Freshman Minnesota State Senator Julia Coleman (R-Chanhassen) is already making waves in Saint Paul.
Fresh off the heels of her first legislative session, the former Miss Minneapolis 2014 titleholder immediately sponsored bills and served on the Education Finance and Policy, Taxes, and Transportation Finance and Policy committees.
Coleman said her proudest achievement thus far was delivering on behalf of her constituents.
I exclusively spoke to Senator Coleman about her call to public service, why she chose life for her identical twin boys despite doctors’ wishes, and how the GOP can be viable again in Minnesota.
A Call to Public Service
Senator Julia Coleman always desired to be a changemaker in her community.
“I've always been the type of person who can't just sit back and complain about an issue and hope that somebody else will step up to the plate to do something about it,” Coleman explained. “I have always been the type of person where if I see a problem, I jump in.”
Her first foray into public service came in 2018 when she ran on a ticket and won a spot on the Chanhassen City Council in suburban Minneapolis.
Following the retirement of State Senator Scott Jensen, a fellow Republican representing the 47th District, Julia, again, felt called to run.
This time, she clinched the Republican nomination solo and pulled off an impressive win last November 3rd—securing 57.6 percent of the vote against her Democratic challenger.
Her victory was historic too: She became the youngest woman ever elected to the Minnesota State Senate, regardless of political party, at age 28.
“We’re Not Choosing Between Our Two Sons”
Before being sworn into office, Coleman and her husband Jacob learned they were expecting identical twin boys. Naturally, they were overjoyed by the news.
Then they were told she was pregnant with monochorionic diamniotic twins, a rare pregnancy where twins share one placenta and have one connection to the mother. This made her pregnancy especially high-risk.
Some doctors rashly insisted she undergo a procedure called selective pregnancy reduction to eliminate one baby to supposedly save the other.
Coleman, who was raised Catholic and is pro-life, found this suggestion appalling and unacceptable.
“We instantly said, ‘No, we're not choosing between our sons. There's no situation where that's going to happen,”’ Coleman remarked.
“My son Charles, his growth was really bad,” she added. “So we decided to take them out [at 33 weeks]. And we finished the legislative session on midnight May 17th. And my boys were born at 1pm on May 18th. So they timed it out perfect.”
“It is something so beautiful to see how they [the twins] just are drawn to each other and connect with each other,” beamed Senator Coleman.
“I cannot imagine having to look James in the eyes and say, ‘Well, I killed your brother right next to you and you grew along next to his little dead body,’” the mom of three said.
“It's horrific that that's even an option for twin parents.”
Is Governor Walz Vulerable in 2022?
I asked Senator Coleman if Governor Tim Walz’s overreach this past year makes him vulnerable in 2022.
“I don't think Minnesota is a lost cause at all,” she responded. “I think that if I were Governor Walz right now, I would be really nervous about my chances of re-election.”
“I think they [Minnesotans] saw our Governor weak during the riots letting our city—our beloved Minneapolis—burn to the ground. They've seen him not come out strong enough for police. People are seeing [an] immense uptick in crime in our major Twin Cities areas and now starting to come out into the suburbs.”
How the GOP Can Win in States Like Hers
Coleman believes focusing on kitchen-table issues can make the GOP competitive again in her state.
“When we say, ‘Look, we're looking out for your family budget,’” I think that really resonates with people who are working on tight budgets and [people] who are trying to figure out how to pay for their kids’ schooling and to fill up their gas tank and be able to get to work,” she explained.
“Showing that we really do care about your families and everything we do is going to be a winning issue for us.”
Conclusion
Senator Julia Coleman’s profile will continue to rise.
How do I know? I saw her potential in fall 2014 serving as one of my Field Representatives in Leadership Institute’s Campus Leadership Program.
Her strong work ethic, ability to easily connect with others, and brilliance employing her brother’s Black Labrador puppy, Cola, for student recruitment efforts, for instance, made her stand out. I knew then she was destined for greatness.
Don’t underestimate Senator Coleman’s potential to make big political waves in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Watch the full interview on YouTube and follow Senator Coleman’s work here. Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.