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Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn

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Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 49B district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 8, 2019
Preceded byJenifer Loon
Personal details
Born1986 or 1987 (age 37–38)
Political partyDemocratic (DFL)
SpouseRory
Children4
ResidenceEden Prairie, Minnesota
EducationUniversity of St. Thomas (B.A.)
Occupation
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (born 1986/1987) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2019. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Kotyza-Witthuhn represents District 49B in the southwestern Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the city of Eden Prairie and other parts of Hennepin County, Minnesota.[1][2]

Early life, education, and career

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Kotyza-Witthuhn grew up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and attended the University of St. Thomas, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in entrepreneurship. She is an operations analyst.[1][3]

Minnesota House of Representatives

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Kotyza-Witthuhn was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018 and has been reelected every two years since. She defeated five-term Republican incumbent Jenifer Loon.[1]

Kotyza-Witthuhn has served as vice chair of the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee since 2021. She also sits on the Children and Families Finance and Policy, Economic Development Finance and Policy, and Human Services Finance Committees.[1]

Abortion

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Kotyza-Witthuhn is pro-choice, criticized the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and was a founding member of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus.[3][4] In 2023, she authored the Minnesota House's H.F. 1, also known as the Protect Reproductive Options Act, or PRO Act.[5] The bill added a "fundamental right" to "continue the pregnancy and give birth, or obtain an abortion" in state law. It also protects rights to contraception, sterilization, family planning and counseling. The bill passed the House on January 19 and was signed by Governor Tim Walz on January 31, 2023.[6][7][8]

Education and child care

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Kotyza-Witthuhn has spoken about the challenges of being a mother to a young child while in the legislature, and has spoken about the benefits of remote work for legislators with children at home.[9][10][11] She authored legislation to significantly increase Parent Aware funding, which funds day care and early-learning providers.[12][13] She has supported proposals to increase prenatal and early childhood education.[14][15]

Other political positions

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Kotyza-Witthuhn authored a bill to reinstate the angel tax credit program, giving tax breaks to investors who help start businesses in Minnesota.[16][17] She also introduced legislation to ban nonessential PFAS chemicals in children's products.[18][19]

Electoral history

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2018 Minnesota State House - District 48B[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn 10,397 50.53
Republican Jenifer Loon (incumbent) 10,156 49.36
Write-in 24 0.12
Total votes 20,577 100.0
Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican
2020 Minnesota State House - District 48B[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (incumbent) 13,410 55.00
Republican Holly Link 10,962 44.96
Write-in 12 0.05
Total votes 24,384 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2022 Minnesota State House - District 49B[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (incumbent) 11,406 57.62
Republican Thomas Knecht 8,374 42.30
Write-in 15 0.08
Total votes 19,795 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold

Personal life

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Kotyza-Witthuhn and her husband, Rory, have four children, three of whom were adopted from the foster care system. They reside in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and attend St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Edina.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Kotyza-Witthuhn, Carlie". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  2. ^ "Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (49B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  3. ^ a b Bierschbach, Briana (January 25, 2023). "Women legislators lead push to shape future of abortion rights in Minnesota". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  4. ^ Wurzer, Cathy; Brown, Gretchen (January 5, 2023). "New bill would codify abortion rights into Minnesota law". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  5. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (January 5, 2023). "Minnesota Democrats move quickly to codify abortion access in state law". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  6. ^ Ferguson, Dana (January 19, 2023). "Minnesota House passes right to abortion bill as supporters and opponents gather". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  7. ^ Deng, Grace (2023-01-20). "Right to abortion passes Minnesota House, heads to Senate". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  8. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (January 31, 2023). "Gov. Tim Walz signs law strengthening abortion rights in Minnesota". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  9. ^ Yuen, Laura (May 7, 2022). "This Mother's Day, envision a Legislature that welcomed more moms to public service". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  10. ^ Stoozas, Sam (May 8, 2022). "Archaic rules make motherhood a challenge for women in Minnesota politics". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  11. ^ Condon, Patrick (May 15, 2021). "Hobbled by pandemic, Minnesota Legislature winds down with a whimper". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  12. ^ St. Anthony, Neal (July 3, 2021). "Legislature fell short on help for Minnesota's most vulnerable preschool kids". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  13. ^ St. Anthony, Neal (May 8, 2021). "Backing for preschool scholarships grows at Minnesota Legislature". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  14. ^ Shockman, Elizabeth (January 18, 2019). "4 ways MN lawmakers hope to boost education". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  15. ^ The Associated Press (February 6, 2020). "MN House Democrats seek more early childhood funding". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  16. ^ Van Berkel, Jessie (February 8, 2019). "Tax credits proposed to spur business investments in Minnesota". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  17. ^ Orenstein, Walker (2019-02-05). "The 'angel' tax credit for investors in startups could be on its way back to Minnesota". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  18. ^ Roth, Madison (2023-03-16). "A look at the four Minnesota bills proposing regulations on PFAS chemicals". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  19. ^ Winter, Deena (2023-02-01). "House panel considers 3 bills that would strictly regulate 'forever chemicals'". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  20. ^ "2018 Results for State Representative District 48B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  21. ^ "2020 Results for State Representative District 48B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  22. ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 49B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
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