Bethel University alumna Kristin Robbins announced Aug. 20 that she would be running for Minnesota Governor in the 2026 election against Tim Walz. Currently, the state representative for the district covering Western Maple Grove and Western Hennepin County, Robbins sees an opportunity to make a change through her service to the community.
Robbins studied political science and economics at Bethel, finding a passion for policy work within the legislative government. During her junior year, Robbins studied for a semester in Washington D. C. through the American Studies program, which fueled her love of serving others and practicing the process of legislation.
“Helping us learn how to live our faith faithfully in the public square is an important part of the Bethel education, and it’s not just in public policy, it’s in whatever sphere of life you go into,” Robbins said. “Bethel does a great job of helping students prepare for being excellent in their field and integrating their faith into whatever they do.”
Robbins’ personal connections she fostered at Bethel are equally important. Several friends, including her former roommate, still keep in contact with and support Robbins in her campaign through volunteer work and encouragement. Previous professors also made a lasting impact on Robbins, through courses on national security and economics, which helped Robbins make career decisions.
“[Robbins] was very perceptive with good judgment of what she saw,” retired professor of political science John Lawyer said.
Outside of the State House of Representatives sessions, Robbins spends her time going out into the community and connecting with the constituents in her district. In session, she helps pass legislation and serves as a chair on the fraud committee in the house.
“This is the first year we’ve had a fraud committee in the legislature,” Robbins said. “And the more I dug into it, the more I realized how expansive the amount of fraud is that we have in Minnesota.”
By running for governor, Robbins hopes to stop fraud, cultivate a stronger economy and strive for better fiscal responsibility. She stressed the importance of education standards, specifically at the grade level.
“Our state test scores are terrible … We have a crisis in education that we need to address, and then we need to have safer communities,” Robbins said.
Robbins’ focus on education and safer communities was cultivated in part by values instilled at Bethel, because students are encouraged to live out a faith that intersects with political and public life.
Over the years, Robbins hosted Bethel interns and encouraged students to get involved with politics. For more information on becoming a legislative intern, students can go to house.mn.gov/sergeant/internship. To find out more about Robbins’ campaign, visit KristinRobbinsforGovernor.com.
“[Politics is] your future,” Robbins said, “so having respectful conversations and trying to understand your fellow students’ perspectives and trying to engage in what issues are being decided on now that will really impact your future is super important … We need good people in both parties to do this work of continuing the American experiment.”
