# Andy Smith (Minnesota politician) *Minnesota state legislator, DFL, serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023* Andrew "Andy" Smith, born May 24, 1991, is a Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) member of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]]. He has held the District 25B seat since 2023. The district lies in southeastern Minnesota and includes downtown Rochester, in Olmsted County.[^1] Before he entered the House, Smith ran a Rochester microcinema. It closed in February 2023, and he filed for bankruptcy that April.[^2] In his first session he authored the 2023 measure that created a Psychedelic Medicine Task Force. The measure was enacted as part of that year's health budget.[^3] ## Early life, education and career Smith earned a bachelor's degree in theology from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He then completed a Master of Divinity at Westminster Seminary California.[^2] In 2019 Smith opened Gray Duck Theater, a Rochester microcinema that screened independent and retro films. The theater shut permanently in February 2023 because of difficulties stemming from the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. Two months later, in April 2023, Smith filed for bankruptcy.[^2] His wife holds a majority stake in Garden Party Books, a Rochester bookstore.[^2] ## Minnesota House of Representatives Smith won his House seat in the 2022 election.[^4] His candidacy followed legislative redistricting. It also followed the decision of [[Liz Boldon]], a one-term DFL incumbent, to seek a seat in the [[Minnesota Senate]].[^4] His committee assignments are Economic Development Finance and Policy, Health Finance and Policy, Sustainable Infrastructure Policy, and Taxes.[^4] ### Political positions In January 2023 a committee held a hearing on a bill to codify the right to an abortion. Afterward, members of the group Minnesota Right to Life followed Smith and Representative [[Tina Liebling]] out of the committee room, filming and shouting at both legislators.[^3] Smith was raised in a conservative Christian household and has said he previously opposed abortion. He now holds that "women and those who are pregnant should have control over their own body and their medical decisions".[^3] Smith has spoken against the war on drugs and against enforcement aimed at marijuana and psilocybin.[^3] In 2023 he authored a bipartisan proposal establishing a Psychedelic Medicine Task Force. The task force advises the [[Legislature]] on the legal, medical and policy questions raised by legalizing psychedelic medicine in the state. The proposal was enacted within the 2023 health budget, and Smith was named to the task force.[^3] Smith spoke for the DFL's paid family and medical leave proposal, saying "we are lagging behind the rest of the world".[^3] In the same context he stated that he had given his employees "unlimited paid vacation and sick time", although the theater had already closed when he said it. Colleagues and local media criticized the remark.[^3] He backed legislation prohibiting conversion therapy for minors and vulnerable adults.[^3] ## Personal life Smith and his wife, Anna, live in Rochester, Minnesota.[^5] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Andy Smith (Minnesota politician)*, lead section (revision 1365502095, retrieved 2026-10-26) — birth date, party, House service since 2023, District 25B and its geography. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Smith_(Minnesota_politician)> [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Andy Smith (Minnesota politician)*, section "Early life, education and career" (revision 1365502095, retrieved 2026-10-26) — education, Gray Duck Theater opening (2019) and closure (February 2023), bankruptcy filing (April 2023), spouse's bookstore. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Smith_(Minnesota_politician)> [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Andy Smith (Minnesota politician)*, section "Political positions" (revision 1365502095, retrieved 2026-10-26) — January 2023 incident, stated positions and quotations, 2023 Psychedelic Medicine Task Force proposal and enactment in the health budget, paid-leave remarks. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Smith_(Minnesota_politician)> [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Andy Smith (Minnesota politician)*, section "Minnesota House of Representatives" (revision 1365502095, retrieved 2026-10-26) — 2022 election, circumstances of first run, committee assignments. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Smith_(Minnesota_politician)> [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Andy Smith (Minnesota politician)*, section "Personal life" (revision 1365502095, retrieved 2026-10-26) — residence and spouse. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Smith_(Minnesota_politician)>