Business owner to run in District 45

Kathleen Fowke announced her intention to run for Minnesota’s Senate in District 45 in the fall. The announcement followed the resignation of incumbent State Sen. Kelly Morrison who has filed to run for the U.S. House to represent Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District.

There will be a special election to fill the Senate District 45 seat on Election Day.

“Minnesotans are looking for balance amidst political disarray in Washington and Saint Paul. After the last two years of single-party control, our local school budgets are suffering under costly state mandates,” Fowke said in a release announcing her candidacy. “Our young adults are still desperately searching for support as mental health needs increase, and families are struggling to close the financial gaps.

“It’s time to find common ground once again, reach across the aisle, and develop solutions that will work for all Minnesotans, especially our next generation.”

Fowke, mother, grandmother, and small business owner, said she was born and raised in Brooklyn Park.

She and her husband, Ben, currently live in Tonka Bay and they have four children and three grandchildren. Fowke is a small business owner, Realtor and entrepreneur. Fowke said she and her husband are the founders of KBSDystonia Foundation, focused on raising money to find a cure for dystonia - the third most common movement disorder. They have donated over $800,000 to the University of Minnesota’s Neurology Department, according to Fowke.

Fowke noted her passion for education, mental health and critical infrastructure in Minnesota as the reasons she is inspired to run for office.

Fowke ran for the the seat in 2022 as a Republican losing to Morrison 56.3% to 43.7%.

District 45 encompasses Minnetonka, north of Highway 7, as well as Deephaven, Excelsior, Greenwood, Long Lake, Minnetonka Beach, Minnetrista, Mound, Orono, St. Bonifacius, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland.