# Esther Agbaje *Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives (DFL), representing District 59B* Esther Agbaje (born March 19, 1985) is a [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] (DFL) politician who has held a seat in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] since 2021. Her district, 59B, covers parts of north and downtown [[Minneapolis]] in Hennepin County, [[Minnesota]].[^1] Voters first elected her to the House in 2020 and returned her in 2022 and 2024. In the 2023–2024 session, five bills she chief authored became law. They include the CROWN Act, the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act, and the Tenants Bill of Rights.[^1] ## Early life, education, and career Agbaje's parents came to Minnesota as immigrants from Nigeria, and she was born in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]]. She was raised in Brainerd and Faribault and is a graduate of Shattuck-St. Mary's Boarding School.[^1] She holds three degrees. She earned a bachelor of arts in political science from George Washington University, a master of public administration from the University of Pennsylvania, and a juris doctor from Harvard University. During law school she worked at Harvard's Legal Aid Bureau and was a volunteer with the Volunteer Lawyers Network Housing Court Project.[^1] Before attending law school, Agbaje was a Foreign Service Officer with the [[United States Department of State]], where her work focused on the Middle East. In private practice she is an associate attorney at Ciresi Conlin LLP, handling general civil litigation and medical malpractice matters. She has also done pro bono work for renters facing evictions and housing insecurity.[^1] ## Minnesota House of Representatives In 2019 Agbaje ran against Raymond Dehn, a DFL incumbent who had served four terms. She secured the party's endorsement and beat him in the primary. She won the seat in 2020 and was reelected in 2022 and 2024.[^1] As of the source's October 2026 retrieval, she was co-vice chair of the Ways and Means Committee. She was also a member of the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee and the Housing Finance and Policy Committee. She held the post of assistant majority leader from 2023 to 2024. In caucus roles, she co-chairs the House People of Color & Indigenous (POCI) Caucus and is vice chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus.[^1] ### Bills chief authored that became law Five bills chief authored by Agbaje became law in Legislative Session 93 (2023–2024):[^1] - HF0037, the CROWN Act - HF0366, the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act - SF0716, the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act - SF3492, the Tenants Bill of Rights - HF3589, which clarified in rem jurisdiction for judicial proceedings ### Housing and tenants' rights Agbaje has described housing as a human right and has urged greater investment in it. She authored a bill to provide $45 million to Minneapolis for repairs to affordable housing units. The source does not say whether that bill was enacted.[^1] While vice chair of the Housing Committee, she wrote many of the tenant protection provisions that were included in the final housing budget. She named expungement of eviction filings as her top concern, citing its effect on people's ability to find housing. She also sponsored a measure extending rights and protections to people who use self-storage units, particularly those recently evicted.[^1] ### The CROWN Act Agbaje authored the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act, HF0037, which became law in the 2023–2024 session. The act defines race to include natural hairstyles and extends anti-discrimination protection to Minnesotans on the basis of hair.[^1] ## Personal life Agbaje resides in Minneapolis.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Esther Agbaje* (revision 1348936224, retrieved 26 October 2026; CC BY-SA 4.0) — establishes her birth date, party, district, election history, education, career, committee and caucus roles, bills chief authored that became law in Session 93, and stated housing positions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Agbaje