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Mary Franson
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Mary Franson (born March 1, 1977) is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, she represents District 12B, which includes portions of Douglas, Stearns and Pope Counties in west-central Minnesota. Franson is a licensed child care provider and a former employee of AT&T.[1][2]
Key Information
Early life and education
[edit]Franson graduated from AlBrook High School in Saginaw and the University of Minnesota Duluth in Duluth with a B.A. in psychology and humanities. She and her family live in Alexandria.[1]
Political career
[edit]Franson was first elected to the House in 2010, succeeding Mary Ellen Otremba, who did not seek reelection.
On election night, November 6, 2012, Franson had a one-vote margin of victory, triggering an automatic recount under Minnesota law.[3][4] After 32 voters received ballots for the incorrect race and three additional voters were not accounted for, a judge ruled that 35 ballots should be pulled from the total at random. The new ballots were counted, and Franson had a 12-vote lead. Challenger Bob Cunniff conceded on November 29.[5]
As of 2026, Franson has won eight straight House terms.
Franson has served on several committees during her legislative career, including Health and Human Services Finance, Early Childhood Finance and Policy, Higher Education Finance & Policy, Health & Human Services Reform, and Aging & Long-Term Care Policy. She chaired the Subcommittee on Childcare Access & Affordability.[6]
Political positions
[edit]Abortion
[edit]In 2017, Franson authored a bill to ban any funds from state-funded healthcare programs from being used for abortions.[7] The bill passed both houses of the legislature, but Governor Mark Dayton vetoed it.[8]
Child care
[edit]A former childcare provider, Franson has authored multiple bills on childcare-related issues. She was a vocal opponent of an executive order issued by Governor Dayton allowing for the unionization of childcare providers.[9] In May 2018, Franson called[10] for the state to take action against childcare fraud uncovered by KMSP-TV.[11] That month, Dayton signed into law a bill authored by Franson that unanimously passed both of Minnesota's legislative houses. The bill cut regulations on childcare providers that were viewed as burdensome.[12]
Environment
[edit]On April 20, 2012, Franson objected to the opening prayer on the House floor, in which House Chaplain Francis Grady mentioned Earth Day and tied it to the Gulf oil spill. She tweeted that the prayer "may as well been dedicated to 'Mother Earth', coincidence? I think not. 2nd offensive prayer in a month."[13]
In June 2018, Franson was one of four Republican legislators who secured state funding to help clean up two lakes in Alexandria, Minnesota.[14]
Free speech
[edit]On September 27, 2024, Franson sued Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, claiming the state's ban on deepfakes and AI-generated content was a violation of the United States' First Amendment protections of political speech and parody.[15]
Gun control
[edit]After the March for Our Lives demonstration on March 24, 2018, Franson authored and shared several posts on Facebook that critics claimed were comparing the survivors of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting to the Hitler Youth.[16] On March 27, Franson said she did not intend to link the protesters to Hitler Youth.[17] On March 28, she apologized and said, "Because of the timing of my posts, I now understand why it appears that I was making a comparison."[18]
Healthcare
[edit]Franson authored a bill protecting up to $25,000 of an individual's healthcare saving from debt collectors. The bill was passed unanimously by both Minnesota legislative houses and signed into law by Governor Dayton on May 3, 2018.[19]
On July 1, 2018, a law authored by Franson requiring the licensing of athletic trainers took effect in Minnesota.[20]
LGBT issues
[edit]Franson was one of the authors of a bill, introduced on April 28, 2011, seeking to amend the Minnesota State Constitution to define marriage as being "recognized as only a union between one man and one woman."[21]
On April 8, 2014, Franson characterized an anti-bullying bill as "fascism" and an "attack on the Bible and conservative Christians."[22]
On November 9, 2017, after transgender politicians Andrea Jenkins and Phillipe Cunningham were elected to the Minneapolis City Council, Franson tweeted, "A guy who thinks he's a girl is still a guy with a mental health condition."[23] The tweet was criticized by state lawmakers, many of whom pointed out that being transgender is not considered a mental illness by the American Psychological Association. Franson posted a defiant apology on Facebook, saying that she did "not apologize for not conforming to the PC world where I'm supposed to go along with fantasy and participate in it. This isn't the first time I've offended the social justice warriors and it won't be the last."[24]
Women's issues
[edit]Franson authored a bill to ban female genital mutilation in Minnesota.[25][26]
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
[edit]During the winter of 2025–2026, Franson supported the ICE operations in Minnesota. She said the heavy increase in law enforcement was justified; that ICE would target only bad people; and that law-abiding citizens had nothing to fear. She fully endorsed President Trump calling Somali immigrants "garbage people", saying that anyone who commits fraud is a garbage person in her mind.[27][28] After the killing of Renée Good, Franson still defended ICE, saying that childcare-related fraud was a more important story to follow. She also defended ICE's tactics, saying she believed that ICE was targeting only bad people and Good was interfering.[29]
Electoral history
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mary Franson | 7,798 | 48.85% | ||
| Democratic–Farmer–Labor | Amy L. Hunter | 5,147 | 32.25% | ||
| Independent | Bert Pexsa | 2,680 | 16.79% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mary Franson | 10,642 | 47.52% | ||
| Democratic–Farmer–Labor | Bob Cunniff | 10,630 | 47.47% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mary Franson | 9,270 | 58.41% | ||
| Democratic–Farmer–Labor | Jay Sieling | 6,565 | 41.36% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mary Franson | 14,749 | 64.87% | ||
| Democratic–Farmer–Labor | Gail Kulp | 7,962 | 35.02% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mary Franson | 11,831 | 62.04% | ||
| Democratic–Farmer–Labor | Gail Kulp | 7,231 | 37.92% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mary Franson | 17,307 | 68.03% | ||
| Democratic–Farmer–Labor | Carol Wenner | 8,101 | 31.84% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mary Franson | 13,756 | 69.89% | ||
| Democratic–Farmer–Labor | Jeremy Vinar | 5,908 | 30.02% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mary Franson | 18,571 | 76.73% | ||
| Democratic–Farmer–Labor | Judd Hoff[38][39] | 4,946 | 20.44% | ||
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Legislator Record: Franson, Mary". Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
- ^ "Meet Mary". Franson for State House. Archived from the original on February 11, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
- ^ "1 Vote Separates Candidates In MN District 8B". CBS Minnesota. November 7, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
- ^ "2012 Minnesota Statutes: 204C.35 Federal, State, and Judicial Races". The Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
- ^ Bierschbach, Briana (November 29, 2012). "Republican Mary Franson wins House race by 12 votes". Politics in Minnesota.
