# Jen McEwen *Minnesota state senator (DFL), representing Senate District 8* Jennifer A. McEwen (born May 14, 1977) is a Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) member of the [[Minnesota Senate]]. She holds the seat for Senate District 8, which takes in the city of Duluth in St. Louis County, [[Minnesota]].[^1] From 2021 to 2023 her seat was the 7th Senate District.[^1] McEwen was first elected in 2020, after defeating the incumbent DFL senator, Erik Simonson, for the party endorsement, and was reelected in 2022.[^2] In the 93rd [[Minnesota Legislature]] she chaired the Labor Committee. She also sponsored the Protect Reproductive Options Act and a $240 million bill to replace lead service lines, which was enacted in May 2023.[^2] ## Early life, education, and career McEwen is a native of Duluth. She earned her bachelor's degree at the University of Maine and her Juris Doctor at the Hamline University School of Law.[^3] She has worked as a public defender and as a lawyer representing disabled workers.[^3] As board president of the Damiano Center, she has worked with families facing food insecurity.[^3] She is the parent of two children.[^3] ## Minnesota State Senate In 2020 McEwen sought the DFL endorsement in District 7 against the sitting senator, Erik Simonson, and won it. She then carried the DFL primary with 77% of the vote.[^2] In the general election she defeated the Republican nominee, Donna Bergstrom, who had also run against Simonson in 2016, receiving slightly more than 68% of the vote.[^2] She won reelection in 2022.[^2] McEwen belongs to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).[^2] During the 93rd Legislature, McEwen chaired the Labor Committee. Her tenure as chair covered reforms that made paid sick leave mandatory for all employees and outlawed non-compete agreements.[^2] She was the author of legislation expanding contractors' liability for wage theft.[^2] Following the 2022 overturning of *Roe v. Wade*, she wrote and carried the Protect Reproductive Options Act, a measure protecting abortion rights in the state.[^2] She authored and backed legislation to restore passenger rail between the Twin Cities and Duluth, a project known as the Northern Lights Express.[^2] As chief sponsor, she carried a bill directing $240 million to lead service line replacement statewide. The bill passed and was signed into law in May 2023.[^2] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Jennifer A. McEwen, born May 14, 1977, is the DFL senator for Senate District 8.[^1] ### What - She chaired the Labor Committee in the 93rd Minnesota Legislature.[^2] - She wrote and sponsored the Protect Reproductive Options Act.[^2] - She was the primary sponsor of a $240 million lead service line replacement bill.[^2] ### When - She served in the 7th Senate District from 2021 to 2023.[^1] - She was elected in 2020 and reelected in 2022.[^2] - The lead service line bill was signed into law in May 2023.[^2] ### Where - Senate District 8 includes Duluth in St. Louis County.[^1] ### Why - The record shows that she authored the Protect Reproductive Options Act after *Roe v. Wade* was overturned in 2022. It does not establish her reasons beyond that sequence.[^2] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jen McEwen* (revision 1378369884, retrieved 2026-10-26) — lead section: birth date, party, Senate District 8 and its Duluth/St. Louis County coverage, 7th District service 2021–2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jen_McEwen [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jen McEwen*, "Minnesota State Senate" section (revision 1378369884, retrieved 2026-10-26) — 2020 endorsement, primary and general election results, 2022 reelection, DSA membership, Labor Committee chairmanship and reforms, wage-theft bill, Protect Reproductive Options Act, Northern Lights Express, and $240 million lead service line bill signed May 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jen_McEwen [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jen McEwen*, "Early life, education, and career" section (revision 1378369884, retrieved 2026-10-26) — Duluth origin, University of Maine B.A., Hamline University School of Law J.D., attorney and public defender work, Damiano Center board presidency, two children. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jen_McEwen