Rep. Liz Olson announces plans to step down from Minnesota House
Four-term Duluth lawmaker to resign July 5
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth) today announced her resignation from the Minnesota House of Representatives effective Friday, July 5 at 11:59 p.m. She had previously announced her intention to not seek reelection to the House this fall.
“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to represent Duluth in the Minnesota House. Since 2017, I’ve led with the values we hold dear including a strong commitment to our students; safe, inclusive, and healthy communities; good jobs with economic security for families; preserving our natural resources, and more,” Rep. Olson said. “Working together, I’m proud we delivered for Minnesotans in numerous ways. I couldn’t have been effective at the State Capitol without the collaboration and support of so many people who care deeply about the success of our community and the opportunity for their neighbors to thrive and prosper.”
She currently chairs the House Committee on Ways and Means. Previously, she’s held leadership positions including Majority Whip, Deputy Majority Leader, and Speaker Pro Tempore.
As the Capitol, Rep. Olson has focused on supporting families, protecting workers, and investing in communities. In 2019, she led a groundbreaking, bipartisan measure to enact fees on drugmakers so they share in the responsibility to help address increases in opioid use disorders and opioid-related deaths. In 2021, she championed legislation launching a new community child care grant program to address Minnesota’s child care shortage, particularly in Greater Minnesota. In 2022, she helped deliver a $92.7 million package for mental health, including grants for individuals in shelters and health care professionals. The same year, she amplified the voices of Duluth’s burgeoning craft beverage industry at the Capitol leading to an overhaul of outdated state liquor laws which had stifled innovation and growth.
One of Rep. Olson’s biggest successes came last year when she was the lead author of legislation to allow workers across the state access to Earned Sick and Safe Time. The measure – modeled after local initiatives in communities like Duluth – was an effort years in the making, requiring a committed coalition of lawmakers, workers, and community leaders to overcome powerful special interest opposition.
Over Rep. Olson’s time in office, her work has resulted in tens of millions of dollars worth of investments in public and community assets in the city of Duluth.
Serving as the Ways and Means Committee chair this biennium, Rep. Olson worked to shepherd a transformational two-year state budget through the House. The budget followed the numerous challenges Minnesota faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic while also addressing many roadblocks Minnesotans faced before the pandemic. Lawmakers delivered robust, overdue investments in several important issue areas including public education, health care, housing services for people with disabilities, transportation infrastructure, and tax cuts for workers, families, and seniors.
After her service ends, Rep. Olson encourages constituents to reach out to Sen. Jen McEwen at 651-296-4188 or sen.jennifer.mcewen@mnsenate.gov with any input, questions, or casework requests. The District 8A office will also remain staffed by Leah Killian, legislative assistant, who can be reached at leah.killian@house.mn.gov.
“Ensuring my constituents continue to have access to a helpful, listening ear has weighed heavily upon me as I made this decision,” Rep. Olson said. “I hope folks will reach out to Sen. McEwen or my office – which will remain staffed – if they need a hand navigating anything to do with state government.”
Upon leaving office, Rep. Olson will begin work as a Senior Program Officer focused on strengthening democratic participation for the McKnight Foundation, a family foundation based in Minnesota working to advance a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. She will begin her new role on July 8.
No special election is expected for the seat; voters will select her successor in November’s general election.