Jen McEwen is a plaintiff’s attorney who fights insurance companies that have denied disabled workers their benefits. McEwen worked as a lawyer for Legal Aid and advised the Hualapai Nation in drafting domestic violence legislation. She served as a public defender, and provides pro bono work as a criminal defender. She also volunteered with Duluth’s Homeless Bill of Rights. She is currently board president of the Damiano Center, a social services organization in Duluth.
McEwen faced off on an endorsement vote against incumbent State Sen. Eric Simonson, winning by an impressive +70 percent margin.
Fighting homelessness is central to her campaign. Her focus is on providing job training, mental health care, and supportive services for those addressing trauma and substance abuse, as well as increasing affordable housing units in Duluth.
Additionally, McEwen recognizes the increased challenges COVID-19 has brought to an already broken healthcare system and is committed to fighting for the adoption of a single-payer, Medicare for All/Minnesota Health Plan.
She understands the urgency of the climate emergency and pledges to work on planning and implementing a transition to the clean-energy future that will sustain Minnesota’s regional economy.
Jen McEwen on creating a sustainable agriculture system in Minnesota:
“We need to look at the root of why some sustainable agriculture practices are underused. Small
farmers know climate change is real and is happening now–they want to provide a good living for
their families and thrive. Big agriculture, on the other hand, is focused on maximizing profit at the
expense of both the land and people. We need to make sure we have robust regulations — both
financial and environmental — to reduce the size and influence of big ag companies, and we need
to free up small family farmers in other ways — by having health care for all and a meaningful
financial safety net — so those small farmers don’t need to fear for the basics of survival and are
not caught up in a race to the bottom trying to compete with big ag.”