- ^ "Franson, Mary". Minnesota Legislative Member Record. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
- ^ "MN House passes pair of abortion bills". MPR News. April 24, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ "Dayton vetoes Franson's anti-abortion bill". Alexandria Echo Press. May 10, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ "Franson says move to unionize day care providers would hurt small businesses, families". The Osakis Review. November 18, 2011. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
- ^ "Minnesota Republicans call for crackdown on child-care assistance fraud". Minneapolis StarTribune. May 15, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ "Millions of dollars in suitcases fly out of MSP, but why?". KMSP/Fox 9. May 13, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ "Franson's bill to cut childcare regulations is signed into law". Alexandria Echo Press. May 24, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ Stassen-Berger, Rachel E. (April 20, 2012). "Rep. Franson tweets that Friday's House prayer was 'offensive'". Star Tribune. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
- ^ "Lake cleanup plan moves forward". Alexandria Echo Press. June 28, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ Murphy, Mary (October 6, 2024). "Minnesota representative sues Keith Ellison, says deepfake ban violates First Amendment". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
- ^ Mullen, Mike (March 27, 2018). "Rep. Mary Franson compares 'March for Our Lives' kids to Hitler Youth". City Pages. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- ^ Van Berkel, Jessie (March 27, 2018). "Rep. Mary Franson's Facebook posts appear to link March for Our Lives participants to Hitler Youth". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- ^ Woltman, Nick (March 28, 2018). "Franson apologizes for controversial Facebook posts about Parkland students". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ "Franson bill protects healthcare savings". Alexandria Echo Press. May 9, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ "New Laws In Minnesota Effective July 2018". Southwest Minneapolis Patch. July 12, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ "HF 1613: Marriage recognized as only a union between one man and one woman, and constitutional amendment proposed". April 28, 2011.
- ^ Rupar, Aaron (April 9, 2014). "Mary Franson characterizes anti-bullying bill as "fascism," GLBT community as "special interest" [VIDEO]". City Pages. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- ^ "After Minneapolis election, lawmaker criticized for anti-transgender tweet". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Associated Press. November 10, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
- ^ "Anti-transgender tweet draws criticism for Minnesota lawmaker". SC Times. November 11, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
- ^ "Female genital mutilation bill passes Minnesota House". KMSP/Fox 9. May 15, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ "Women share stories of genital mutilation, support bill to fight the procedure". MPR News. April 9, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ FOX 9 Staff. (n.d.). Minnesota Republicans respond to ICE operations, Trump ‘garbage’ comments. FOX 9. https://www.fox9.com/news/how-mn-republicans-responding-trumps-somalis-garbage-comment
- ^ Faircloth, R. (2025, December 28). Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and the DFL are tapping influencers to spread their message. Star Tribune. https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-gov-tim-walz-and-the-dfl-are-tapping-influencers-to-spread-their-message/601546526
- ^ Tolkkinen, K. (2026, January 16). Tolkkinen: Who did ICE take from a Perham company? The agency wouldn’t tell me. Star Tribune. https://www.startribune.com/tolkkinen-who-did-ice-take-from-a-perham-company-the-agency-wouldnt-tell-me/601564275 [startribune.com]
- ^ "Ten: Minnesota Votes – Minnesota Election Results 2010". Minnesota Legislative Manual 2011–2012 (PDF). Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. November 2, 2010. p. 536. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
- ^ "Ten: Minnesota Elections 2014". Minnesota Legislative Manual 2013–2014 (PDF). Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. November 6, 2012. p. 544. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
- ^ "Minnesota Elections 2014". Minnesota Legislative Manual 2015–2016 (PDF). Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. November 4, 2014. p. 542. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
- ^ "Minnesota Elections 2016". Minnesota Legislative Manual 2017–2018 (PDF). Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. November 8, 2016. p. 530. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
- ^ Minnesota Election Results - Results for State Representative District 8B - Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ Index - Election Results. November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ Index - Election Results. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
- ^ Index - Election Results. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ "Republicans criticize, state DFL disavows candidate in Minnesota House race with criminal past". MPR News. April 15, 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ "DFL committee rescinds endorsement of Judd Hoff after alleged sign thefts". Alexandria Echo Press. August 11, 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2024.