Minnesota State Senate District 54 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Minnesota, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Minnesota State Senate District 54 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

* Click here to see candidates and election results.
* Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

## Candidates and election results[edit]

General election

The general election will occur on November 8, 2022.

##### General election for Minnesota State Senate District 54

Incumbent Eric Pratt and Alicia Donahue are running in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 54 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate

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| Eric Pratt (R)

| Alicia Donahue (D)

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Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

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= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

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## Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses[edit]

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Alicia Donahue (D)

Your voice for a stronger community.

Politics should be about people, not power.

I believe that politics is about creating a stronger community and brighter future. To do that we have to work together. We have to end politics that seek to divide us.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Alicia Donahue (D)

All of the problems we face in Minnesota can be solved if we work together. Throughout my entire career I have met individuals where they are at, identified a common ground and worked collaboratively toward a solution. As your Minnesota State Senator, I will work to end politics that seek to divide us and instead focus on creating a strong community where Minnesotans can thrive.

\- Supporting students and schools to create a robust educational system. \- Ensuring every Minnesotan has access to affordable health care in their community when they need it. \- Individuals must have the right to make decisions about their reproductive health care with their physician. \- Establishing sensible things we can do to ensure when we send our children to school they get off the school bus at the end of the day. \- Protecting LGBTQ youth and affording same rights as married heterosexual couples including automatic parenthood recognition for their children at birth. \- Legalizing and decriminalizing recreational marijuana use for adults.

\- Improving mental health programs proven to support those in need and make changes to programs that are falling short and wasting taxpayers money.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Alicia Donahue (D)

Courage, integrity and dedication.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Alicia Donahue (D)

Amplifying the voices of those in their district and advocating for policies that will improve their lives.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Alicia Donahue (D)

The first historical event in my lifetime that I can remember is 9/11. I was a sophomore in high school and was in biology class when the first tower was hit. The details of that day are a blur of confusion and fear. The days, weeks and months to follow were filled with unity, community, patriotism and a sense of togetherness unlike I had ever experienced. Many of my classmates chose to enlist in the armed forces in the years to come. As a case manager for those experiencing homelessness, I served many of our nation’s veterans struggling to find and maintain housing that met their needs after returning from deployment. When veterans return home, they often face symptoms related to trauma they saw or endured during deployment. As a state and a nation, we need to acknowledge the tremendous sacrifice those serving our country make and support them with housing, mental health and chemical dependency services.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Alicia Donahue (D)

On a cold night in December, my mother drove herself to the hospital while in labor with me. She raised me by herself for nearly the first decade of my life before marrying my step-dad and giving birth to my sister and brother. My mother is the hardest working person I know. Despite this, being a single parent is hard and we faced many challenges together. I know the struggles that many of our community members are facing because I’ve lived them. I know the way our safety net programs can support children to ensure they have a solid foundation to grow from because they did that for me. Throughout my career I have utilized my experience to center my work as I sought to understand the human experience. I lead with empathy, compassion and a desire to understand all perspectives. I have served our neighbors during some of their darkest days and have seen first hand the pain and suffering facing our community. My personal and professional experience has also provided me the knowledge to improve programs currently wasting tax payer dollars and improve our quality of life. As the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all ships.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Alicia Donahue (D)

Yes, I wholeheartedly believe that all of the problems we face in Minnesota can be solved if we work together. Like so many, I am tired of extreme positions that are blocking our ability to get things done at the Capitol to improve the lives of Minnesotans. Throughout my entire career I have met individuals where they are at, identified a common ground and worked collaboratively toward a solution.

## See also[edit]

More about these elections:

* Minnesota State Senate elections, 2022

Select a district below to read responses from candidates in those races:

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