# Susan Pha *Minnesota state senator (38th district) and businesswoman* Susan Kaying Pha is a businesswoman and politician who holds the 38th district seat in the [[Minnesota Senate]].[^1] She won the seat in the November 2022 election and took office on January 3, 2023.[^1] Before her election to the Senate, Pha worked in real estate from 1996 to 2011 and started a publishing company in 2010.[^3] Her first elected office was a seat on the Brooklyn Park City Council, which she won in 2016.[^3] ## Early life Pha came to the United States from Laos with her family as a refugee when she was three years old.[^2] She grew up in San Diego and Fresno, California, the eldest of eight siblings.[^2] ## Career Pha's work as a real estate agent ran from 1996 to 2011.[^3] In 2010 she established a publishing company.[^3] Brooklyn Park voters elected her to the city council in 2016.[^3] In November 2022 she won election to the Minnesota Senate.[^3] She began her term on January 3, 2023.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Susan Kaying Pha, senator for the 38th district in the Minnesota Senate.[^1] ### What - Seat held: Minnesota Senate, 38th district.[^1] - Earlier office: Brooklyn Park City Council.[^3] ### When - 2016: elected to the Brooklyn Park City Council.[^3] - November 2022: elected to the Minnesota Senate.[^1] - January 3, 2023: took office in the Minnesota Senate.[^1] ### Where - Minnesota Senate, 38th district.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: English Wikipedia, *Susan Pha*, lead section (revision 1365787181, retrieved 2026-10-26) — states that Pha serves in the Minnesota Senate for the 38th district, was elected in November 2022, and took office January 3, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Pha [^2]: English Wikipedia, *Susan Pha*, "Early life" section (revision 1365787181, retrieved 2026-10-26) — states that she came from Laos as a refugee at age three, grew up in San Diego and Fresno, California, and is the oldest of eight children. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Pha [^3]: English Wikipedia, *Susan Pha*, "Career" section (revision 1365787181, retrieved 2026-10-26) — states that she was a real estate agent from 1996 to 2011, founded a publishing company in 2010, was elected to the Brooklyn Park City Council in 2016, and was elected to the Minnesota Senate in November 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Pha