Voters have elected lawmakers at the Minnesota Legislature that more accurately reflect the people in our state. 

At least 35 out of 201 legislators identify as people of color and 11 of the local lawmakers identify as LGBTQ and that’s the most representation we’ve seen yet.

Three Black women were elected to the Minnesota Senate, the first in the 164 years it has been around. 

These lawmakers are meeting over the next few months to talk about important policies that will impact communities around the state. 

Two non-partisan administrators who work at the Minnesota State Capitol join MPR News host Angela Davis to share what goes on how to follow and influence the decisions that will directly impact people around the state. 

Guests

• Tom Bottern is the secretary of the Minnesota Senate. In that nonpartisan role, he helps the members of the Senate with legislative procedure and during Senate floor sessions. He also serves as the chief operating officer for the Senate.




• Elizabeth Lincoln is the director of the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. She's worked at the library since 1989 and became the director in 2013. The library has a collection of general public policy and an archive of state government publications, available to Minnesota legislative staff.