Whelan will not seek re-election in District 35A

“In the spirit of the season of Thanksgiving, I want to say thank you to all of my constituents –thank you for entrusting me with the responsibility of representing our community in St. Paul. It is a blessing and a privilege, and I am humbled by all the support I have received over the last few years,” she said in a statement Monday.

“… As happens, sometimes life brings unexpected curveballs, and life brought me a fiancé from England. We have talked and prayed a long time about whether I should run for office again, and it is with some heaviness of what I am leaving behind, but also joy at what lies ahead, that I am saying goodbye for a season. I don’t know what the future holds, but I will not be seeking re-election in 2018.”

Whelan currently serves on the House Civil Law and Data Practices Policy, Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance, and Transportation and Regional Governance Policy committees. She is also a member of the House Property Tax and Local Government Finance Division.

“I am still working on legislation with colleagues that I believe will make Minnesota a better place to live and raise a family, and I look forward to the opportunity to carry some of that legislation during the 2018 session. Indeed, I think we have a great opportunity to make real change for Minnesota in the realm of human trafficking, property tax reform, and more. I will continue to advocate for the people and priorities of our community,” she said.