Heather Keeler

Heather Keeler (born December 18, 1981) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2021. A member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), Keeler represents District 4A in northwest Minnesota, including the city of Moorhead and parts of Clay County.[1][2] Keeler is an enrolled member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe.[3]

Heather Keeler
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 4A district
Assumed office
January 5, 2021
Preceded byBen Lien
Personal details
BornDecember 18, 1981
South Dakota, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
Residence(s)Moorhead, Minnesota, U.S.
EducationMinnesota State College Southeast (AA)
Minnesota State University (BS, MEd)
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

Early life, education and career

Keeler grew up on her tribal homeland in South Dakota, mostly living at Fort Pierre. She moved to the Fargo–Moorhead area while attending Minnesota State University for her B.S. in project management and M.Ed. in educational leadership.[1]

Keeler worked at North Dakota State University as an assistant director of multicultural recruitment and volunteered in the Moorhead school district. While working with the school district, she served on the human rights advisory committee and as vice chair of Moorhead's Human Rights Commission.[1][4]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Keeler was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2020 and was reelected in 2022.[1] She first ran after four-term DFL incumbent Ben Lien announced he would not seek reelection.[5][6]

She serves as vice chair of the Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee and also sits on the Education Policy and Human Services Finance Committees.[1] From 2021 to 2022 she served as vice chair of the Preventing Homelessness Division of the Housing Committee. Keeler is a member of the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus.[7]

Native American issues

Keeler has been an outspoken advocate of Native American human rights issues and for more native voices to be heard at the state legislature.[3][8] In 2021, she authored legislation that created an office of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives and carried subsequent efforts to increase funding.[9][10] Indigenous women make up one percent of the state's population but eight percent of women and girls murdered.[9]

Along with State Senators Mary Kunesh and Jen McEwen, Keeler authored a letter calling on the Biden administration to stop Line 3, a tar sands pipeline proposed to cut through Minnesota tribal lands.[11] She proposed legislation that would replace Minnesota's existing Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day.[12] In March 2023, the chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota criticized Keeler after she posted on Facebook about the adoption of native children by white families and wrote, "White saviors are the worst!"[13][14]

Other political positions

Keeler has supported efforts to increase the number of teachers of color in Minnesota.[15] In 2023, she authored legislation that passed with unanimous support to fund emergency food shelves in the midst of rising visits to food shelves.[16]

Electoral history
2020 DFL Primary for Minnesota State House - District 4A[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Heather Keeler 1,888 66.32
Democratic (DFL) Chuck Hendrickson 959 33.68
Total votes 2,847 100.0
2020 Minnesota State House - District 4A[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Heather Keeler 11,487 56.67
Republican Edwin Hahn 8,748 43.16
Write-in 36 0.18
Total votes 20,271 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2022 Minnesota State House - District 4A[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Heather Keeler (incumbent) 7,664 58.58
Republican Lynn Halmrast 5,403 41.30
Write-in 16 0.12
Total votes 13,083 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold

Personal life

Keeler lives in Moorhead, Minnesota and has two children.[1] She is an enrolled member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe.[3]

References
  1. "Keeler, Heather - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  2. "Rep. Heather Keeler (04A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  3. Bierschbach, Briana; Sinner, C. J. (November 21, 2020). "Native American voters across Minnesota turned out to oust Trump". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  4. "Keeler: 'Opening eyes to opportunity'". thefmextra.com. July 30, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  5. Olson, David (March 25, 2020). "Keeler launches bid for Minnesota House 4A seat". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  6. "Keeler wins DFL endorsement for District 4A". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. May 7, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  7. Ansari, Becky Z. Dernbach, Hibah (2021-01-22). "The most diverse legislature in Minnesota history wants to govern differently". Sahan Journal. Retrieved 2023-03-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. Bierschbach, Briana (November 13, 2021). "Minnesota officials work to mend historically fraught relationship with tribes". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  9. Bierschbach, Briana (May 5, 2021). "Legislators pushing for Minnesota office of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  10. Bierschbach, Briana (February 14, 2023). "Leaders push for more funding to find missing and murdered Indigenous Minnesotans". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  11. Keeler, Heather; McEwen, Jen; Kunesh, Mary (January 27, 2021). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Next up for Biden: Stop Line 3". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  12. Derosier, Alex (2022-03-10). "Bill would establish Indigenous Peoples' Day holiday in Minnesota, replace Columbus Day". Twin Cities. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  13. Miller, Andrew (March 3, 2023). "Minnesota legislator: 'I'm sick of White Christians' adopting Native American babies, continuing 'genocide'". Fox News.
  14. "MNGOP calls post from State Rep. Keeler of Moorhead a 'racist rant'". March 2, 2023.
  15. Lonetree, Anthony (March 2, 2021). "Advocates renew push for funding, recruiting teachers of color in Minnesota". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  16. Bakst, Brian (February 9, 2023). "As hunger rises in Minnesota, House passes school meals for all bill". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  17. "2020 Results for State Representative District 4A Primary". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  18. "2020 Results for State Representative District 4A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  19. "2022 Results for State Representative District 4A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
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