Minnesota House District 66A candidate guide
Who is running for MN House District 66A in the 2026 General Election?
Meet the candidates for MN House District 66A: Mark Born and Leigh Finke.
Minnesota House District 66A includes Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, part of Roseville, and part of Saint Paul. View a map of MN Senate District 66A and a list of precincts.
Below is a candidate guide to get to know each candidate with information curated based on campaign websites, publicly available information, and responses to a Roseville Reader candidate questionnaire.
Mark Born
Republican
Campaign website
Mark Born is a lifelong Minnesotan who grew up on a Carver County dairy farm and is an eight year veteran of the US Air Force. While in the service, he attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He worked for over two decades at Xcel Energy's Prairie Island Nuclear Plant and also owned his own business.
"I am running to join a Republican team dedicated to the 'repair and renovation' of our state. Minnesota needs common-sense leadership that delivers results, and I am ready to get to work," Born wrote on his campaign website.
Born's campaign priorities include addressing fraud, keeping children's education "free from political extremes," maintaining "clear and fair competition standards" for girls' sports, and prioritizing privacy and respect in locker room policies, according to his website.
Questionnaire Responses
Born did not respond to our invitation to participate in the candidate questionnaire.
Leigh Finke (incumbent)
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Campaign website
Leigh Finke is running for her third term representing House District 66A in the Minnesota House of Representatives. She was raised in Delano and Maple Grove, Minnesota. She graduated from Bethel College in 2003 and received her Master of Arts in Shakespeare from DePaul University in 2007. Finke lived for a short time in Chicago, IL and Missoula, MT before moving to Saint Paul where she's been a long-time renter and resident of the Midway neighborhood. Prior to running for office, Finke worked as a journalist, media creator, and documentary filmmaker. In 2022 she became the first out trans woman elected to the Minnesota Legislature. In her first term, Finke served as the chair of the Queer Legislators' Caucus. She currently serves as the House Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus.
"I promise to bring my passion for civil rights and freedom to the House every day I am privileged to serve," Finke wrote on her campaign website.
Finke's campaign priorities include responding to ICE, passing the Equal Rights Amendment, protecting health care access, gun violence prevention, climate and environment action, and arts funding, according to her campaign website.
Questionnaire Responses:
Why are you running for elected office?
"I’m running for my third term in the house because we have much more to do to help our neighbors—whether it’s our immigrant or homeless or disabled neighbors, we have work to do.
I’m running to ensure that all have access to the basic elements of a life well lived: job, food, and housing security, access to healthcare and a life free from violence."
What are some of your legislative priorities for the next legislative session?
"Passing the Equal Rights Amendment, requiring ICE to remove masks, comprehensive gun violence prevention, are all at the top of my list."
How would you work to make life better for ordinary people living in the Roseville area?
"If we get a DFL majority we will make life more affordable—bringing relief in drug costs, energy costs, and helping w/ property taxes, and more."
What are your priorities when it comes to public education?
"Increase our investments in public education! We must keep our schools funded and our students fed. We must ensure that students and teachers are safe in the classroom, and that we are building an equitable future for all our communities. And finally that every student is included and valued for who they are."
How do you plan to connect with residents in the Roseville area and their local city leaders to represent their unique interests at the state level?
"I connect to Roseville residents through various digital mediums, but in the community as well, and often. I have good relationships with the city’s elected officials and the public safety leaders, and feel well informed of the issues facing my constituents."
What else do you want voters in the Roseville area to know about you?
"I have been honored to serve you in the house these past four years, and hope to earn your support to continue this work together."
Candidate Forum
The League of Women Voters Saint Paul is hosting a candidate forum for House District 66A and 66B on Monday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m. The event will be at the Saint Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN), located at 550 Vandalia Street, Suite 170, St. Paul, MN 55114.
Below is a link to the livestream.
Prepare to Vote
Find out what else is on your ballot, check your voter registration, and locate your polling place:
Additional Roseville-specific election coverage:
Editorial note: This candidate guide is intended for informational purposes only. The Roseville Reader does not endorse political candidates.
