West Twin Cities

Minnesota State Representative Dawn Gillman (R-Hutchinson) has expressed frustration over the state legislature’s current budget impasse, citing a lack of progress since the official adjournment deadline on May 19. In a message to constituents, Gillman criticized Governor Tim Walz for traveling out of state during ongoing negotiations.

Gillman stated, “While House Republicans have been here at the Capitol—day in, day out—doing the hard work of negotiating, reviewing language, and trying to finalize a budget, our Governor… decided to hop on a plane to South Carolina.”

She added that Governor Walz’s recent comments at an event were unhelpful: “Instead of working with us to get the job done for Minnesotans, Governor Walz was out campaigning, giving fiery speeches about how his party needs to ‘be a little meaner.’ (You can watch it for yourself here—he said it loud and clear.)”

According to Gillman, such rhetoric does not address issues facing Minnesota residents or businesses. “Let’s be real: That kind of rhetoric might fire up a crowd, but it doesn’t help a single working mom in Duluth or a single small business in Baxter trying to keep the lights on. It doesn’t fix the budget, it doesn’t make our communities safer, and it sure doesn’t build trust in leadership,” she said.

Gillman referenced her colleague Rep. Max Rymer (R-North Branch), stating: “I couldn’t agree more. Minnesotans aren’t asking for drama. They’re asking for results. They’re asking for a Governor who will lead—not abandon his state.”

Emphasizing her commitment to local priorities over political ambition, Gillman said: “I ran for office to serve my community, not to climb a political ladder. So while others chase headlines and photo ops, I’ll keep doing what I promised: showing up, rolling up my sleeves, and fighting for the families, farmers, and small businesses that make our state great.”

A special legislative session is scheduled for Monday. Gillman encouraged constituents to follow proceedings online: “With that in mind, a special session has officially been called for Monday. If you’d like to follow along and see the work being done in real time, you can watch the session live [HERE].”

In addition to legislative updates, Gillman highlighted recent community events including Dairy Days in Hutchinson and praised local leaders such as Princess Kay of the Milky Way and Dave from Glencoe’s MRCI Day Programs.

She also noted constituent concerns regarding implementation of Minnesota’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave program and its potential impact on local businesses.

Concluding her update, Gillman reaffirmed her focus on representing District 17A with integrity: “At the end of the day, this isn’t about partisanship—it’s about priorities. And mine haven’t changed since the day I was elected: serve with integrity, listen to my community, and fight for common-sense solutions that put Minnesotans first.”

Gillman invited feedback from residents ahead of Monday’s special session.