Susan Kent

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Susan Kent
Image of Susan Kent

Democratic Party

Prior offices
Minnesota State Senate District 53
Successor: Matt Klein

Education

Bachelor's

University of Texas at Austin

Personal
Birthplace
New Orleans, La.
Religion
Episcopalian
Profession
Marketing
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn 

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Susan Kent (Democratic Party) was a member of the Minnesota State Senate, representing District 53. She assumed office on January 8, 2013. She left office on January 3, 2023.

Kent (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Minnesota State Senate to represent District 53. She won in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Kent completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Kent served as the Minnesota State Senate minority leader from February 2020 to September 2021.[1][2]

Biography

Susan Kent was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Her professional experience includes working in marketing.[3]

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at:[email protected].

2021-2022

Kent was assigned to the following committees:

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2019-2020

Kent was assigned to the following committees:

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2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Minnesota committee assignments, 2017
• E-12 Education Policy
• State Government
• Transportation

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Kent served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Kent served on the following committees:

Minnesota committee assignments, 2013
• Education
• Higher Education and Workforce Development
• Transportation and Public Safety, Vice chair

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2022

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2022

On September 2, 2021, Susan Kent announced that she would not seek re-election in 2022.[4]

2020

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Minnesota State Senate District 53

Incumbent Susan Kent defeated Mary Stephens in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 53 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Susan Kent
Susan Kent (D) Candidate Connection
 
54.1
 
29,544
Image of Mary Stephens
Mary Stephens (R) Candidate Connection
 
45.8
 
25,030
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
55

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 54,629
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 53

Incumbent Susan Kent defeated Marquita Stephens in the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 53 on August 11, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Susan Kent
Susan Kent Candidate Connection
 
66.3
 
6,318
Image of Marquita Stephens
Marquita Stephens Candidate Connection
 
33.7
 
3,214

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 9,532
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 53

Mary Stephens advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 53 on August 11, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Mary Stephens
Mary Stephens Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
2,889

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,889
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign finance

Endorsements

To view Kent's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.

2016

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Minnesota State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 31, 2016.

Incumbent Susan Kent defeated Sharna Wahlgren in the Minnesota State Senate District 53 general election.[5][6]

Minnesota State Senate, District 53 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Susan Kent Incumbent 50.44% 23,035
     Republican Sharna Wahlgren 49.56% 22,636
Total Votes 45,671
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State


Incumbent Susan Kent ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 53 Democratic primary.[7][8]

Minnesota State Senate, District 53 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Susan Kent Incumbent (unopposed)


Sharna Wahlgren defeated Bill Dahn in the Minnesota State Senate District 53 Republican primary.[7][8]

Minnesota State Senate, District 53 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Sharna Wahlgren 65.81% 745
     Republican Bill Dahn 34.19% 387
Total Votes 1,132

This district was included in the Republican State Leadership Committee's list of "16 in '16: Races to Watch." Read more »

2012

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2012

Kent won election in the 2012 election for Minnesota State Senate District 53. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 14 and defeated incumbent Ted Lillie (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[9][10]

Minnesota State Senate, District 53, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngSusan Kent 52.2% 22,781
     Republican Ted Lillie Incumbent 47.8% 20,857
Total Votes 43,638

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Susan Kent completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kent's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

My husband, Chris, and I have lived in Woodbury for 16 years with our son Andrew. Chris is a Maplewood native and a second generation 3Mer, and our family has deep ties in the east metro. Andrew attended South Washington County public schools and recently graduated from Woodbury High School.

I'm originally from New Orleans, and I met Chris 34 years ago when we were both working in Austin, Texas. My professional career was in marketing and communications for companies large and small - from General Mills and Dell Computers to local banks and mom & pop businesses - across a wide range of industries.

When our son was young, I took time off to care for him, and like many moms, I became active in our community and school district. In 2012, people who knew my work in the community encouraged me to run for the state Senate, and I was honored to be elected and to serve. I have worked hard to represent our community, with a focus on education - from early childhood through lifelong learning - and transportation and public safety. I am proud of my record of collaboration in serving our community.

  • In 2020, our current health and economic challenges require smart leadership. As we continue to respond to the challenges presented by COVID-19, we need to listen to experts, follow science and do everything we can to protect our community. Effectively managing this virus is the best way to help our schools and businesses so our economy can come back faster and stronger. I am proud to have worked across the aisle in the Senate to secure critical support for hospitals, first responders, front line workers and our communities during this pandemic. I will continue to put people first, and ensure Minnesotans remain safe and healthy and get the care they deserve during COVID-19.
  • Affordable, accessible health care is fundamental to the well-being of our communities. An accident or unexpected illness shouldn't put any family's financial security at risk. And no one should be denied insurance coverage because they have a pre-existing condition or change jobs. In the Senate, I've championed expanding coverage for and access to preventive and mental health care, reducing the cost of prescription drugs, and increasing telemedicine options that make it easier to get care. I will continue to fight for access to quality health care and affordable insurance coverage, which are vital to the health and prosperity of our families and communities.
  • A strong education system is a cornerstone for our children, our communities, and our economy. Every child deserves the access to the American dream that is available through a strong education. All parents want their children to have good schools and a good education. Beyond that, good schools are a strategic advantage in our economy. Companies want to be here because their employees want to raise their children here and because we have a highly educated and skilled workforce. The pandemic, the resulting distance learning, and crucial discussions about disparities reveal that our schools are failing far too many students. I believe strongly that we must act now and reimagine this crucial part of our state's overall strength.
We must ensure Minnesota offers a bright, fair and just future for all. Some have expressed a wish to return to normal. But it's clear that "normal" hasn't worked for far too many Minnesotans. We have many health, economic and social challenges before us. In them, I see opportunity to do better.

