# Kristi Pursell *Minnesota state legislator, Minnesota House of Representatives, District 58A (DFL)* Kristi Achor Pursell (born February 9, 1981) has been a member of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] since 2023. She sits for the [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] (DFL).[^1] Her District 58A lies in southern [[Minnesota]] and takes in the city of Northfield along with parts of Dakota, Rice and Scott counties.[^1] She won the seat in 2022. It was open because of legislative redistricting and because Todd Lippert, a DFL incumbent who had served one term, retired.[^2] ## Early life, education and career Pursell is a native of Rochester, Minnesota. At St. Olaf College she earned a bachelor's degree in English and environmental studies. She later completed a graduate certificate in environmental education at the [[University of Minnesota]] Duluth.[^3] For five years before entering the House, she was executive director of Clean River Partners, an environmental nonprofit headquartered in Northfield. She also held the post of executive director at the Cannon River Watershed Partnership. She has served in leadership roles in grassroots groups, among them the Land Stewardship Project, ISAIAH MN and TakeAction MN.[^3] ## Minnesota House of Representatives As of the Wikipedia revision retrieved on October 26, 2026, Pursell was vice-chair of the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee. Her other assignments were the Elections Finance and Policy Committee, the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee, and the Education Finance Committee.[^2] ### Political positions Pursell wrote legislation to reinstate a citizens' board at the [[Minnesota Pollution Control Agency]]. Under the bill, the board would have authority to approve or deny agency policy. The agency's earlier board had been abolished in 2015 as part of an agreement reached at the end of that year's legislative session.[^4] The bill drew opposition from rural legislators. Pursell gave her reason for introducing it as: "I've heard from many Minnesotans who feel like the MPCA treats industry as its clients rather than centering people and our natural environment".[^4] In 2023 she wrote bipartisan legislation to pay for rural broadband infrastructure statewide. During final negotiations, DFL leadership announced $100 million for rural broadband. Pursell described that sum as "the largest commitment the state has made to date for broadband".[^5] ## Personal life Pursell lives in Northfield with her husband. They have two children.[^6] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *Kristi Pursell* (revision 1365669547, retrieved 2026-10-26) — establishes her birth date, her House service since 2023 as a DFL member, and that District 58A includes Northfield and parts of Dakota, Rice and Scott counties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristi_Pursell [^2]: Wikipedia, *Kristi Pursell* (revision 1365669547, retrieved 2026-10-26) — establishes her 2022 election to an open seat after redistricting and Todd Lippert's retirement, and lists her committee assignments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristi_Pursell [^3]: Wikipedia, *Kristi Pursell* (revision 1365669547, retrieved 2026-10-26) — establishes her birthplace, her St. Olaf College degree, her University of Minnesota Duluth certificate, and her prior nonprofit and organizational roles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristi_Pursell [^4]: Wikipedia, *Kristi Pursell* (revision 1365669547, retrieved 2026-10-26) — reports her MPCA citizens' board bill, the 2015 elimination of the prior board, rural legislators' opposition, and her stated reason for the bill. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristi_Pursell [^5]: Wikipedia, *Kristi Pursell* (revision 1365669547, retrieved 2026-10-26) — reports her 2023 bipartisan rural broadband bill, the $100 million announced by DFL leadership, and her characterization of it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristi_Pursell [^6]: Wikipedia, *Kristi Pursell* (revision 1365669547, retrieved 2026-10-26) — establishes that she lives in Northfield with her husband and has two children. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristi_Pursell