Born in Minnesota and raised in Northeast Iowa, I learned the value of hard work at a young age—balancing demanding jobs through college to build the life I wanted. After settling in Des Moines, I worked with schools and community groups and became a paralegal, gaining firsthand insight into how policy impacts real people.

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In 2018, my husband and I became foster parents and later adopted four children. Navigating Iowa’s foster care and social service systems opened my eyes to how complicated and broken critical lifelines can be for families who need them most.

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Reading legislation and engaging with the Capitol showed me a troubling truth: too many decisions are driven by corporate interests instead of everyday Iowans. Meanwhile, wages fall behind, schools struggle, water quality declines, and families are left out.

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I’m stepping up to fight for regular Iowans—because we deserve fair wages, clean water, strong schools, and a government that works for people, not powerful corporations.