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Heather Gustafson
American politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Heather Gustafson is an American politician representing District 36 in the Minnesota Senate since 2023. District 36 is in the Twin Cities' northern suburbs.
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A member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, Gustafson was born in Sartell and now lives in Vadnais Heights. She was raised Catholic and earned a B.A. in mass communications from Minnesota State University, Moorhead.[1] She is a former radio broadcaster and high school history teacher.[2]
In the 2022 Minnesota Senate election, Gustafson campaigned on increasing funding for police and public safety, protecting abortion access, and eliminating a state tax on Social Security benefits.[2] She defeated incumbent Republican Roger Chamberlain to represent a newly redrawn District 36.[2] Gustafson supports the legalization of recreational marijuana and some red flag laws.[2]
In 2025, Gustafson strongly opposed the "Yes to Homes" bipartisan housing and zoning reform bill designed to address Minnesota's housing shortage by reducing barriers to construction, restrictive mandates, requirements, and zoning, arguing that it would erode local governance and impose state-mandated density requirements on unwilling communities. She dismissed the proposal as a top-down overreach that disregarded the unique character of suburban and rural areas, claiming it would do little to make housing more affordable. Critics accused her of siding with NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) interests and obstructing solutions to the state's worsening housing crisis. Her resistance contributed to the bill's failure in the Minnesota Senate housing committee, drawing backlash from housing advocates who saw the reforms as necessary to combat rising costs and spur development.[3]
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