Fair treatment and equal access to opportunity are bedrocks of a just society. In the Senate, I have been proud to support marriage equality and fight for equal rights. I sponsored the All Kids Count Act to shrink the opportunity gap by understanding student disparities. And I have worked with local leaders to eliminate barriers that prevent equality, such as the lack of affordable housing and transportation.

Dr. Martin Luther King told us "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." We each have a role to play in that journey, with many miles left to travel. I believe the pandemic, resulting economic crisis, and George Floyd's murder have shined a bright light on our racial disparities - giving us an historic opportunity to make meaningful and transformative changes in many of the institutions of our society.

We need a public safety system that protects all of us, no exceptions. After George Floyd was killed, I was honored to be part of making an important first step in police reform and accountability, following the leadership of our People of Color and Indigenous Caucus. We know there so much more to do. I'm committed to doing my part.
It's not a single event, but the Vietnam War was the major event of my childhood. I was eleven when it ended in 1975, and it was present as I long as I could remember. The conflict, the human toll, and the political debates left a major impression on me, including the sacrifice of members of our military and their families. I have a vivid memory of a picture of a girl not much older than I was, rushing into the arms of her returning father.
My very first job was as a server in a restaurant, during the summer following high school graduation, and I had the opportunity to work as a server two other times, and value the experience immensely. It's the hardest work I ever did, and I cherished the people I worked with and served.
I believe that in a state legislature, in particular, the brilliance of our system is that it brings people together from a diversity of communities, each with their own life and work experience. When I was first elected, I didn't have previous experience in government or politics, and it gave me a fresh perspective on a range of issues, which helped me seek creative solutions and engage in successful collaborations with others. And as I finish my second term, I have learned a great deal about the budget, state and local government, policy, and a wide range of issues. But I'm excited to still be able to find new approaches to our challenges.
I believe that voters should choose their representatives - representatives should not choose their voters. I support an independent, impartial body to determine district boundaries. One issue in Minnesota is that a constitutional amendment would be required to make this a sustainable change. Either way, the legislature should adopt principles for redistricting that will ensure fairness and representation.
Throughout my life, not to mention my legislative service, I have valued education as a priority for students and for our larger community. In my first term, I served on the E-12 Education committee, as well as the committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, which gave me the ability to see our system from early childhood education through lifelong learning. I remember meeting a constituent, a young woman, who had personal challenges while in high school that resulted in her living independently at an early age. Hearing her story, and seeing her determination to achieve her academic goals for herself and to provide for her child, was deeply moving and inspires me to this day. Each student has their own talents, resources and challenges, and we need to make sure that every single one of them has the opportunity to pursue their very best path.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2016

Kent's campaign website highlighted the following issues:

“

A strong economy

  • I will promote economic development through smart investments, sound infrastructure and clean energy. As a former small business owner myself, I well understand the need for policies to help small businesses start up and grow, creating living wage jobs for area families. I will work to keep these businesses strong and successful. And here in Minnesota.

Jobs

  • I will promote real incentives for main street businesses to grow and hire more employees. I will work to build our economy in a way that is consistent with Minnesota values – an economy that rewards hard work and responsibility.

Education

  • Reduce the cost of higher education. Recent cuts to higher education have caused tuition to increase by nearly 10%. Students and middle-class families can’t afford such hikes. I support stable funding for higher education because an affordable college education is a good investment for an educated workforce.

State Finance: Stable and Fair

  • As a former small business owner, I support initiatives that reverse the property tax increases and restore fairness to our property tax structure. This will help businesses hire more employees and grow our economy. Ultimately, I understand that we cannot tax or cut our way out of the state’s budget deficit. We must put more people back to work to grow our economy.

Working together for a better tomorrow

  • I know that bi-partisanship at the legislature is not easy, but surely there is always a path to common ground and hard-earned compromise. My commitment will always be to my constituents and, given the chance, I will be a leader among those ready to set political ideologies aside and get to work on leaving a better community and state for our kids.[11]
 ”
—Susan Kent[12]

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Susan Kent campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2020Minnesota State Senate District 53Won general$141,883 N/A**
2016Minnesota State Senate, District 53Won $83,151 N/A**
Grand total$225,034 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Minnesota

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states.  To contribute to the list of Minnesota scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].




2022

In 2022, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 31 to May 23.

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
Legislators are scored on their support for the organization's principles, which it defines as "provid[ing] a basis for a constitutionally limited government established to sustain life, liberty, justice, property rights and free enterprise."
Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


See also

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Candidate

Minnesota State Senate District 53

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ StarTribune, "Susan Kent ousts Tom Bakk as Senate DFL leader," February 1, 2020
    2. ↑ CBS Minnesota, "Sen. Minority Leader Susan Kent To Retire, Steps Down From Leadership Post," September 3, 2021
    3. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 18, 2020
    4. ↑ Fox 9, "Minnesota Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent stepping down from leadership, retiring," September 2, 2021
    5. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
    6. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
    7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
    8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Primary: Tuesday, August 9, 2016," accessed August 9, 2016
    9. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2012 State General Election Candidate Filings," accessed June 25, 2012
    10. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Canvassing Report - State Primary - Tuesday, August 14, 2012," accessed April 23, 2014
    11. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    12. ↑ Susan Kent for Senate, "Issues," accessed September 21, 2016

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    -     		Minnesota State Senate District 53
    2013-2023    		 Succeeded by
    Matt Klein (D)


    Current members of the Minnesota State Senate
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    Majority Leader:Erin Murphy
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