Mike Freiberg

Mike Freiberg is an American politician currently serving as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 43B. He is affiliated with the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) and has been in office since 2013. His district encompasses parts of the central Twin Cities metropolitan area, including the cities of Golden Valley and Robbinsdale, as well as portions of Hennepin County.

Early life and career

Mike Freiberg was born on September 23, 1976, and was raised in Golden Valley, Minnesota. He has Jewish ancestry, which is part of his cultural background. Freiberg pursued higher education at Georgetown University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government and Russian. He later obtained a Juris Doctor from the William Mitchell College of Law, equipping him with a legal background that would inform his political career.

Before entering the Minnesota House of Representatives, Freiberg gained experience in various political roles. He served as a legislative aide to U.S. Representative Jim Oberstar from 1999 to 2001, where he was involved in the legislative process at the federal level. Following this role, he worked as a committee administrator for the Minnesota Senate from 2005 to 2006, further deepening his understanding of state governance.

In 2007, Freiberg was elected to the Golden Valley City Council, where he served until his election to the state legislature. His tenure on the city council provided him with valuable insights into local governance and community issues. In addition to his political roles, Freiberg has worked as an adjunct professor at the William Mitchell College of Law, sharing his legal expertise with students. He is also an attorney for the Public Health Law Center located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he focuses on legal issues related to public health.

Legislative service

Freiberg was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2012, succeeding in a race for an open seat that resulted from legislative redistricting. Since then, he has been reelected every two years, demonstrating a sustained commitment to his constituents and the legislative process. Throughout his time in office, Freiberg has held various leadership positions, including chairing the Elections Finance and Policy Committee and serving on several other committees, such as Commerce Finance and Policy, State and Local Government Finance and Policy, and Ways and Means.

From 2017 to 2018, he served as an assistant minority leader, contributing to the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party's strategic direction in the House. His leadership experience includes chairing the Government Operations Committee from 2019 to 2020 and the Preventative Health Division of the Health Finance and Policy Committee from 2021 to 2022. These roles have allowed him to influence a range of legislative issues and policies.

In 2018, Freiberg endorsed fellow state representatives Erin Murphy and Ilhan Omar in their respective campaigns, indicating his alignment with certain progressive initiatives within the party. His legislative work has focused on various policy areas, reflecting his commitment to addressing the needs of his constituents and the state of Minnesota.

Policy focus and district

Freiberg's policy focus encompasses a range of issues, particularly in the areas of election reform, health care, and social justice. He has sponsored legislation aimed at Minnesota joining the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, advocating for a system that awards electoral votes based on the nationwide popular vote. Freiberg has expressed concerns about the representativeness of the Electoral College and has worked to close campaign finance disclosure loopholes to enhance transparency in local and municipal elections.

In health care, Freiberg has been active in promoting vaccination awareness and access. He authored a bill requiring parental consultation with a doctor before opting children out of vaccinations for diseases like measles and chickenpox. Although this bill did not advance during a period of Republican control in the House, it reflects his commitment to public health. He has also supported outreach programs aimed at combating misinformation about vaccinations and authored legislation concerning medical aid in dying for terminally ill patients, modeled after existing laws in other states.

Freiberg has taken a proactive stance on cannabis legalization, serving as the lead House author of legislation intended to legalize cannabis for adults over 21 by 2022. This proposal included provisions for regulation by the Department of Health and aimed to address potential health issues related to cannabis use. While the bill received support from the governor, it faced challenges in the Republican-controlled State Senate.

In addition to these issues, Freiberg has introduced legislation related to daylight saving time, advocating for Minnesota to adopt permanent standard time. He has also supported initiatives to address the use of deep-fake technology in pornography and campaign materials, reflecting a concern for ethical standards in media and technology. Furthermore, he has been involved in discussions regarding the redesign of Minnesota's state flag and has proposed the establishment of a "companion animal board" to address animal cruelty and neglect.

Freiberg is married to his wife, Lauren, and they have two children. The family resides in Golden Valley, Minnesota. In his personal life, Freiberg has a passion for music, playing the keyboard and participating in the Minnesota State Band, which is noted as the last state band in the nation. He identifies as agnostic and has co-founded Minnesota's "Secular Government Caucus," reflecting his interest in promoting secularism in government.

Through his legislative service and policy initiatives, Mike Freiberg continues to engage with the complexities of governance in Minnesota, representing the interests of his district while addressing broader state and national issues.