Minnesota State Representative Huldah Momanyi Hiltsey has said that active community engagement, open communication, and bipartisan cooperation are at the heart of her leadership and legislative work.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Generation, Hiltsey explained that her approach to lawmaking is deeply rooted in inclusivity, ensuring that constituents play a direct role in shaping policies that affect their lives.
According to her, public participation and accessibility remain her top priorities since taking office. “I’m talking to my constituency, really having them have a say in what I was offering, because they will make their voices heard,” she said.
“They will come and protest at your office. They will be very vocal. That’s the beauty of the American political system, where the constituency has a say in what you do.”
Hiltsey said she has made deliberate efforts to stay connected with her constituents through regular conversations and community forums to ensure that every voice is heard.
“One of the things that I really wanted to do when I got elected is to be more accessible to my constituency,” she said.
The legislator described her office as a collaborative environment made up of professionals from marketing, communications, and research departments, all tasked with helping her reach the public and shape informed legislation.
“We have a great marketing team, communications team, and research team — all of these resources assigned,” she explained.
She noted that lawmaking is a detailed process that involves coordination and verification at several stages. When a constituent brings forward an idea, such as introducing plant-based meals in schools, her team reviews the proposal, researches its viability, and determines whether it requires funding.
“For example, a constituency can reach out to me and say, ‘Hey, I want to do plant-based meals for our schools,’ because there are families that do not eat meat,” she said. “Just that simple idea, they bring it to me.”
If funding is needed, Hiltsey said her office works with another team to prepare a fiscal note outlining the estimated costs of implementing the bill. “If money is required for these bills, then another team comes in and helps continue what we call a fiscal note for that bill,” she elaborated.
The legislator also emphasized that bipartisan cooperation is key to moving any bill forward. She said her office works closely with members from both parties to address potential concerns before a bill is tabled for debate.
“We work with the bipartisan team to see if there are issues on the other side that we need to address before the bill comes to the floor,” she stated. “By the time a bill comes to the floor, it has been vetted, conversations have been had.”
Hiltsey added that she often reaches out personally to colleagues across the aisle to gain additional support when needed. “If I just need one or two votes, I go to my friends on the other side and say, ‘Hey, my friend, come join me and sign up,’” she said.
She concluded that her leadership philosophy is anchored on openness, learning, and collective participation, saying her legislative experience continues to be a journey of understanding and service to the people she represents.
