Lois is running for the Minnesota House to defend our democracy by protecting our rights, health care, and the environment.

About Lois Quam

I grew up in southwest Minnesota as the daughter of a Lutheran pastor, and Macalester first brought me to St. Paul—now the place I’m proud to call home with my husband, Arshad Mohammed, a Humphrey School fellow and former Reuters correspondent. This is where I raised my three sons, all St. Paul Central graduates. With five of my grandchildren living here in House District 64A, I will be a legislator who fights to ensure St. Paul gets the funding our public schools deserve. I’m honored that Attorney General Keith Ellison and Councilmember Molly Coleman have endorsed me, and I look forward to working closely with the City Council and the mayor-elect to deliver results for our community.

Beyond raising my boys, I’m most proud of having chaired the commission that led to the creation of MinnesotaCare, greatly expanding the number of people in our state with health insurance. This has been my life’s work at the state, national, and international level.

From an early age, I saw in my dad’s congregation how the cost of an illness can devastate a family just as much as the illness itself and how critical it is to have access to the right care. I have spent my career expanding and strengthening health care access and affordability across state government, the U.S. State Department, corporate boardrooms, and nonprofit organizations.

In addition to chairing the commission that led to MinnesotaCare, I worked with Hillary Clinton on national health reform, and later joined the State Department in the Obama Administration to lead on global health, including reproductive health care. The challenges we face today are urgent and growing. In the legislature, I will do what I have always done: bring people together to achieve real, meaningful improvements in health care access and affordability.

The Trump Administration threatens our rights, our freedoms, and our safety. ICE’s attacks on our immigrant neighbors are cruel and alarming reminders of what is at stake for our democracy. I am running to defend that democracy and to protect every one of our neighbors in this moment of extremism and fear.

I have held leadership roles in environmental organizations, including The Nature Conservancy and the National Wildlife Federation. I believe St. Paul and Minnesota must lead the nation in advancing clean air and water, protecting treasured public lands such as the Boundary Waters, and developing transportation systems that strengthen our communities.

I am running because I want every family to live in a state where we are all prosperous, healthy, and safe. I would be honored to bring my experience, my values, and my deep love for this community to the Minnesota House.

Issues:

Affordable, Accessible Health Care for Every Minnesotan

Growing up in my dad’s congregation in Marshall, I saw how a single medical crisis could throw an entire family into financial turmoil. That experience shaped my belief that health care isn’t a privilege—it’s a basic right. It’s why I’ve dedicated my career to expanding access and lowering costs for Minnesota families.

I chaired the commission that created MinnesotaCare, one of our state’s most successful health care programs. Because of that work, Minnesota achieved the lowest uninsured rate in the nation. I later brought that Minnesota experience to national health reform efforts, advising First Lady Hillary Clinton and serving in the Obama Administration to lead global health initiatives.

Today, our health care system is under enormous strain. Premiums and prescription drug prices keep rising, and too many Minnesotans are forced to choose between getting the care they need and paying their bills. We can—and must—do better.

My Plan: Strengthen and Expand MinnesotaCare

Minnesota has a proven solution. By building on MinnesotaCare, we can expand high-quality, affordable coverage to more people while bringing down costs statewide.

✔ Create a MinnesotaCare Public Option

Give individuals and small businesses the choice to buy into MinnesotaCare at an affordable rate—expanding competition and lowering costs across the market.

✔ Expand Eligibility

Ensure more low- and middle-income Minnesotans can enroll, and guarantee access regardless of immigration status.

✔ Lower Costs for Families

Use MinnesotaCare’s purchasing power to negotiate lower prices for care and prescription drugs, reducing premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

✔ Strengthen Rural and Community Care

Increase provider participation and reimbursement rates so Minnesotans—no matter where they live—can find high-quality care close to home.

✔ Guarantee Continuous Coverage

Streamline enrollment, cut red tape, and prevent gaps in coverage caused by paperwork or administrative hurdles.

This is a practical, Minnesota-grown solution—one that puts people before insurance companies and creates a more secure future for all of us.

My Commitment

I will work every day to ensure every Minnesotan—every family, every worker, every child—can get the health care they need without fear of financial ruin. Together, we can build a system where affordability, access, and dignity are guaranteed.

Fighting for Saint Paul

Our city is at a turning point. As the cost of living continues to rise, more and more Saint Paulites are being faced with difficult decisions about where they can afford to live and how they can support their families. We must do more—and we must do it now—to ensure Saint Paul remains a place where every resident can thrive.

Strong Public Schools

As the mom to three proud Central High School graduates, I have seen firsthand the life-changing impact that strong public schools can have. Unfortunately, Saint Paul Public Schools continue to face significant resource challenges. I am committed to fighting for:

• Increased and stable state funding, so our district receives its fair share of investment to fully fund classrooms, support staff, and student mental health services.
  
• Smaller class sizes and modernized facilities, ensuring students learn in safe, supportive environments.
  
• Strong partnerships with educators and families, elevating teacher voices and ensuring decision-making reflects community needs.
  
• Expanded career and technical education pathways, helping students graduate with skills that prepare them for college, trade programs, and the workforce.
  

Quality education is essential not only for our children but for the long-term economic vitality of our city. I will work to make sure Saint Paul is a leader in educational excellence statewide.

Addressing the Rising Cost of Living

Rising property taxes are putting homeowners, renters, and small businesses across our community under tremendous strain. We cannot ignore this challenge. I am committed to pursuing responsible, long-term solutions that balance the needs of residents with the fiscal health of our city. This includes:

• Growing our tax base strategically, so we can reduce overreliance on property taxes while maintaining essential services.
  
• Encouraging sustainable development, particularly in areas where growth can be achieved without displacing existing communities.
  
• Exploring alternative revenue streams, including state partnerships and grants, to alleviate local tax pressure.
  
• Protecting longtime residents, ensuring that seniors, lower-income households, and working families aren’t priced out of the city they love.
  

Revitalizing Downtown Saint Paul

Downtown Saint Paul must be part of our long-term financial and community strategy. With so much of our city’s land devoted to public and nonprofit uses—which limits taxable property—we need to rethink how we activate the areas where economic growth is possible. My plan includes:

• Attracting new businesses and supporting those already here, prioritizing job growth and a vibrant commercial ecosystem.
  
• Investing in housing and mixed-use development, bringing more residents downtown to support local shops and restaurants.
  
• Strengthening public safety and transit access, making downtown a place where families, workers, and visitors feel welcomed and connected.
  
• Partnering with arts, culture, and nonprofit organizations to ensure downtown remains a hub of creativity, innovation, and community gathering.

A thriving downtown strengthens every neighborhood in Saint Paul.

Collaboration With Local Leaders

Saint Paul’s challenges—and its opportunities—require collaboration at every level of government. I am committed to working closely with city, county, and state partners to ensure our community gets the attention and investment it deserves.

I am honored to be endorsed by Saint Paul city councilmembers Saura Jost and Molly Coleman, and I look forward to working with the full Council and the Mayor to deliver real results for our capital city. Together, we can build a stronger, more affordable, and more equitable Saint Paul for everyone.

My Commitment

I will fight every day for a more affordable, equitable, and thriving Saint Paul where every resident has the opportunity to succeed.

Defending Our Democracy

It is clear as day: our democracy is under attack. From the brutal ICE raids we have watched terrorize our communities, to the steady erosion of fundamental rights by the Trump Administration, it will take each and every one of us to fight back. It’s part of what drives me to step up. I fought for human rights around the world while serving at the State Department, but now that fight is here at home. We must act—both as a city and as a state—to protect every one of our neighbors and stand firmly with the immigrant communities that make Minnesota vibrant, innovative, and strong.

Part of what makes me proud to be a Minnesotan is our deep commitment to civil rights, equity, and fairness for all people. These aren’t just ideals—they are values that must be defended in our laws, in our institutions, and in our daily civic life. I am committed to carrying these values to the legislature, where I will work to ensure that Minnesota remains a leader in justice and democracy. I’m honored to be endorsed by our Attorney General Keith Ellison, the People’s Lawyer, and I look forward to working alongside him to protect the rights and freedoms Minnesotans hold dear.

The rise in political violence deeply concerns me and is part of what called me to run. The murder of Speaker Melissa Hortman—a close friend to so many of us and someone I proudly doorknocked for in her first campaign—forced me to reflect on how each of us must play a role in safeguarding our democratic institutions. Following her example, I feel compelled to step forward for the common good of our community.

My Priorities for Protecting Democracy

✔ Strengthening voting rights and ballot access

• Expand early voting and secure ballot drop boxes across the state
  
• Streamline voter registration, including automatic and same-day registration
  
• Protect election workers and volunteers from harassment and intimidation
  

✔ Ensuring election security and transparency

• Invest in modern, secure election infrastructure resistant to cyber threats
  
• Increase state support for local election administrators
  
• Require clear, timely public reporting on election procedures and audit results
  

✔ Defending civil liberties and constitutional rights

• Oppose unconstitutional surveillance and discriminatory law enforcement practices
  
• Strengthen state protections for reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and freedom of speech
  
• Prevent abuses of emergency powers that threaten individual freedoms
  

✔ Protecting immigrant communities and resisting federal overreach

• End cooperation agreements that enable federal ICE actions targeting Minnesotans
  
• Fund local legal defense and community support programs
  
• Guarantee access to state services regardless of immigration status
  

✔ Combating political violence and extremism

• Establish stronger penalties and prevention efforts targeting politically motivated harassment and threats
  
• Support community-based violence interruption and de-escalation programs
  
• Increase protections for elected officials, journalists, and civic leaders
  

✔ Promoting civic education and democratic engagement

• Expand civics curriculum in public schools to include media literacy and democratic participation
  
• Support grants for community organizations that build voter turnout and civic engagement
  
• Create youth advisory councils to bring more young voices into policymaking

My Commitment

My promise is simple: to use my voice, my experience, and my vote to defend our freedoms, uplift our communities, and build a future worthy of all Minnesotans.

Fighting for Women’s Rights

As we confront the Trump Administration’s continued attacks on our rights and freedoms as people, his attacks on women specifically could not be clearer. The alarm is ringing, and the legislature must prioritize defending the rights we have enshrined into law here in Minnesota while stepping up to the federal government’s continued attacks

I have spent my career devoted to women’s empowerment. At the State Department, I led global health initiatives beside President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton focused on women’s empowerment across the globe. While leading Pathfinder International, a nonprofit devoted to building healthcare systems for people around the world, I led women’s empowerment work in some of the toughest environments, leaving me inspired to continue the fight at home, where our rights are under attack.

Representative Her leaves the legislature with a legacy of a clear commitment to women’s rights. Her work leading the charge for abortion rights as leader of the reproductive freedom caucus has led Minnesota to having some of the strongest reproductive freedoms in the country, becoming a beacon of hope for so many coming to our state for access to reproductive care. I will continue the fight to protect these freedoms and defend them against the attacks of the Trump Administration. Representative Her’s leadership on the fight to pass the Equal Rights Amendment is inspiring as well, and a fight I hope to continue in the legislature.

My Priorities for Fighting for Women’s Rights

✔ Protecting reproductive freedom access 

• Defending Minnesotans’ constitutional right to reproductive health care
• Ensuring our health care systems make reproductive health care affordable and accessible for all Minnesotans
• Building protections and support for Americans from other states traveling to Minnesota for reproductive care
  

✔ Passing the Equal Rights Amendment

• Continuing Representative Her’s legacy leading the charge on the ERA
• Building coalition across the state with elected officials ready to finally get this done

I had opportunities and rights that women before did not have. Young women today in America have fewer rights than I did in the past. I am of a generation of women that had access to a college education, the ability to earn our own income, and access to reliable reproductive health care.  We have been able to make more of our own choices in our life as a result.
I know how fortunate I have been by attending Macalester College and Oxford University; coming through a difficult pregnancy with twins well; and having the chance to play leadership roles in government, business and non-profits.   

All this is at risk.  The Trump Administration crudely disrespects women and has taken away our ability to make the most personal decisions about our lives by restricting access to safe abortion, reproductive health care and now threatening to restrict care to enable our fertility. 
Minnesota can be a lighthouse of dignity and respect for women.  This has long been my work with a special focus on health care.
A couple of hallmarks of my life’s work as an advocate for women include:

• Served on the board of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota when my sons were young.
• Led a U.S. State Department Initiative to save the lives of women in labor and delivery called Saving Mothers, Giving Life.  
• Created a partnership with the Norwegian government and others to fund more work on maternal health.
• Led a global reproductive health organization operating in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa and published a book on women’s empowerment.

My Commitment

My commitment to you is to fighting back against the Trump Administration’s attacks on women and our rights and defending the advances and protections we have enshrined in law here at home.

10 Fun Facts about Lois

• Lois had three sons in 23 months.
• Lois had 5 grandchildren in 26 months.
• Lois speaks Norwegian – the language of her immigrant family.
• Lois actually likes the Norwegian delicacy lutefisk.  
• Lois’s husband Arshad Mohammed was a reporter for Reuters covering George W. Bush on 9/11.  It is his voice you hear asking Bush the question in classroom about planes hitting the World Trade Center.
• Lois led an organization that expanded access to maternal and reproductive health across Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
• Lois’s favorite weather is 20 degrees with snow. 
• Lois’s maternal grandfather was the postman at the Como Park station in St. Paul.
• Lois’s paternal grandfather, a Norwegian immigrant, served in WWII. He spent a night floating in the Mediterranean and survived after his ship,  the Rohna, was sunk by the Nazis.
• Lois worked with the parents’ group supporting the Central High School debate team and the theatre program.  Both endure today. 
• Lois received a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University.
• Lois worked on her first DFL campaign for the Lyon County DFL’s Marshall office when she was in 5th grade.
• Lois has meditated nearly 45,000 minutes on the Headspace app.
• Lois authored a book about her work to ensure women around the world have access to reproductive health care and good quality care during labor and delivery.  It’s called:  Who Run’s the World?  Unlocking the Talent and Inventiveness of Women Everywhere.