Samantha Sencer-Mura (born February 2, 1989) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), Sencer-Mura represents District 63A in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes parts of Minneapolis in Hennepin County.[1][2]
Samantha Sencer-Mura | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 63A district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Davnie |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 2, 1989 |
| Political party | Democratic (DFL) |
| Spouse | Lance |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent | David Mura |
| Residence | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Education | Occidental College (BA) Harvard University (MEd) |
| Occupation | Legislator |
| Website | Government website Campaign website |
Early life, education and career edit
A fourth-generation Japanese-American, Sencer-Mura was raised in Minneapolis and attended South High School. Her father is David Mura, a poet and playwright. Her grandparents were incarcerated in internment camps during World War II.[1][3]
Sencer-Mura earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in social justice and critical theory from Occidental College and a Master of Education in school leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.[1][4]
Sencer-Mura began her career as a teacher at Citizen Schools in New York City. She later worked as a coordinator at Safe Passages and community schools director of United for Success Academy in Oakland, California. In 2017, Sencer-Mura returned to Minneapolis to join 826 MSP, a nonprofit after-school program, as executive director.[3]
Minnesota House of Representatives edit
Sencer-Mura was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022. She first ran for an open seat created by legislative redistricting and the retirement of 11-term DFL incumbent Jim Davnie.[1][3] She is the first Japanese-American elected to the state legislature.[5]
Sencer-Mura serves on the Agriculture Finance and Policy, Education Finance, Workforce Development Finance and Policy, and Transportation Finance and Policy Committees.[1] She is a member of the House People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus and the Minnesota Asian and Pacific (MAP) Caucus.[6]
Political positions edit
During the 2023 session, Sencer-Mura sponsored anti-hate crime legislation that would provide money to better track bias crimes and fund law enforcement trainings, citing anti-Asian backlash related to COVID-19's origins and saying "our communities are living in this state of red alert".[6]
Sencer-Mura wrote a bill that would require Minnesota high schools offer an ethnic studies course, saying, "students of all racial and ethnic identities benefit from ethnic studies".[7][8][9] She sponsored a transit safety bill after an 87-year-old woman in her district was injured while using public transit.[10]
Electoral history edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Samantha Sencer-Mura | 19,398 | 90.16 | |
| Republican | Kyle Bragg | 2,087 | 9.70 | |
| Write-in | 31 | 0.14 | ||
| Total votes | 21,516 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Personal life edit
Sencer-Mura lives in Minneapolis with her spouse, Lance, and has one child.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f "Sencer-Mura, Samantha - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura (63A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ a b c Dernbach, Becky (November 5, 2022). "Educators of color seek seats in Minnesota Legislature". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
- ^ Dernbach, Becky Z. (2022-11-09). "Samantha Sencer-Mura elected Minnesota's first Japanese American legislator". Sahan Journal. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
- ^ The Associated Press (2022-12-27). "What Minnesota's most diverse Legislature means for policy". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ a b Olson, Rochelle (January 23, 2023). "Minnesota Asian and Pacific Caucus leaders say they live in state of 'red-alert,' mourn shooting victims". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ Faircloth, Ryan. "Bills would require Minnesota students to take ethnic studies, personal finance classes". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ Shockman, Elizabeth (2023-03-24). "Legislators consider bill requiring ethnic studies in Minnesota high schools". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ Deng, Grace (February 28, 2023). "Minnesota House committee passes ethnic studies requirement". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ Serres, Chris (May 29, 2023). "87-year-old Minneapolis woman with brain injury wins struggle for bus safety". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 63A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.