Larry Kraft

Larry Kraft
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 46A district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byRyan Winkler
Personal details
Born (1966-01-24) January 24, 1966 (age 58)
Political partyDemocratic (DFL)
SpouseLauri
Children2
ResidenceSt. Louis Park, Minnesota
EducationCornell University (BS) (MBA)
OccupationLegislator
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

Larry Kraft (born January 24, 1966) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), Kraft represents District 46A, which includes the city of St. Louis Park in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and parts of Hennepin County.[1][2]

Early life, education and career

Kraft received his bachelor's degree in computer science and his masters in business administration from Cornell University.[1]

Kraft worked in the tech industry but left to become executive director of iMatter, a national nonprofit based in the Twin Cities focused on youth activism pushing for solutions to climate change.[3][4] He helped mentor student groups that advocated for St. Louis Park to adopt a climate action plan.[5][6]

Kraft has served in many capacities for the city of St. Louis Park, including as a city council member, environment and sustainability commissioner, and a member of the climate action plan committee and the steering committee for St. Louis Park arts and culture strategic framework development.[1] While on the city council, he was the lone dissenting vote on a ban of vaping products and e-cigarettes, saying it was getting ahead of federal regulations.[7] In January 2022, Kraft led a coalition of 16 Minnesota cities that declared a climate emergency and urged the state legislature to address the crisis.[4][8]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Kraft was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022. He first ran after redistricting and after seven-term DFL incumbent Ryan Winkler announced he would run for Hennepin County Attorney.[1]

Kraft serves as vice chair of the Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee and sits on the Commerce Finance and Policy, Sustainable Infrastructure Policy, and Transportation Finance and Policy Committees.[1]

Electoral history

2022 Minnesota State House - District 46A[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Larry Kraft 16,013 97.88
Write-in 347 2.12
Total votes 16,360 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold

Personal life

Kraft lives in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, with his wife, Lauri, and has two children.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Kraft, Larry - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  2. ^ "Rep. Larry Kraft (46A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  3. ^ Covington, Hannah (November 30, 2018). "From city halls to the State Capitol, Minnesota youths lead the charge in climate crisis". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  4. ^ a b Hyatt, Kim (January 19, 2022). "'We have a lot to lose': 16 Minnesota cities declare climate emergency, urge legislative action". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  5. ^ Klecker, Mara (December 27, 2019). "High schoolers step up to help run the Twin Cities". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  6. ^ Dunbar, Elizabeth (2017-03-21). "After prodding from youth, cities get tough on climate". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  7. ^ Klecker, Mara (January 7, 2020). "St. Louis Park to ban sale of vaping products, e-cigarettes". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  8. ^ Kraker, Dan (2022-01-20). "Cities across Minnesota declare climate emergencies". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  9. ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 46A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.