Interim News
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
It’s been a while since I last popped into your inbox—I hope this message finds you well and maybe even sipping on a warm cup of coffee while enjoying Minnesota’s best season! The crisp air and changing leaves remind us just how much there is to appreciate about life here in our great state.
As the seasons change, so too does the work we’re called to do. Even though the Legislature isn’t in session, important developments continue to unfold, and one recent decision out of the Minnesota Supreme Court deserves attention—especially for parents, coaches, and anyone who cares about fairness in girls’ sports.
Minnesota Supreme Court Ruling Undermines Fairness in Girls’ Sports
Wednesday’s Minnesota Supreme Court ruling was deeply disappointing and frankly, sickening. The Court’s decision affirms that under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, biological males may compete in women’s athletics. This ruling is not just wrong in principle—it’s a direct attack on fairness, safety, and the very foundation of girls’ sports.
This issue hits home for me personally. Three years ago, my son competed in a powerlifting event alongside Representative Jim Nash’s son. Both of them worked hard, trained for months, and competed with integrity. But after seeing how biological males were being pushed into girls’ competitions, my son walked away. That’s how serious and demoralizing this situation has become for young athletes who simply want a level playing field.
For more than fifty years, Title IX has guaranteed women and girls the right to compete fairly—to earn scholarships, break records, and grow stronger through sports. But that progress is being erased in the name of ideology. Fair competition isn’t discriminatory—it’s the cornerstone of every sport we play. We have weight classes, age divisions, and skill brackets for a reason: fairness matters.
Let’s be clear—this fight isn’t about exclusion. It’s about protecting the safety and opportunity of female athletes. When biological males are allowed to compete in girls’ sports, we rob young women of the chance to win fairly and expose them to potential injury in contact sports. Even hormone treatments can’t erase biological advantages like greater bone density, lung capacity, and muscle mass. Ignoring those realities is not compassion—it’s recklessness.
That’s why my colleagues and I continue to stand behind House File 12, the “Fairness in Girls’ Sports” bill. This legislation would restore common sense to Minnesota law and make sure girls’ sports remain for girls—as Title IX intended.
Parents, coaches, and athletes across Minnesota are speaking up because they know what’s at stake. We owe it to the next generation of young women—including our daughters—to preserve the integrity of competition and the safety of the playing field.
Fairness and safety are not negotiable.
This Week in the District: Howard Lake
 On Tuesday, during our annual bonding tour, I had the chance to stop in Howard Lake. It’s a small town, but like so many communities in our district, it has big needs—especially when it comes to keeping water safe and reliable for families and businesses.
The current water plant has been patched and updated over the years, but it’s simply not keeping up with the town’s growth. The proposed new plant would triple treatment capacity, remove contaminants more efficiently, and give Howard Lake residents a water system they can count on for years to come. That’s not just numbers on a page—it’s peace of mind for families, local businesses, and everyone who calls this town home.
Talking with local leaders like City Administrator Nick Haggenmiller reminded me why I love doing these tours. Seeing the dedication, care, and pride they have for their community is inspiring. These are the kinds of investments that strengthen our towns and make our whole district a better place to live.
Cracking Down on Election Fraud: Accountability Matters
Last week, the House Fraud Prevention and State Oversight Policy Committee, chaired by my colleague Rep. Kristin Robbins of Maple Grove—held a hearing on something Minnesotans care deeply about: election integrity.
The focus? A troubling case from 2021–2022 where two individuals pled guilty to federal election fraud after submitting between 500 and 600 fraudulent voter registration forms across 13 counties in our state. Thankfully, our diligent county election staff caught and reported the fraud before any illegal votes were cast, but it raised serious questions that deserve straight answers.
Secretary of State Steve Simon and his staff were questioned on how these fraudulent registrations were processed, whether any remain active in the system, and whether non-citizens could potentially vote using state-issued IDs. While some progress was made, there’s still a lot we don’t know.
Rep. Robbins sent a follow-up letter requesting more transparency, including:
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The exact number of fraudulent registrations still marked as “challenged” in the Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS).
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The list of counties affected.
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An explanation for why the non-profit connected to these fraudulent forms wasn’t fully reviewed once the issue came to light.
As Rep. Robbins rightly pointed out,Minnesota doesn’t have provisional ballots for “challenged” or same-day registrations—meaning once a vote is cast, it can’t be withdrawn. That’s why we need to catch potential fraud upstream before it ever hits the ballot box.
Our goal as a committee and caucus is clear:to identify where the system broke down and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Minnesotans deserve elections that are accessible, transparent, and protected from fraudsters looking to undermine our democracy.
We’re all for making it easy to vote—but hard to cheat.
Until Next Time...
Thanks for taking a few minutes out of your week to catch up with me and stay informed about what’s happening both here at home and at the Capitol. I know there’s no shortage of news competing for your attention, and I truly appreciate everyone who takes the time to stay engaged.
The work we do together—whether it’s defending girls’ sports, supporting our communities’ infrastructure, or protecting the integrity of our elections—only matters if it reflects the voices of the people we serve. So please, never hesitate to reach out. Your thoughts, questions, and ideas help guide the work I do every day.
You can always contact my office by phone, email, or on Facebook—I’d love to hear from you.
Until next time, stay safe, stay warm, and maybe take a moment to enjoy this beautiful fall weather!
Sincerely,
Representative Joe McDonald
Minnesota House of Representatives, District 29A
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