Erin Maye Quade (born March 12, 1986) is an American politician from the state of Minnesota. A member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2022.[1] She became one of the three first Black women in the Minnesota Senate upon taking office in 2023.[2]
Erin Maye Quade | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 56th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | redrawn district |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 57A district | |
| In office January 3, 2017 – January 7, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Tara Mack |
| Succeeded by | Robert Bierman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 12, 1986 |
| Political party | Democratic (DFL) |
| Spouse | Alyse Maye Quade |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of St. Thomas (B.A.) |
| Website | Campaign website |
A former staffer for U.S. Representative Keith Ellison, Maye Quade served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019. In 2018, she was a candidate for lieutenant governor of Minnesota, serving as Erin Murphy's running mate. The DFL endorsed the Murphy-Maye Quade ticket, making Maye Quade the first LGBTQ person to be endorsed on a major Minnesota political party's ticket.
Early life and education
editMaye Quade is biracial.[3] She graduated from Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota, in 2004,[4] and from the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and justice and peace studies in 2008.[5]
Career
editAfter college, Maye Quade became a community organizer.[3] She worked as a staffer for U.S. Representative Keith Ellison,[6] who encouraged her to run for office.[3]
Minnesota House of Representatives
edit
In 2016, Maye Quade ran for the District 57A seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives. During the campaign, opposition operatives were accused of stalking her campaign staff so persistently that neighborhood watch committees were called in to monitor their activity.[6] She defeated Republican nominee Ali Jimenez-Hopper in the general election, 52% to 47%;[3] hers was one of only two House seats in Minnesota to change hands from Republican to DFL that year. She was the third Black woman to serve in the chamber.[7]
In 2017, Maye Quade accused state legislators Dan Schoen and Tony Cornish of sexual harassment.[8][9] Both members resigned from office.[4] Following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, she led a 24-hour sit-in at the Minnesota House to protest its lack of action on gun control.[10]
2018 gubernatorial campaign
editIn June 2018, Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Erin Murphy chose Maye Quade as her running mate.[11] Maye Quade received the DFL endorsement by acclamation at the Minnesota DFL convention on June 3, 2018,[12] making her the first LGBTQ person to be endorsed on the ticket of a major Minnesota political party; at age 32, she was also one of the youngest. Maye Quade and Murphy lost the DFL primary to U.S. Representative Tim Walz and State Representative Peggy Flanagan in August 2018.[13]
2022 Minnesota State Senate campaign
editIn October 2021, Maye Quade announced her candidacy for the Minnesota Senate seat currently held by Greg Clausen.[1]
On April 23, 2022, Maye Quade gave a campaign speech at the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party convention while experiencing uterine contractions before childbirth.[14] She did not get the nomination at the convention, suspended her campaign, and delivered her daughter, Harriet, at 1 a.m. on April 24.[15] In May, Maye Quade reentered the race.[16]
Her victory made her and Clare Oumou Verbeten the first openly LGBTQ women and first Black women elected to the Minnesota Senate.[17]
Personal life
editMaye Quade is openly gay.[18] She is a Lutheran.[19]
Maye Quade's wife, Alyse, is the Political Director of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party and the former Midwest organizing manager for Everytown for Gun Safety.[3][20]
Electoral history
edit2016
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Erin Maye Quade | 11,825 | 52.23 | +10.71 | |
| Republican | Ali Jiminez-Hopper | 10,758 | 47.52 | −10.92 | |
| Write-in | 56 | 0.25 | +0.21 | ||
| Total votes | 22,639 | 100.00 | |||
| Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | |||||
2018
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Tim Walz Peggy Flanagan |
242,832 | 41.60% | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Erin Murphy Erin Maye Quade |
186,969 | 32.03% | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Lori Swanson Rick Nolan |
143,517 | 24.59% | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Tim Holden James Mellin |
6,398 | 1.10% | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Olé Savior Chris Edman |
4,019 | 0.69% | |
| Total votes | 583,735 | 100% | ||
2022
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Erin Maye Quade | 3,939 | 64.9% | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Justin Emmerich | 2,133 | 35.1% | |
| Total votes | 6,072 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Erin Maye Quade | 22,281 | 56.7% | |
| Republican | Jim Bean | 17,007 | 43.3% | |
| Total votes | 100% | |||
References
edit- ^ a b "Former Rep. Erin Maye Quade to run for Senate, challenging DFL incumbent".
- ^ Matemba-Mutasa, Panashe (July 20, 2023). "Minnesota's first Black women senators reflect on 'transformative' first legislative session". Mshale. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Erin Maye Quade Interview - The Former Keith Ellison Staffer Now Serves in the Minnesota House of Representatives". Elle.com. February 9, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ a b "'I have the best district': Erin Maye Quade reflects on state House term | Apple Valley". hometownsource.com. December 28, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ Nelson, Todd (September 27, 2017). "Breaking the Ice: Exchange with Ellison prompted House bid – Minnesota Lawyer". Minnlawyer.com. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ a b "What it’s really like to run for the Minnesota Legislature". MinnPost, September 19, 2016.
- ^ "EMILY's List Backs Erin Maye Quade In Minnesota". HuffPost. June 7, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- ^ Orrick, Dave (November 9, 2017). "Dan Schoen sex harassment: Maye Quade says he's not the only one". Twincities.com. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ "Minnesota Rep. Cornish faces sexual harassment claims". MPR News. November 10, 2017.
- ^ Briana Bierschbach (April 24, 2018). "Rep. Erin Maye Quade starts 24-hour sit-in on Minnesota House floor to protest inaction on gun control". MinnPost. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ Magan, Christopher (June 3, 2018). "Governor hopeful Erin Murphy picks House colleague Erin Maye Quade as her running mate". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
- ^ "Maye Quade gets DFL endorsement as Murphy's running mate". StarTribune.com. June 4, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ Orrick, Dave (August 16, 2018). "How Tim Walz beat Murphy, Swanson; how Jeff Johnson beat Pawlenty". Twincities.com. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ "A candidate gave a speech while in labor — then had to withdraw from the race to give birth". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- ^ O'Kane, Caitlin (April 25, 2022). "Minnesota State Senate candidate delivered convention speech while in labor and having contractions". CBS News. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ "Erin Maye Quade Announces Primary Run After Being Forced To Withdraw While Going Into Labor At Convention". www.cbsnews.com. May 16, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- ^ Imse, Elliot. "Erin Maye Quade and Clare Oumou Verbeten Become First LGBTQ Women and First Black Women Ever Elected to the Minnesota State Senate; LGBTQ Representation in the State Legislature More Than Doubles". LGBTQ Victory Fund.
- ^ Azcarate, Kizzy (May 9, 2022). "From a Lesbian Candidate Going into Labor During Endorsement Proceedings to Wisconsin Not Taking Part in Anti-LGBT Bills, This Week in Across the Country". southfloridagaynews.com.
- ^ "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". lrl.mn.gov. April 24, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
- ^ "Staff". The Minnesota DFL.
- ^ "November 8, 2016 General Election Unofficial Results". Minnesota Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2017.