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Jessica Hanson
Jessica Hanson
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives; from the 55A district
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; January 5, 2021
Preceded by	Hunter Cantrell
Personal details
Born	September 13, 1986 (age 38)
Political party	Democratic (DFL)
Children	2
Residence	Burnsville, Minnesota
Education	St. Catherine University (BS); Metropolitan State University (MA)
Occupation	Senior network representative
Website	Government website Campaign website

Jessica "Jess" 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.^[1]^[2]

Early life, education and career

Hanson was born and raised in Minnesota.^[3] 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.^[4] Hanson has worked as a dental network representative for Anthem since 2007.^[1]

Before her election to the legislature, Hanson led the Minnesota Campaign for Full Legalization, a nonprofit advocacy group focused on marijuana legalization.^[5]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Hanson was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2020 and reelected in 2022. She first ran after one-term DFL incumbent Hunter Cantrell announced he would not seek reelection. Hanson defeated former Republican representative and state auditor candidate Pam Myhra in the general election. In 2020, Hanson had her election results challenged, but a judge dismissed the case for failing to state a claim and a lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.^[1]

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.^[1]

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.^[6]

Hanson has advocated the legalization of marijuana in Minnesota, arguing it should be done by legislation, not a constitutional referendum.^[5] She has said that regulating marijuana would benefit public health and public safety.^[7]

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.^[8] In February 2022, in response to high gas prices, she joined other DFL legislators advocating for a temporary repeal of the state gas tax.^[9]

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.^[10]

Electoral history

2020 Minnesota State House - District 56A^[11]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Jessica Hanson	13,166	51.61
	Republican	Pam Myhra	12,316	48.28
	Write-in		28	0.11
Total votes			25,510	100.0
	Democratic (DFL) hold

2022 Minnesota State House - District 55A^[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Jessica Hanson (incumbent)	9,668	53.04
	Republican	Gabriela Kroetch	8,549	46.90
	Write-in		12	0.07
Total votes			18,229	100.0
	Democratic (DFL) hold

2024 Minnesota State House - District 55A^[13]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Jessica Hanson (incumbent)	12,114	53.33
	Republican	Gabriela Kroetch	10,576	46.56
	Write-in		24	0.11
Total votes			22,714	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold