Kelly Morrison

Kelly Morrison
Member-elect of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Minnesota's 3rd district
Assuming office
January 3, 2025
SucceedingDean Phillips
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 45th district
In office
January 3, 2023 – June 6, 2024
Preceded byRedistricted
Succeeded byVacant
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 33B district
In office
January 8, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Preceded byCindy Pugh
Succeeded byRedistricted
Personal details
Born (1969-02-02) February 2, 1969 (age 55)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (DFL)
SpouseJohn Willoughby
Children3
EducationYale University (BA)
Boston University
Case Western Reserve University (MD)

Kelly Louise Morrison (born February 2, 1969)[1] is an American doctor and politician who was a member of the Minnesota Senate from 2023 to 2024. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, Morrison represented District 45 in the western Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Minnetonka, Mound, Minnetrista, and Orono in Hennepin County. She served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023.[1]

On November 9, 2023, Morrison announced she would run in the Democratic primary for Minnesota's 3rd congressional district in the 2024 House elections, after the incumbent, Dean Phillips, announced his run against President Joe Biden in the 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries.[2] She was elected to the position on November 5, 2024.[3]

Early life, education, and career

Morrison was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She attended Jefferson Elementary in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[1][4]

Morrison attended Yale University and graduated cum laude[5] with a Bachelor of Arts in history. She attended Boston University for her pre-medical requirements and graduated with a Doctor of Medicine from Case Western University.[1]

Morrison is a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist.[1][6]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Morrison was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018, defeating Republican incumbent Cindy Pugh.[7] She was reelected in 2020, defeating Republican nominee Andrew Myers.[8]

Morrison represented District 33B, including portions of Hennepin and Carver counties.[1] During the 2021-2022 session, she served as an assistant majority leader for the House DFL Caucus.[1]

2019-2020 committee assignments:[1]

  • Health and Human Services Policy
  • Education Finance Division/Health and Human Services Finance Division: Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division
  • Environment and Natural Resources Finance
  • Water Division

2021-2022 committee assignments:[1]

  • Early Childhood Finance and Policy
  • Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
  • Health Finance and Policy
  • Health Finance and Policy: Preventive Health Policy Division

Minnesota Senate

After legislative redistricting in 2022, Morrison announced she would run for the DFL endorsement in the newly created Senate District 45. She was endorsed by Speaker of the Minnesota House Melissa Hortman and U.S. Representative Dean Phillips.[9] Morrison won the party's endorsement over incumbent Senator Ann Johnson Stewart.[9] Stewart announced she would not challenge Morrison in the primary and endorsed her.[10] In the general election, Morrison defeated Republican nominee Kathleen Fowke.[11]

Morrison served as an assistant majority leader for the Senate DFL Caucus during the 2023-2024 session.[1]

Morrison resigned from the Minnesota Senate on June 6, 2024, to focus on her 2024 congressional campaign.[12]

2023-2024 committee assignments:[1]

  • Vice Chair: Transportation
  • Environment, Climate and Legacy
  • Health and Human Services
  • State and Local Government and Veterans

Campaign for U.S. Congress

See also: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

On November 9, 2023, Morrison announced she would run in the Democratic primary for Minnesota's 3rd congressional district after the incumbent, Dean Phillips, decided to run against President Joe Biden in the 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries. Morrison said she strongly supports Biden, calling him a "transformational president".[2]

Morrison and Phillips have endorsed each other in previous races, and Morrison called Phillips "a good friend of hers".[2] Her announcement emphasized her work passing pro-choice legislation and that she would be the only OB-GYN in Congress if elected.[13] Morrison's campaign has been endorsed by several state legislators, former Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, and a former president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States.[2][14]

On November 24, Phillips announced he would not seek reelection to the House regardless of the outcome of his presidential campaign. He also said he would not endorse anyone in the race for his former seat.[15] Morrison thanked Phillips for his service in a statement after his announcement.[15]

Electoral history

2018 Minnesota State Representative - House 33B[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Kelly Morrison 11,786 50.4
Republican Cindy Pugh (Incumbent) 11,570 49.5
2020 Minnesota State Representative - House 33B[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Kelly Morrison (Incumbent) 14,202 50.5
Republican Andrew Myers 13,889 49.4
2022 Minnesota State Senator - District 45[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Kelly Morrison 27,222 56.27
Republican Kathleen Fowke 21,128 43.67

Personal life

Morrison and her husband, John Willoughby, have three children. She resides in Deephaven, Minnesota.[1] She is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Excelsior, Minnesota.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Morrison, Kelly L. - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Faircloth, Ryan (November 9, 2023). "DFL state Sen. Kelly Morrison to run for Minnesota congressional seat held by Dean Phillips". Star Tribune. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  3. ^ "Former state Sen. Kelly Morrison defeats Tad Jude for Minnesota's only open congressional seat". Star Tribune.
  4. ^ Schier, Steven (December 2, 2023). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Six takeaways on Minnesota's critical races in 2024". Star Tribune. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  5. ^ "About Kelly | KMsenate".
  6. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (July 9, 2018). "Is there a doctor in the (state) House?". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  7. ^ "2018 Results for State Representative District 33B". electionresults.sos.mn.gov. November 21, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  8. ^ "2020 Results for State Representative District 33B". electionresults.sos.mn.gov. November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Lopez, Ricardo (April 11, 2022). "In endorsement race for western suburban district, Rep. Kelly Morrison wins over Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  10. ^ Bork, Corey (April 14, 2022). "State Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart Won't Seek Re-election". CCX Media. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  11. ^ "2022 Results for State Senator District 45". electionresults.sos.mn.gov. December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  12. ^ Faircloth, Ryan (June 6, 2024). "DFL senator resigns to focus on congressional run, putting control of Minnesota Senate on ballot". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  13. ^ Ferguson, Dana (November 9, 2023). "State Sen. Kelly Morrison launches bid for Phillips' U.S. House seat". MPR News. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  14. ^ "Endorsements". Kelly Morrison for Congress. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Faircloth, Ryan (November 24, 2023). "Rep. Dean Phillips, running for president, won't seek reelection to Congress". Star Tribune. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  16. ^ "Results for State Representative District 33B". Results for State Representative District 33B. Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  17. ^ "Results for State Representative District 33B". Results for State Representative District 33B. Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  18. ^ "Results for Senate District 45". Results for State Senator District 45. Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 2, 2023.