Minnesota House District 39a – Local Decision 2026

In 2026, voters will elect someone to serve as State Represenative for District 39a. The candidates are:

AARON KLEMZ (DFL)

About:

Aaron is an educator, environmental advocate, and active volunteer in the community. He has advocated for clean water, climate justice, and healthy communities at the Minnesota State Capitol for over 10 years. Aaron also serves the Fridley community as a volunteer. He was the Chair of the Fridley Environmental Quality and Energy Commission and a commissioner on the Fridley Planning Commission. Aaron co-founded the DFL Environmental Caucus in 2015, was elected vice-chair, and chaired the endorsement committee.

Aaron taught public speaking and communications courses at Century College in White Bear Lake for over a decade. While at Century College, he was elected twice to vice-chair of the campus chapter of the Minnesota State College Faculty union. He also taught graduate courses in policy development in the Master of Advocacy and Political Leadership program at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul.

Aaron was the founding coach of the policy debate team at North Community High School in Minneapolis, coached the Como Park High School debate team in St. Paul, and served 14 years on the Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL) Board.

Important Issues:

Top Quality Health Care: Minnesota’s health care system has world-class doctors and hospitals, but a serious problem with affordability and accessibility. I’ll push for a single-payer statewide plan to cover all Minnesotans and protect access to abortion and gender-affirming care.

Clean Water & Climate: Every Minnesotan deserves clean, safe water to drink, and a healthy environment in which to thrive. I’ll use my experience to push for clean energy, clean water, and environmental justice for all Minnesotans.

Thriving Public Schools: I will prioritize full and equitable funding of our public schools. Excellent public education is a key factor in lifting people out of poverty. Attempts to ban books are wrong.

Defend our Neighbors: Fear and intimidation created by federal immigration operations is corrosive to our community. They are brutal, target people based on language and race, and disregard people’s rights.

Goals if Elected:

I’m running for Minnesota House to build a stronger, healthier, and fairer Minnesota for everyone.

I want to make our community and state stronger and more resilient. I was in awe of the incredible work done by our community during Operation Metro Surge. Everyday people stood in freezing weather on the corner to make sure kids got to school safely. People banded together to deliver food. This work pointed out the needs, but also the potential for collective action. One goal I have is to make the state government a partner in that work. Another is to support entrepreneurs and small businesses so that more of our money stays in our communities.

Government needs to be for all people, not a privileged few. Legislators should stand up for the people, not billionaires. Everyone deserves fair treatment from our government, regardless of your income, race, gender, or zip code.

Endorsements:

Minnesota DFL
Education Minnesota
Minnesota Nurses Association
Minnesota Professional Firefighters Association
Service Employees International Union – Minnesota State Council
Minnesota Association of Professional Employees
Inter Faculty Organization
Conservation Minnesota Voter Center
Sierra Club
Friends of the Boundary Waters Action Network
Save the Boundary Waters Action Fund
MN 350 Action
Gender Justice Action
Planned Parenthood Minnesota/North Dakota Action Fund
Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate
DFL Environmental Caucus
DFL Stonewall Caucus
Minnesota Young DFL
Jane Fonda Climate PAC
Humane World Action Fund
Fairvote Minnesota Democracy Champion
Committee to Protect Health Care – Care for MN Candidate