{{Short description|American politician (born 1965)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Patty Acomb | image = | state_house = Minnesota | district = 45B | constituency = 45B (2023-present)<br />44B (2019-2022) | term_start = January 8, 2019 | term_end = | predecessor = Jon Applebaum | successor = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|9|28}} | birth_place = Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = Craig | children = 2 | occupation = Legislator | education = University of Minnesota (BS) | website = {{URL|https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15513|Government website}} {{URL|https://www.pattyacomb.com/|Campaign website}} }}
'''Patty Acomb''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|eɪ|k|oʊ|m}} {{respell|AY|kohm}};<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.house.mn.gov/members/pronunciation |title=Name Pronunciation Guide for House Members 2023|website=Minnesota Legislature|access-date=August 23, 2024}}</ref> born September 28, 1965) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2019. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Acomb represents District 45B in the western Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the city of Minnetonka and parts of Hennepin County.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Acomb, Patty - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?id=15513 |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. Patty Acomb (45B) - Minnesota House of Representatives |url=https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15513 |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=www.house.mn.gov}}</ref>
==Early life, education, and career== Acomb was born in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and graduated from Hopkins High School. She attended the University of Minnesota, graduating with a B.S. in natural resources.<ref name=":0" />
Acomb has worked at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Hennepin County Environmental Services.<ref name=":0" /> She also worked on energy policy for the National League of Cities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Star Tribune Editorial Board |date=October 30, 2018 |title=EDITORIAL {{!}} Election endorsements: Our choices in House Districts 38B, 42A, 44B and 48A |url=https://www.startribune.com/election-endorsements-our-choices-in-house-districts-38b-42a-44b-and-48a/499068791/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref>
Acomb was elected to the Minnetonka Park Board in 2009 and then to the Minnetonka City Council from 2012 until her election to the state legislature.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bockenstedt |first1=Lara |title=Minnetonka City Councilor Patty Acomb announces candidacy for House District seat 44B |url=https://www.swnewsmedia.com/lakeshore_weekly/news/local/minnetonka-city-councilor-patty-acomb-announces-candidacy-for-house-district/article_ceef5898-5919-5767-90fe-e1f778eeb429.html |access-date=November 9, 2018 |work=Lakeshore Weekly News |publisher=Big Fish Works |date=February 21, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> While a council member, she served on the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission, the Metropolitan Council Water Supply Advisory Committee, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's governmental advisory committee. Governor Mark Dayton appointed Acomb to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources from 2015 to 2018.<ref name=":0" />
==Minnesota House of Representatives== Acomb was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018 and has been reelected every two years since. She first ran after two-term DFL incumbent Jon Applebaum announced he would not seek reelection.<ref name=":0" />
Acomb chairs the Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee and sits on the Health Finance and Policy, Sustainable Infrastructure Policy, and Ways and Means Committees. In 2019, she founded and was named chair of the Minnesota House Climate Action Caucus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Star Tribune Editorial Board |date=September 19, 2019 |title=EDITORIAL {{!}} Don't delay on climate action |url=https://www.startribune.com/don-t-delay-on-climate-action/560817082/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref> From 2021 to 2022, Acomb served as vice chair of the Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee.<ref name=":0" />
=== Climate and energy === Acomb led efforts to move Minnesota to zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bjorhus |first=Jennifer |date=February 5, 2021 |title=Legislators push to shrink Minnesota's carbon footprint to zero by 2050 |url=https://www.startribune.com/legislators-push-to-shrink-minnesota-s-carbon-footprint-to-zero-by-2050/600019340/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref> She has supported weatherization, and stated she "preferred carrots rather than sticks" to incentivize a transition to a green economy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orenstein |first=Walker |date=2022-12-01 |title=How far will Democrats in Minnesota go to address climate change next year? |url=https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2022/12/will-minnesota-democrats-pass-most-significant-climate-legislation-in-history-next-year/ |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Orenstein |first=Walker |date=2023-02-27 |title=With carbon-free in place, Minnesota DFLers now debate energy storage mandate |url=https://www.minnpost.com/environment/2023/02/with-carbon-free-law-in-place-minnesota-democrats-now-debating-whether-to-mandate-energy-storage/ |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref> She authored legislation to give schools grants to install solar energy systems and incorporate teaching about energy into their curricula.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Acomb |first=Patty |date=May 14, 2021 |title=Readers Write: Electric vehicles, solar power on school roofs |url=https://www.startribune.com/readers-write-electric-vehicles-solar-power-on-school-roofs/600057450/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Chloe |date=November 24, 2022 |title=Minnesota's DFL lawmakers vow progress on fighting climate change |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesotas-dfl-lawmakers-vow-progress-on-fighting-climate-change/600228924/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref> She also proposed an amendment to bar public utilities from giving subsidies to builders to use natural gas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Chloe |date=October 26, 2022 |title=Minnesota aims for lower carbon emissions, yet its natural gas network keeps growing |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-aims-for-lower-carbon-emissions-yet-its-natural-gas-network-keeps-growing/600219312/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref> Acomb attended the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sturdevant |first=Lori |date=November 20, 2021 |title=OPINION EXCHANGE {{!}} Minnesota, the Midwest are central in combating climate change |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-the-midwest-are-central-in-combating-climate-change/600119044/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Acomb |first=Patty |date=2021-12-01 |title=Minnesotans who went to climate summit returned both distressed and ready to work |url=https://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2021/12/minnesotans-who-went-to-climate-summit-returned-both-distressed-and-ready-to-work/ |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Electoral history ==
{{Election box begin no change | title = 2018 Minnesota State House - District 44B<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=115&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=442&show=Go|title=2018 Results for State Representative District 44B|access-date=February 22, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Patty Acomb | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 15,082 | percentage = 62.74 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Gary Porter | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 8,935 | percentage = 37.17 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 21 | percentage = 0.09 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 24,038 | 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 = 2020 Minnesota State House - District 44B<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=136&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=442&show=Go|title=2020 Results for State Representative District 44B|access-date=February 22, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Patty Acomb (incumbent) | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 17,340 | percentage = 62.29 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Gary Porter | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 10,480 | percentage = 37.65 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 16 | percentage = 0.06 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 27,836 | 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 45B<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=149&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=444&show=Go|title=2022 Results for State Representative District 45B|access-date=February 22, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Patty Acomb (incumbent) | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 14,915 | percentage = 62.05 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Lorie Cousineau | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 9,108 | percentage = 37.89 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 14 | percentage = 0.06 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 24,037 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party }} {{Election box end}}
==Personal life== Acomb and her husband, Craig, have two children. She resides in Minnetonka, Minnesota.<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{MN-legdb|15513}} * [https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15513 Official House of Representatives website] * [https://www.pattyacomb.com/ Official campaign website] * {{ballotpedia|Patty_Acomb|Patty Acomb}}
{{Minnesota House of Representatives}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Acomb, Patty}} Category:Living people Category:Democratic Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:Women state legislators in Minnesota Category:Hopkins High School alumni Category:1965 births Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature