Peggy Flanagan
Peggy Flanagan (Ojibwe: Geji Waudamukwe;[a][1] born September 22, 1979) is an American politician. She is the 50th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota since 2019. She was elected lieutenant governor on November 6, 2018.[2] She is the first woman of color elected to statewide office in Minnesota, and the highest-ranking Native American woman in elected office in the nation.[3]
Peggy Flanagan | |
|---|---|
Geji Waudamukwe[a] | |
 Flanagan in May 2023 | |
| 50th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota | |
| Assumed office January 7, 2019 | |
| Governor | Tim Walz |
| Preceded by | Michelle Fischbach |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 46A district | |
| In office November 9, 2015 – January 7, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Ryan Winkler |
| Succeeded by | Ryan Winkler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 22, 1979 Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Tim Hellendrung (div. 2017)Tom Weber (m. 2019) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of Minnesota (BA) |
She is a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL). Flanagan represented District 46A in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019. Before being elected to political office, she worked at a political training camp and was an activist.[4] She is politically a progressive.[4]
Early life
changeFlanagan was born in Minnesota to activist Marvin Manypenny.[5] Flanagan was raised by a single mother in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. She is of Irish and Ojibwe descent.[6] She is a citizen of the White Earth Nation.[4]
Flanagan received a bachelor's degree in child psychology and American Indian studies from the University of Minnesota in 2002.[7][8]
Early political career
changeWhile in college, Flanagan worked on U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone's campaign, eventually becoming an organizer for the urban Native American community.[9] After college, she worked for the Minnesota Council of Churches and the Minneapolis public school system.[9]
In her first run for elective office, Flanagan won a seat on the board of Minneapolis Public Schools in 2004.[10] In 2008, she ran against incumbent Minnesota Representative Joe Mullery in the Democratic primary, but dropped out of the race because of her mother's health problems.[9] After working a handful of other jobs, Flanagan worked as a trainer at Wellstone Action, helping people who wanted to run for office in Minnesota.[9] She was then appointed to briefly serve on the school board again from 2010 until 2011.[11]
Flanagan was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives without any competition in a special election on November 3, 2015, and sworn in on November 9.[12]
Lieutenant governor of Minnesota
changeIn 2017, Flanagan became a candidate for lieutenant governor, joining U.S. Representative Tim Walz, who won the DFL primary in the 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election.[13] In the general election, Walz and Flanagan defeated the Republican nominees, Jeff Johnson and Donna Bergstrom. Walz and Flanagan were reelected in 2022.[14][15]
Flanagan supports transgender rights and providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth. She supported Walz's executive order protecting access to gender-affirming care for adults and youth.[16]
Flanagan was one of four chairs of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.[17]
Personal life
changeFlanagan has a daughter with her first husband, Tim Hellendrung.[18] The marriage ended in 2017. She lives in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.[19]
In January 2018, Flanagan announced that she was in a relationship with radio host Tom Weber.[20] Flanagan married Weber in September 2019.[21]
Notes
changeReferences
change- ↑ WATCH: Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan speaks at 2024 Democratic National Convention (YouTube video). PBS News Hour. 19 August 2024. Event occurs at 1:02.
My name in the Ojibwe language is Geji Waudamukwe.
- ↑ Van Berkel, Jessie (November 16, 2018). "Peggy Flanagan, lieutenant governor to be, takes lead role in Tim Walz transition". Star Tribune. Minneapolis.
Flanagan's first priority is creating a board that will influence hiring and budget development.
- ↑ Taylor, Rory (2018-12-03). "The Nation's Highest-Ranking Native Woman Elected to Executive Office Has a Message for Indigenous Youth". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lopez, Ricardo (July 18, 2015). "Progressive activist Peggy Flanagan running unopposed for Minnesota House". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
- ↑ Collins, Jon (January 28, 2020). "Marvin Manypenny, Minnesota American Indian activist, dies". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ↑ Boyd, Cynthia. "Peggy Flanagan, new head of Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota, knows challenges of childhood poverty". MinnPost. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ↑ "Representative Peggy Flanagan (DFL) District: 46A". Minnesota House of Representatives. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ↑ "Meet St. Louis Park Rep. Peggy Flanagan | City South". Community Life Magazine. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Bierschbach, Briana (November 4, 2015). "The unopposed: Meet Minnesota's newest House member". MinnPost. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ↑ "School Board: Lee, Flanagan, Henry-Blythe". November 11, 2004. Archived from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- ↑ "Peggy Flanagan's focus for MPS students: equity". MinnPost. 2010-10-04. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
- ↑ Montgomery, David H. (November 9, 2015). "Flanagan sworn in as newest Minnesota lawmaker". Saint Paul Pioneer Press. Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ↑ Bakst, Brian (October 5, 2017). "Capitol View: Walz picks state legislator as running mate". Minnesota Public Radio.
- ↑ Taylor, Rory (December 3, 2018). "Lieutenant Governor-Elect of Minnesota Peggy Flanagan Becomes the Highest-Ranking Native Woman Elected to Executive Office in the United States". Teen Vogue. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ↑ "Native women and access to power". August 26, 2020.
- ↑ "Make protection for gender care permanent". Star Tribune. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- ↑ Olson, Rochelle (2024-08-19). "Minnesota's lieutenant governor named one of four Democratic National Convention chairs in Chicago". www.startribune.com. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
- ↑ "Flanagan, Peggy - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
- ↑ "MPR's Tom Weber reassigned because of romantic relationship with Rep. Peggy Flanagan". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on January 15, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ↑ "A note from MPR News". Capitol View. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
- ↑ "Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan marries former MPR reporter Tom Weber". Star Tribune.
Other websites
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