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Josh Heintzeman

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Josh Heintzeman
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 6B district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 2015
Preceded byJohn Ward
Personal details
Born (1977-12-05) December 5, 1977 (age 46)
Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKeri
Children6
Residence(s)Nisswa, Minnesota, U.S.
EducationCentral Lakes College (AA)
Occupation
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

Joshua Heintzeman (/ˈhaɪntsmən/;[1] born December 5, 1977) is a Minnesotan politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2015. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Heintzeman represents District 6B, which includes the city of Brainerd and parts of Crow Wing County in central Minnesota.[2][3]

Early life, education, and career

Heintzeman was born in Bloomington, Minnesota, and his family moved to Motley, Minnesota, when he was an infant. He graduated from Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minnesota, graduating with an associate degree in business.[2]

Heintzeman served as the Thirty Lakes Watershed District Manager and is a member of the Brainerd Chamber of Commerce. He also chaired the Crow Wing County Human Rights Commission and the Crow Wing County Republicans.[4] He runs a family-owned custom wood interiors business.[2][5]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Heintzeman was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2014, and has been reelected every two years since. He defeated four-term DFL incumbent John Ward.[2]

Heintzeman serves as the minority lead for the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee and sits on the Legacy Finance and Ways and Means Committees. From 2019 to 2020, he served as an assistant minority leader, and has served on the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources.[2][6][7]

Environment and natural resources

As co-chair of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, Heintzeman advocated using lottery money proceeds for local public works projects such as wastewater treatment plants, and supported using funding to build a National Loon Center in Crosslake, Minnesota.[7][8] He authored legislation to fund a field test to detect chronic wasting disease in live deer, and has supported a government buyout of deer farms in the state.[9][10]

Heintzeman offered an amendment to a 2020 bonding bill that would block efforts to challenge the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline project.[11] He has been critical of Governor Tim Walz's efforts to use rule-making to adopt stricter car emission standards.[12][13] Heintzeman has opposed state efforts to regulate PFAS chemicals, arguing action should be addressed at the federal level.[14][15]

Other political positions

Heintzeman said he believes private businesses should have the right to refuse services to same-sex couples, citing religious objections as a reason to deny service.[16][17] He has voiced concerns over legalizing sports betting in Minnesota due to gambling addiction.[18]

Heintzeman authored legislation to exempt military pensions from state income taxes.[19] He has been critical of the Affordable Care Act.[20] Heintzeman signed on to a letter calling on the University of Minnesota to stop participating in research on "aborted human fetal organs".[21] In 2020, he was targeted by activist Ben Dorr, who posted a video clip confronting Heintzeman with his six-year-old son for allegedly "voting to kill babies".[22]

Electoral history

2014 Minnesota State House - District 10A[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joshua Heintzeman 8,646 53.37
Democratic (DFL) John Ward (incumbent) 7,539 46.54
Write-in 15 0.09
Total votes 16,200 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic (DFL)
2016 Minnesota State House - District 10A[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joshua Heintzeman (incumbent) 12,919 59.40
Democratic (DFL) Quinn Nystrom 8,831 40.60
Write-in 27 0.12
Total votes 21,777 100.0
Republican hold
2018 Minnesota State House - District 10A[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joshua Heintzeman (incumbent) 11,907 62.23
Democratic (DFL) Dale Menk 7,211 37.69
Write-in 16 0.08
Total votes 19,134 100.0
Republican hold
2020 Minnesota State House - District 10A[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joshua Heintzeman (incumbent) 15,674 64.93
Democratic (DFL) Dale Menk 8,443 34.98
Write-in 23 0.10
Total votes 24,140 100.0
Republican hold
2022 Minnesota State House - District 6B[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joshua Heintzeman (incumbent) 12,623 65.22
Democratic (DFL) Sally Boos 6,698 34.61
Write-in 33 0.17
Total votes 19,354 100.0
Republican hold

Personal life

Heintzeman married his wife, Keri, on June 26, 1999. They have six children and reside in Nisswa, Minnesota.[2] Heintzeman and his wife homeschool their children.[5]

References

  1. ^ Informational interview with Rep. Josh Heintzeman (R-Nisswa). MNHouseInfo. January 19, 2024. Event occurs at 10:22. Retrieved August 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Heintzeman, Joshua "Josh" - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  3. ^ "Rep. Josh Heintzeman (06B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  4. ^ Biershbach, Briana (2014-11-11). "How the House GOP conquered rural Minnesota". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  5. ^ a b Condon, Patrick (May 30, 2015). "In Minnesota, special sessions aren't very special anymore". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  6. ^ Keen, Judy (December 1, 2018). "Minnesota House Republican leaders prepare for minority role". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  7. ^ a b Coolican, J. Patrick; Van Berkel, Jessie (May 11, 2018). "Republicans at the Legislature suggest tapping lottery trust fund for public works". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  8. ^ Stanley, Greg (June 5, 2019). "Minnesota lawmakers approve $4 million to build National Loon Center in Crosslake". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  9. ^ Stanley, Greg (February 18, 2019). "First deer with chronic wasting disease found outside SE. Minnesota". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  10. ^ Stanley, Greg (April 4, 2022). "Minnesota lawmakers would ban new captive deer farms to prevent spread of chronic wasting disease". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  11. ^ Van Berkel, Jessie (October 17, 2020). "Minnesota legislators push past politics to strike bonding deal". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  12. ^ Bjorhus, Jennifer; Stanley, Greg; Bierschbach, Briana (May 5, 2021). "Senate Republicans threaten to cut funding for MN state parks over 'clean cars' rule". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  13. ^ Bjorhus, Jennifer (July 27, 2021). "Minnesota adopts 'clean car' rules requiring more electric vehicles". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  14. ^ Marohn, Kristi (February 13, 2022). "Bills would ban 'forever chemicals' from cosmetics, cookware, ski wax". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  15. ^ Lopez, Ricardo (February 10, 2022). "DFL bills would ban PFAS in cookware, cosmetics and ski wax". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  16. ^ Pugmire, Tim (November 19, 2014). "New Republicans in the MN House vow to set the agenda". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  17. ^ Collins, Bob (November 20, 2014). "In hate speech from GOP leader, a question of values". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  18. ^ Coolican, J. Patrick (September 24, 2019). "Minnesota legislators head to Iowa to see if sports betting is right for the state". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  19. ^ Dettmer, Bob (June 23, 2016). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Editorial counterpoint: Veteran tax relief honors sacrifice of those who served". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  20. ^ MPR News Staff (November 8, 2016). "Republicans take full control of Minnesota Legislature". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  21. ^ Whelan, Abigail (January 15, 2016). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Fetal tissue research should cease at U". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  22. ^ Richert, Catharine (April 20, 2020). "Behind rallies to reopen economy, a MN activist". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  23. ^ "2014 Results for State Representative District 10A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  24. ^ "Results for State Representative District 10A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  25. ^ "Results for State Representative District 10A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  26. ^ "Results for State Representative District 10A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  27. ^ "Results for State Representative District 6B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
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