Kaela Berg
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Kaela Berg
| image = Kaela Burg Burnsville Public Safety Roundtable (cropped).jpg
| office = Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
| term_start = January 5, 2021
| term_end =
| predecessor = Alice Mann
| successor =
| constituency = 56B district (2021–2023)
55B district (2023–present)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|9|15}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| spouse =
| children = 2
| education = Brigham Young University, Idaho (AA)
| website = {{url|house.mn.gov/members/profile/15550|State House website}}
{{url|bergforminnesota.com|Campaign website}}
}}
Kaela Berg (born September 15, 1973) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2021. A member of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), Berg represents District 55B in the city of Burnsville, in Dakota County.{{Cite web |title=Berg, Kaela - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=15550 |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}}{{Cite web |title=Rep. Kaela Berg (55B) - Minnesota House of Representatives |url=https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15550 |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=www.house.mn.gov}}
Early life, education and career
Berg earned an associate degree from Ricks College (now Brigham Young University–Idaho).{{Cite web|last=Gessner|first=John|title=Race is set for open seat in District 56B|url=https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_thisweek/community/burnsville/race-is-set-for-open-seat-in-district-56b/article_7ad19ea4-8b62-11ea-9e98-df35ea6d32ef.html|access-date=2021-05-06|website=hometownsource.com|date=30 April 2020 |language=en}}
Since 2003, Berg has been a flight attendant for Endeavor Air. She has also worked as a union organizer and representative. She worked as a union steward for United Steelworkers and the Association of Flight Attendants, and as director of the Minnesota Fair Trade coalition.{{Cite web|title=House District 56B candidate questionnaire|url=https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_thisweek/free/house-district-56b-candidate-questionnaire/article_72ee08bc-0fe7-11eb-9e62-6f57432a61ba.html|access-date=2021-05-06|website=hometownsource.com|date=16 October 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Brodey |first=Sam |date=2017-05-24 |title=On trade, Donald Trump sounds like a Democrat. But can Democrats trust him? |url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2017/05/trade-donald-trump-sounds-democrat-can-democrats-trust-him/ |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}
Berg was a delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention for Bernie Sanders, and was critical of Hillary Clinton, saying, "she has blood on her hands."{{Cite web |last=Brodey |first=Sam |date=2016-07-25 |title=Convention week: Can Democrats unify — and avoid drama? |url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2016/07/convention-week-can-democrats-unify-and-avoid-drama/ |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}} Berg voted for Clinton after Sanders urged delegates to support Clinton to ensure Donald Trump would be defeated.{{Cite web |last1=Condon |first1=Patrick |last2=Coolican |first2=J. Patrick |date=July 28, 2016 |title=Minnesota DFL's Sanders, Clinton camps join in opposition to Trump |url=https://www.startribune.com/sanders-clinton-camps-among-dfl-at-national-convention-join-in-opposition-to-trump/388613651/ |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=Star Tribune}}{{Cite web |last=stribcondon |date=July 28, 2016 |title=On convention's last day, Sanders rallies DFL delegates |url=https://www.startribune.com/on-convention-s-last-day-sanders-rallies-dfl-delegates/388549221/ |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=Star Tribune}}
Minnesota House of Representatives
Berg was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2020 and was reelected in 2022. She first ran after one-term DFL incumbent Alice Mann announced she would not seek reelection. In the general election, Berg defeated former Republican state representative Roz Peterson, who represented the district before Mann.{{Cite web |last=Pugmire |first=Tim |date=September 24, 2020 |title=State legislative races to watch |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/09/24/election-2020-state-legislative-races-to-watch |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=MPR News |language=en}} In 2020, Berg had her election results challenged, but a judge dismissed the case for failing to state a claim and a lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.
Berg is the vice chair of the Labor and Industry Finance and Policy Committee, and sits on the Education Policy and State and Local Government Finance and Policy Committees. She also serves as an assistant majority leader for the DFL House Caucus.
Berg is a member of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus and is pro-choice.{{Cite web |last=Gessner |first=John |date=October 7, 2021 |title=Lawmakers join new Reproductive Freedom Caucus |url=https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_thisweek/community/burnsville/lawmakers-join-new-reproductive-freedom-caucus/article_3ed6989c-27c3-11ec-96c4-e7f0e7baf751.html |access-date=2021-10-11 |website=Sun Thisweek |language=en}} In February 2022, in response to high gas prices, she joined other DFL legislators advocating for a temporary repeal of the state gas tax.{{Cite web |last=Pugmire |first=Tim |date=February 25, 2022 |title=Some House DFLers pitch summer gas tax holiday |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/02/25/some-house-dflers-pitch-summer-gas-tax-holiday |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=MPR News |language=en}}
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2020 Minnesota State House - District 56B{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=136&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=466&show=Go|title=2020 Results for State Representative District 56B|access-date=February 22, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kaela Berg
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| votes = 12,179
| percentage = 52.31
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Roz Peterson
| party = Republican Party of Minnesota
| votes = 11,073
| percentage = 47.56
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 30
| percentage = 0.13
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 23,282
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2022 Minnesota State House - District 55B{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=149&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=464&show=Go|title=2022 Results for State Representative District 55B|access-date=February 22, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kaela Berg (incumbent)
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| votes = 9,288
| percentage = 58.42
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Van Holston
| party = Republican Party of Minnesota
| votes = 6,601
| percentage = 41.52
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 11
| percentage = 0.07
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 15,900
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
|title = 2024 Minnesota State House - District 55B{{cite web |title=2024 Results for All State Representative Races |url=https://electionresults.sos.mn.gov/Results/Index?ersElectionId=170&scenario=StateRepresentative |website=Minnesota Secretary of State |access-date=18 November 2024}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| candidate =Kaela Berg (incumbent)
| votes = 11,616
| percentage = 59.24
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate =Van Holston
| votes = 7,968
| percentage = 40.64
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 24
| percentage = 0.12
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 19,608
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner=Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
Personal life
Berg lives in Burnsville, Minnesota, and has two children.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{MN-legdb|15550}}
- [https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15550 Official House of Representatives website]
- [https://www.bergforminnesota.com/ Official campaign website]
{{Minnesota House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berg, Kaela}}
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature
Category:Brigham Young University–Idaho alumni
Category:Democratic Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives