Maple Grove— Maple Grove City Councilmember Kristy Janigo is announcing her run for state senate in district 37, which includes Maple Grove, Greenfield, Independence, Maple Plain, Loretto, Hamel, Corcoran, and Medina.
Janigo’s platform includes keeping neighborhoods safe, investing in infrastructure, increasing transparency and trust in government, creating well-paying jobs, growing the economy, and standing up for Minnesota veterans.
Janigo is not a newcomer to public service. She has served as a Maple Grove City Council Member At Large since winning a seat in the 2022 election. As a city council member, Janigo has worked to elevate resident voices, manage costs of public services, protect natural resources, and promote positive relationships between the community and first responders.
Janigo commutes to St. Paul frequently for volunteer advocacy as the legislative chair for The American Legion Department of Minnesota and the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers, where she crafted bill language, leveraged grass roots support of veterans service organizations, and testifies in many committee hearings. She collaborates with lawmakers of both parties to pass bills into law in a bipartisan fashion.
“I know the legislative process. I can hit the ground running for you, day one,” said Janigo.
Janigo is a third-generation Army veteran who served post-9/11 in the North Dakota National Guard. Her uncle was a South Dakota Army National Guardsman, and her grandfather served in the Army in Okinawa in WWII. For her day job, Janigo helps homeless and justice involved veterans access veteran benefits as the Veterans Engagement Coordinator for Hennepin County. The Fourth District Court recognized Janigo as the Steven A. Pihlaja Justice Partner for her work in the Veterans Treatment Court June 9.
“As a state senator, I plan to lean into my core values of patriotism and justice,” said Janigo.
Janigo is also a volunteer special deputy and first responder. She concluded her year as the 10th District American Legion Commander earlier this month.