Sydney Jordan (politician)

Sydney Jordan
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 60A district
Incumbent
Assumed office February 11, 2020
Preceded by	Diane Loeffler
Personal details
Born	(1990-10-01) October 1, 1990 (age 34) Illinois
Political party	Democratic (DFL)
Residence	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Education	University of Minnesota (B.A.)
Occupation	Nonprofit employee Legislator
Website	Government website Campaign website

Sydney Jordan (born October 1, 1990) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2020. A member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Jordan represents District 60A, which includes parts of Minneapolis in Hennepin County.^[1][2]

Early life, education, and career

Jordan was born in Illinois and attended the University of Minnesota, graduating with a B.A. in political science and global studies in 2013.^[1][3]

She has worked for the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, was the political director for Jacob Frey's first mayoral campaign, and was the state director of Save the Boundary Waters.^[1][4][5] She advocated against Voter ID requirements during a proposed constitutional amendment campaign.^[6]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Jordan was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in a special election on February 4, 2020. She won a full term in November 2020 and was reelected in 2022. Jordan first ran after the death of eight-term DFL incumbent Diane Loeffler, winning the primary election over 10 other candidates.^[1][7][8] She was endorsed by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.^[9]

Jordan serves as vice chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee, and also sits on the Education Finance, Labor and Industry Finance and Policy, and Rules and Legislative Administration Committees. She is also an assistant majority leader for the House DFL caucus. From 2021 to 2022, Jordan served as the vice chair of the Legacy Finance Committee, which oversees the allocation of proceeds from a state sales tax increase passed by amendment in 2008.^[1]

Education

Jordan authored legislation to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students in Minnesota K-12 schools, which passed the House in February 2023.^[10][11][12] The bill passed the Senate, and was signed into law by Governor Tim Walz on March 17, 2023.^[13][14][15] Jordan also carried a bill that would require school districts have a comprehensive sexual health education program in elementary and secondary grades.^[16]

Public safety and police reform

Jordan supported voting "yes" on City Question 2, which would have renamed the Minneapolis Police Department the Minneapolis Department of Public Safety, removed minimum staffing levels for sworn officers, and shifted oversight of the new agency from the mayor's office to the city council.^[17] After the police killing of Winston Smith, where federal officers without body cameras killed a Minneapolis man, Jordan said that every officer in Minnesota should have a body camera.^[18] She signed on to a letter by U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar asking the Department of Justice to expand its investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department following the murder of George Floyd.^[19]

Environment and natural resources

Jordan signed on to a letter calling on the Biden administration to stop Line 3, a tar sands pipeline proposed to cut through Minnesota tribal lands.^[20] She joined environmental advocates pushing for the closing of a metal shredder in North Minneapolis after a stockpile caught on fire.^[21]

Other political positions

Jordan has described herself as "staunchly pro-union", "anti-racist" and "pro-abortion".^[22] After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, she led efforts to divest millions from state pension funds tied to Russia. A large number of Ukrainians live in northeast Minneapolis.^[23][24] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jordan authored legislation requiring face masks for anyone six or older when indoors at a business or public setting, which did not become law.^[25][26]

Electoral history

2020 DFL Primary for Minnesota State House - District 60A Special Election^[27]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Sydney Jordan	1,318	28.55
	Democratic (DFL)	Jessica Intermill	976	21.14
	Democratic (DFL)	Sonia Neculescu	792	17.15
	Democratic (DFL)	Amal Ibrahim	342	7.41
	Democratic (DFL)	Aaron Neumann	269	5.83
	Democratic (DFL)	Zachary Wefel	179	3.88
	Democratic (DFL)	Aswar Rahman	175	3.79
	Democratic (DFL)	Susan Whitaker	171	3.70
	Democratic (DFL)	Saciido Shaie	157	3.40
	Democratic (DFL)	Piyali Nath Dalal	149	3.23
	Democratic (DFL)	Mohamed Issa Barre	89	1.93
Total votes			4,617	100.0

2020 Minnesota State House - District 60A Special Election^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Sydney Jordan	1,879	87.44
	Legal Marijuana Now	Marty Super	247	11.49
	Write-in		23	1.07
Total votes			2,149	100.0
	Democratic (DFL) hold

