Touting his record as a small business owner and two-term state legislator, Jeremy Kalin announced his candidacy for Minnesota secretary of state Tuesday.
Kalin was joined by his wife and campaign supporters and military veterans for the announcement at the state Capitol.
“I am running for secretary of state because I am passionate about our democracy, and about making it work for every Minnesotan,” stated Kalin. “I believe that every Minnesota citizen deserves the right to vote, and to have that vote counted. As chief author of the Military Voting Bill, I am proud to have worked with Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and our state’s veterans to pass the largest expansion of voting rights for Minnesotans in decades.”
Kalin said he will seek the DFL endorsement next spring. He said he plans to run the a grassroots, people-powered campaign similar to those that helped him secure two terms in the Minnesota House, representing a district with suburban, exurban and rural voters.
Kalin applauded Ritchie, who has said he will not seek reelection, for his work in restoring Minnesota’s leadership in running fair, free, and open elections.
“The Secretary of State’s Office must be run in a nonpartisan manner, by someone with a passion for protecting our democracy for everyone. Secretary Ritchie has restored and strengthened that tradition for Minnesota. While he leaves big shoes to fill, I am excited about running for and serving as Minnesota’s next secretary of state.”
In the legislature, Kalin represented Chisago County just outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Kalin also cited his experience as a small business owner in his decision to run for secretary of state.
“As the president and founder of my own business, I know the challenges and struggles faced every day by Main Street and family-owned businesses across our state. I am excited about creating a Small Business Innovation Center in the Secretary of State’s office, to connect new entrepreneurs with all of the great resources that already exist for innovators today – because a small business owner should be focused on developing great ideas, not on figuring out which piece of paper they need to file with which governmental body.”
Kalin cited his two-year-old twin children as a key motivator for running.
“As a husband and a father, I care deeply about protecting the Safe At Home program run by the Secretary of State’s office. Safe At Home ensures address confidentiality for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or other threats to their safety. Victims of these crimes of violence should be able to go about their lives without fear that the simple act of voting could expose their whereabouts to their aggressor.”
