 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 58A<ref name="Nov24Results">{{cite web |title=2024 Results for All State Representative Races |url=https://electionresults.sos.mn.gov/Results/Index?ersElectionId=170&scenario=StateRepresentative |website=Minnesota Secretary of State |access-date=18 November 2024}}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate =Rita Hillmann Olson | votes = 12,067 | percentage = 47.48 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | candidate =Kristi Pursell (incumbent) | votes = 13,325 | percentage = 52.43 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 22 | percentage = 0.09 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 25,414 | percentage = 100.00 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party }} {{Election box end}}
== Personal life == Pursell lives in Northfield, Minnesota, with her husband, Michael, and has two children.<ref name=":0" />
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{MN-legdb|15571}} * [https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15571 Official House of Representatives website] * [https://www.kristipursell.com/ Official campaign website]
{{Minnesota House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pursell, Kristi}} Category:Living people Category:Democratic Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Category:1981 births Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature Category:St. Olaf College alumni Category:University of Minnesota Duluth alumni Category:Politicians from Rochester, Minnesota Category:People from Northfield, Minnesota Category:Women state legislators in Minnesota Category:21st-century American women politicians