Experience. Leadership. Results.
House District 37A
Statement from Rep. Robbins Following Last Weekend’s Horrific Attack
ST. PAUL – Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove) released the following statement in response to the tragic events that unfolded last weekend:
“This is an evil, devastating crime and an unimaginable loss for our state. I served alongside Melissa Hortman for 7 years. While we did not agree on many policy issues, I always respected leadership, her care for all Members, and her commitment to the institution of the House of Representatives and the Legislative branch of government. We shared a love for our children and dogs, and I would often ask her for “Gilbert updates” when she first started training him.
Melissa was a tireless advocate for the polices she championed and for the Legislature. She devoted twenty years of her life and countless hours every session to ensuring that the Legislature worked for the people of Minnesota. She was funny, approachable and not ego-driven. I know she deeply loved her family and was so proud of her children. My heart is broken for them and for the entire Hortman family.
Senator John Hoffman is a friend and a passionate advocate in the Senate. We have worked together on a number of transportation and education issues that affect our neighboring districts. He also attended our Civility Caucus events when his schedule permitted. My prayers are with John, his wife, Yvette, and their daughter as they recover from this horrific attack.
I am also incredibly grateful that State Representative Kristin Bahner and Senator Ann Rest are safe. The recent reports of how they were also targeted and how much worse this could have been are horrifying.
I want to thank the brave men and women of law enforcement at the local, state and federal levels for their swift action and non-stop efforts to find and bring this criminal to justice. I also want to specifically thank the Maple Grove Police Department for their round-the-clock protection for all of the legislators in our district. Our families and neighbors are truly grateful for your courage, time and care for us.
Political violence is never acceptable. We must all stand together in condemning it, even as we are united in our grief. We must choose to show grace and respect, even while we disagree about particular policy proposals. I am praying for strength and comfort for the Hortman family, a full recovery for the Hoffmans, and for healing for our state.”

Get to Know Kristin
Rep. Kristin Robbins is a native of Crookston. Kristin’s dad owned what was then called the Stenshoel Funeral Home until her family moved to Upper Michigan, where her parents owned the Jacobson Funeral Home until they retired.
Kristin’s mom was an LPN at Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis and became a stay-at-home-mom when they moved to Crookston and Kristin’s sister was born. As Kristin and her sister grew up, their mom took a much more active role in the funeral home. The Jacobson family, like most family businesses or farms, all worked in the funeral home. The girls helped with cleaning, setting up chairs and flowers, mowing the lawn, and answering phone calls.
Kristin attended Bethel University in St. Paul on a full scholarship, where she doubled-majored in Political Science and Economics. After college, Kristin lived and worked in Washington, D.C. for three years, becoming the Legislative Director for a Congressman Harris Fawell (R-IL). She also met her husband, Brent, a native of Portsmouth, NH, while working on Capitol Hill.
While working for Congressman Fawell, Kristin focused on taxes, trade, education and labor issues. She also led the bi-partisan Congressional Porkbusters Coalition, co-chaired by Rep. Fawell and Rep. Tim Penny (MN), which cut millions of dollars of wasteful government spending from appropriations bills.
Kristin received her M.A. in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis. She and her husband then moved to Minnesota, where they have lived for the last 27 years.
Kristin and Brent have been married 31 years and have raised three daughters in the western metro. She was a “soccer mom” and has spent countless evenings and weekends cheering on her girls in soccer, basketball, softball, gymnastics and trap shooting. She has been an active school volunteer, coaching Destination Imagination and teaching Junior Achievement’s economic literacy program. She also taught Sunday School, AWANA and VBS at her church.
Kristin has an extensive background in economics and public service. She co-founded and served as the Executive Director of the Economic Club of Minnesota for 10 years. The Economic Club is a non-profit focused on strengthening Minnesota’s economic competitiveness.
Prior to leading the Economic Club, Kristin was a stay-at-home mom, which she loved. Before having children, Kristin was the Executive Director of a group that helped pass education tax credits in Minnesota. The Wall Street Journal called this legislation “a model for the rest of the country.” She also served on the State Commission to End Chronic Homelessness during the Pawlenty Administration.
Kristin was an active member of New Hope Church for more than 20 years and she served on the board of their HopeBridge food shelf for 10 years, where she and her family were regular volunteers. Now empty-nesters, she and her husband Brent live in Maple Grove and attend Northwood Church.
At the Legislature: Kristin is an Assistant Minority Leader, and she serves on three committees: Taxes, Higher Education and Rules.
She is also Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Civility Caucus, which works to build relationships and trust across parties and between the House and Senate so the Legislature can function more effectively on behalf of all Minnesotans.
Kristin is actively engaged in all of the communities she serves and prioritizes helping constituents navigate state government.
On the Issues
Make Life Affordable
Minnesota families and seniors are struggling to make ends meet due to high inflation and reckless government spending. During the 2023-24 Legislative Session, with full Democrat control of state government, the state spent the entire $17.5 billion surplus, raised taxes another $11 billion and increased the state budget by 38%.
In addition, millions of dollars are being wasted on fraudulent programs, including the $250 million Feeding our Future scandal. There are also on-going fraud investigations in the Frontline Worker program, autism centers and transportation service companies. An additional $730 million is being spent to remodel the House office building into a “Palace for Politicians.”
Kristin would help make life more affordable by letting Minnesotans keep more of their hard-earned money by repealing the tax increases, including the current increase in the gas tax tied to inflation. Minnesotans are overtaxed and our high tax rates make it hard to attract the investment and talent needed to grow the economy. MN has the 5th highest income tax rate and the highest corporate tax rate in the country. We are also one of a handful of states that still tax Social Security. It is time to slow the growth of government and hold people accountable for results.
Support Safe Communities
Kristin is a strong supporter of local law enforcement and was endorsed by the MN Police & Peace Officers Association in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024. She supports fully funding law enforcement and strengthening penalties for violent crime and repeat offenders.
Kids First in Education
Kristin supports ensuring parents have control of their children’s education. With 50% of our students not reading or doing math at grade level, Kristin supports policies that focus on achievement, ensuring all kids can read at grade-level, and giving schools the flexible funding they need to meet the needs of their district. Unfunded, one-size-fits all mandates are making it hard for teachers and schools to meet the needs of their students.
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Mailing Address:
Kristin Robbins Volunteer Committee
PO Box 1122
Maple Grove, MN 55311