2020 Minnesota State House - District 60A^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Sydney Jordan (incumbent)	20,541	82.39
	Republican	John Holmberg	3,635	14.58
	Veterans Party of Minnesota	Calvin Lee Carpenter	721	2.89
	Write-in		33	0.13
Total votes			24,930	100.0
	Democratic (DFL) hold

2022 Minnesota State House - District 60A^[30]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Sydney Jordan (incumbent)	17,396	86.85
	Republican	Diana Halsey	2,584	12.90
	Write-in		50	0.25
Total votes			20,030	100.0
	Democratic (DFL) hold

2024 Minnesota State House - District 60A^[31]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Sydney Jordan (incumbent)	19,684	84.59
	Republican	Mary Holmberg	3,535	15.19
	Write-in		51	0.22
Total votes			23,270	100.0
	Democratic (DFL) hold

Personal life

Jordan resides in the Northeast Park neighborhood in Northeast Minneapolis.^[4]

References

1. "Jordan, Sydney - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
2. "Rep. Sydney Jordan (60A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
3. Faircloth, Ryan (January 21, 2020). "Activist Sydney Jordan wins DFL primary election for northeast Minneapolis House seat". Star Tribune. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
4. Kraco, Karen; Peterson, Mark; Sowden, Cynthia (January 3, 2020). "Twelve seek office in House 60A special primary". Northeaster. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
5. Callaghan, Peter (2017-07-14). "How to stop a DFL endorsement vote for mayor". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
6. Pugmire, Tim (February 2, 2012). "Opponents of Voter ID amendment pack Senate hearing". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
7. Faircloth, Ryan (January 21, 2020). "Activist Sydney Jordan wins DFL primary election for northeast Minneapolis House seat". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
8. Faircloth, Ryan (February 4, 2020). "DFL, GOP hold onto Minn. House seats in two special elections". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
9. The Associated Press (January 22, 2020). "Sydney Jordan wins primary for NE Minneapolis House seat". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
10. Campuzano, Eder (January 11, 2023). "Free school meals would be standard in Minnesota under proposed legislation". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
11. Bakst, Brian (February 9, 2023). "As hunger rises in Minnesota, House passes school meals for all bill". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
12. Callaghan, Peter (2022-06-17). "A renewed call for universal free lunch in Minnesota: COVID-related program ends June 30". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
13. "Minnesota Senate backs free school meals for all students". AP NEWS. 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
14. "Walz signs universal school meals bill into Minnesota law". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
15. "Minnesota becomes fourth state to offer universal free school meals". Duluth News Tribune. 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
16. Pugmire, Tim (February 25, 2021). "Sex ed bill moving in Minn. House draws GOP opposition". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
17. Multiple authors (October 25, 2021). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Minneapolis legislators: Vote yes on City Question 2 to expand public safety". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
18. Walsh, Paul (June 7, 2021). "Body-cam policies spark dispute with no video in Uptown shooting". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
19. Montemayor, Stephen (June 8, 2021). "Rep. Ilhan Omar leads call for DOJ to expand Minnesota federal policing probe". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
20. Keeler, Heather; McEwen, Jen; Kunesh, Mary (January 27, 2021). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Next up for Biden: Stop Line 3". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
21. Du, Susan (May 24, 2021). "Growing calls to shut down Minneapolis junkyard after fire last month". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
22. Van Berkel, Jessie (January 17, 2020). "A dozen northeast Minneapolis progressives face off in Minnesota House special election". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
23. Bierschbach, Briana (March 10, 2022). "Minnesota legislators push to divest state pension funds from Russia". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
24. Ibrahim, Mohamed (March 10, 2022). "Minnesota lawmakers plan bipartisan divestment from Russia". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
25. Pugmire, Tim (February 10, 2021). "DFLers debate mask law while GOP seeks to undo Walz's COVID-19 powers". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
26. Callaghan, Peter (2021-02-15). "Why the Minnesota Legislature's recent efforts to respond to the pandemic aren't really about responding to the pandemic". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
27. "2020 Results for State Representative District 60B Special Election Primary". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
28. "2020 Results for State Representative District 60B Special Election". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
29. "2020 Results for State Representative District 60A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
30. "2022 Results for State Representative District 60A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
31. "2024 Results for All State Representative Races". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved 18 November 2024.

External links

• Sydney Jordan at Minnesota Legislators Past & Present
• Official House of Representatives website
• Official campaign website