Biography
Tina Smith, born Christine Elizabeth Flint on March 4, 1958, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a Democratic politician serving as the junior United States Senator from Minnesota since 2018. She was appointed to the Senate to fill the vacancy left by Al Franken's resignation and subsequently won a special election in 2018 and a full term in 2020. Prior to her Senate tenure, Smith served as the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota from 2015 to 2018. On February 13, 2025, she announced she would not seek reelection in 2026, citing a desire to spend more time with her family after two decades in public service.
Education and Political Experience
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Education:
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Stanford University
- Master of Business Administration from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
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Political Experience:
- Vice President of External Affairs at Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota
- Chief of Staff to Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak
- Chief of Staff to Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton
- Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- U.S. Senator from Minnesota
Notable Achievements
Climate Legislation: Played a key role in securing major climate and energy provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, including tax credits for clean energy technologies and funding for rural electric cooperatives to transition to clean energy.
Mental Health Services: Sponsored bipartisan legislation to improve access to mental health care, resulting in funding for primary care practices to integrate mental health services and grants for culturally competent mental health services for Native Americans.
Healthcare Advocacy: Advocated for lowering prescription drug costs and expanding healthcare access, including support for single-payer healthcare systems.
Reproductive Rights: As a former Planned Parenthood executive, Smith has been a strong advocate for reproductive rights and access to healthcare services.
Throughout her career, Senator Smith has focused on issues such as climate change, healthcare access, and mental health services, demonstrating a commitment to improving the lives of Minnesotans and Americans nationwide.
