Natalie Zeleznikar

Natalie Zeleznikar (born September 9, 1966) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Zeleznikar represents District 3B in northern Minnesota, which includes the cities of Hermantown, Two Harbors, and Rice Lake, and parts of Lake and St. Louis Counties.

Zeleznikar grew up on a farm in St. Francis, Minnesota, and graduated from St. Francis Public Schools. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, earning a bachelor's degree in health care administration.

She has worked as a nursing home administrator owner/operator in health care administration for 30 years. Zeleznikar is a breast cancer survivor and wrote a book about her experience.

Zeleznikar was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022. She defeated 23-term DFL incumbent Mary Murphy by 0.15 percent, triggering an automatic recount under state law, after which Zeleznikar was declared the winner by 33 votes.

Zeleznikar serves on the Children and Families Finance and Policy, Human Services Finance, and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Committees.

Political positions

Zeleznikar has criticized "heavy handed regulations" for hurting the nursing home industry, as well as gaps in funding and labor shortages. During the 2023 legislative session, she advocated that more funding be allocated to supporting seniors and nursing homes. She opposed the year's tax bill and criticized DFLers for raising the gas tax, vehicle tab tax, and instituting a delivery tax on certain orders.

In her campaign, Zelznikar's top three issues were mental illness, supporting businesses through tax cuts, and fixing the education system. She said she would "fund the police, not defund the police, which led to increased murder rates and increased violent crime". Zeleznikar is anti-abortion, believes viability begins at conception, and supports regulations on abortion such as a 24-hour waiting period and banning abortion during the second and third trimesters.

Zeleznikar attacked her opponent, Mary Murphy, for being in office for 46 years and said she signed "a pledge to honor term limits for myself" without saying what the term limit was. Zeleznikar opposed funding for the Northern Lights Express, a high-speed passenger rail line that will connect Minneapolis and Duluth.

Zeleznikar lives in Fredenburg Township, Minnesota, with her husband, Dan and their two children. She is Lutheran and attends Peace in Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown.