# Natalie Zeleznikar *American politician and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives (since 2023)* Natalie Zeleznikar (born September 9, 1966) is a Republican member of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] and has held the District 3B seat since 2023.[^1] She belongs to the [[Republican Party of Minnesota]].[^1] Her district lies in northern [[Minnesota]]. It takes in the cities of Hermantown, Two Harbors and Rice Lake, along with portions of Lake and St. Louis Counties.[^1] She first won the seat in 2022 by unseating DFL incumbent Mary Murphy, who had served 23 terms. Zeleznikar finished 33 votes ahead after an automatic recount.[^2] She held the seat in 2024 by 159 votes.[^2] Before entering the legislature, she spent three decades in nursing home administration.[^3] ## Early life, education, and career Zeleznikar was raised on a farm in St. Francis, Minnesota, and finished her schooling in the St. Francis Public Schools.[^3] She holds a bachelor's degree in health care administration from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.[^3] For 30 years she worked in health care administration, running nursing homes as an administrator and as an owner/operator.[^3] She is a breast cancer survivor and the author of a book about that experience.[^3] ## Minnesota House of Representatives In the 2022 election, Zeleznikar's margin over Murphy was 0.15 percent. That was narrow enough to require an automatic recount under state law, and she was declared the winner when the recount left her ahead by 33 votes.[^2] In 2024 she was returned to office with a 159-vote margin, or 0.6 percent.[^2] Her first-term committee assignments were Children and Families Finance and Policy; Human Services Finance; and Workforce Development Finance and Policy.[^4] In her second term she sits on four committees: Children and Families Finance and Policy; Health Finance and Policy; Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy; and Rules and Legislative Administration.[^4] ### Political positions Zeleznikar has said that "heavy handed regulations" harm the nursing home industry. She has also pointed to funding gaps and labor shortages in the sector.[^5] In the 2023 legislative session she pressed for more money for seniors and nursing homes.[^5] She opposed that year's tax bill. She faulted the DFL for raising the gas tax and the vehicle tab tax and for creating a delivery tax on certain orders.[^5] Her campaign named three priorities: mental illness, tax cuts to support businesses, and repairing the education system.[^6] She pledged to "fund the police, not defund the police, which led to increased murder rates and increased violent crime".[^6] During her first campaign, she said she believed viability begins at conception. She backed restrictions such as a 24-hour waiting period and favored prohibiting abortion in the second and third trimesters.[^7] The Wikipedia account reports two votes she cast in office. She voted against a bill that the account describes as permitting abortions at any time during pregnancy, and she voted for a third-trimester ban that contained a health exception.[^7] The cited account does not identify either bill by number or give the dates of the votes.[^7] ## Personal life Zeleznikar lives in Fredenburg Township, Minnesota, with her husband, Dan, and their two children.[^8] She is Lutheran and worships at Peace in Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown.[^8] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Natalie Zeleznikar* (revision 1365691665, retrieved 2026-10-26) — birth date, office, party, District 3B and district geography (lead section). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Zeleznikar [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Natalie Zeleznikar*, section "Minnesota House of Representatives" (revision 1365691665, retrieved 2026-10-26) — 2022 margin over Mary Murphy, automatic recount, 33-vote result, and 2024 reelection margin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Zeleznikar [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Natalie Zeleznikar*, section "Early life, education, and career" (revision 1365691665, retrieved 2026-10-26) — upbringing, schooling, degree, 30-year nursing home career, and book. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Zeleznikar [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Natalie Zeleznikar*, section "Minnesota House of Representatives" (revision 1365691665, retrieved 2026-10-26) — first- and second-term committee assignments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Zeleznikar [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Natalie Zeleznikar*, section "Political positions" (revision 1365691665, retrieved 2026-10-26) — statements on nursing home regulation, 2023 funding advocacy, and opposition to the 2023 tax bill. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Zeleznikar [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Natalie Zeleznikar*, section "Political positions" (revision 1365691665, retrieved 2026-10-26) — campaign priorities and quoted statement on policing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Zeleznikar [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Natalie Zeleznikar*, section "Political positions" (revision 1365691665, retrieved 2026-10-26) — stated abortion positions and reported votes in office (bills and dates not given). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Zeleznikar [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Natalie Zeleznikar*, section "Personal life" (revision 1365691665, retrieved 2026-10-26) — residence, family and church. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Zeleznikar