{{Short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Larry Kraft | state_house = Minnesota | district = 46A | predecessor = Ryan Winkler | term_start = January 3, 2023 | constituency = 46A (2023-present) | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|01|24}} | birth_place = | education = Cornell University (BS) (MBA) | party = Democratic (DFL) | occupation = Legislator | spouse = Lauri | children = 2 | website = {{URL|https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15619|Government website}} {{URL|https://www.larrykraftslp.org/|Campaign website}} | image = Larry Kraft Housing Act.jpg }}
'''Larry Kraft''' (born January 24, 1966) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), Kraft represents District 46A, which includes the city of St. Louis Park in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and parts of Hennepin County.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Kraft, Larry - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=15619 |access-date=2023-02-26 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. Larry Kraft (46A) - Minnesota House of Representatives |url=https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15619 |access-date=2023-02-26 |website=www.house.mn.gov}}</ref>
== Early life, education and career == Kraft received his bachelor's degree in computer science and his masters in business administration from Cornell University.<ref name=":0" />
Kraft worked in the tech industry but left to become executive director of iMatter, a national nonprofit based in the Twin Cities focused on youth activism pushing for solutions to climate change.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Covington |first=Hannah |date=November 30, 2018 |title=From city halls to the State Capitol, Minnesota youths lead the charge in climate crisis |url=https://www.startribune.com/from-city-halls-to-the-state-capitol-minnesota-youth-lead-the-charge-against-climate-crisis/501668852/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Hyatt |first=Kim |date=January 19, 2022 |title='We have a lot to lose': 16 Minnesota cities declare climate emergency, urge legislative action |url=https://www.startribune.com/we-have-a-lot-to-lose-16-minnesota-cities-declare-climate-emergency-urge-legislative-action/600137514/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref> He helped mentor student groups that advocated for St. Louis Park to adopt a climate action plan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Klecker |first=Mara |date=December 27, 2019 |title=High schoolers step up to help run the Twin Cities |url=https://www.startribune.com/youth-step-up-to-help-twin-cities-area-governance/566528662/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunbar |first=Elizabeth |date=2017-03-21 |title=After prodding from youth, cities get tough on climate |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/03/21/grand-marais-st-louis-park-climate-inheritance-measures |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=MPR News |language=en}}</ref>
Kraft has served in many capacities for the city of St. Louis Park, including as a city council member, environment and sustainability commissioner, and a member of the climate action plan committee and the steering committee for St. Louis Park arts and culture strategic framework development.<ref name=":0" /> While on the city council, he was the lone dissenting vote on a ban of vaping products and e-cigarettes, saying it was getting ahead of federal regulations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Klecker |first=Mara |date=January 7, 2020 |title=St. Louis Park to ban sale of vaping products, e-cigarettes |url=https://www.startribune.com/st-louis-park-to-ban-sale-of-vaping-products-e-cigarettes/566798272/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref> In January 2022, Kraft led a coalition of 16 Minnesota cities that declared a climate emergency and urged the state legislature to address the crisis.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kraker |first=Dan |date=2022-01-20 |title=Cities across Minnesota declare climate emergencies |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/01/20/cities-across-minnesota-declare-climate-emergencies-demand-action |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=MPR News |language=en}}</ref>
== Minnesota House of Representatives == Kraft was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022. He first ran after redistricting and after seven-term DFL incumbent Ryan Winkler announced he would run for Hennepin County Attorney.<ref name=":0" />
Kraft serves as vice chair of the Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee and sits on the Commerce Finance and Policy, Sustainable Infrastructure Policy, and Transportation Finance and Policy Committees.<ref name=":0" />
== Electoral history ==
{{Election box begin no change | title = 2022 Minnesota State House - District 46A<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=149&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=445&show=Go|title=2022 Results for State Representative District 46A|access-date=February 25, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Larry Kraft | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 16,013 | percentage = 97.88 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 347 | percentage = 2.12 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 16,360 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party }} {{Election box end}}
== Personal life == Kraft lives in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, with his wife, Lauri, and has two children.<ref name=":0" />
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{MN-legdb|15619}} * [https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15619 Official House of Representatives website] * [https://www.larrykraftslp.org/ Official campaign website]
{{Minnesota House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kraft, Larry}} Category:Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:Cornell University alumni Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature Category:People from St. Louis Park, Minnesota