Since announcing her campaign for the United States Senate in December, Karin Housley has been busy showing voters just how she can be “A New Voice for Minnesota” by focusing on small business, promoting healthy families and protecting our veterans. Karin is running for the seat formerly held by Al Franken until his resignation in December due to sexual harassment charges. After his resignation, Tina Smith was selected by Governor Mark Dayton to fill his seat.

At age 54, Karin, a South St. Paul native is a hardworking, loving mother and grandmother with many accolades behind her name. She is the mother to four children: Avery, Reide, Taylor and Wilson and holds her experiences and values as a mother close at heart as she represents the constituents of the 39th Senate District in Minnesota. Since her election to the Minnesota Senate in 2012 Karin, has become a member of many committees including Aging and Long-Term Care Committee, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee as well as the Jobs and Economic Growth Committees. These experiences reflect well on Karin’s ambitious goals to represent Minnesota. On top of her family and her political career Karin is also a small business owner herself. She founded her real-estate business Karin Housley Homes in 2003 and has continued to find success with the help of two of her daughters Taylor and Reide. As a Minnesota native, small business owner and mother she establishes herself as an extremely relatable and respectable female figure for the U.S Senate.

Squaring up against the current seat holder Tina Smith, will prove to be interesting as two female figures compete for a position historically lacking a female perspective. But, elections aren’t won off of character alone. Karin also has a knack for fundraising which will prove to be vital in an election that’s estimated to cost a pretty penny. Housley has showed her ability to raise funds by quickly racking in $150,000 in the final days of 2017 alone. One major obstacle for both Karin Housley and Tina Smith comes from name recognition, an aspect that neither candidate excels in. That being said Karin’s husband Phil Housley offers a great advantage for her. Phil Housley is vastly known throughout the NHL community for his time as a former player and the current coach of the Buffalo Sabers. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November of 2015 Phil was an amazing player with impressive accomplishments such as being the 2nd all- time leading scorer of American born players and playing in 1,495 NHL games. As he transitioned from his playing career into his coaching career Phil began by coaching at Stillwater High School for 9 years before becoming the assistant coach for the Nashville Predators. In 2013, he was the coach for the USA U20 national team leading them to win the gold medal. His latest accomplishment is being named the head coach of the Buffalo Sabers in June of 2017.

The combination of Karin and Phil’s accomplishments truly make them an admirable success story for Minnesotans. The couple married in 1985 after being together beginning in high school and now have been married for 32 years. Even as her husband’s coaching career continues to progress Karin remains true to her ties and obligations to her home state while her husband travels in hopes of winning a Stanley Cup as coach, something he never quite accomplished as a player.

Karin offers a fresh and ambitious face for November’s Senate election. With her well-rounded background as a business women, mother and politician she is an ideal candidate for the republican party. Given she continues to raise the needed funds and expand the reach of the Housley name she looks to have a great chance in this year’s election. Based on her values and political views Karin seems to be the ideal women to provide a voice for Minnesotans in the U.S Senate.