Betty McCollum, who represents deeply Democratic St. Paul and its eastern suburbs, fits within Minnesota’s long tradition of sending steadfast liberals to Congress. In her own low-key, steady fashion during roughly two decades in the House, McCollum’s been both a reliable vote for her party’s leadership while also compiling a reliably progressive voting record by voting against authorizing the war in Iraq in 2002, consistently opposing efforts to expand oil and gas exploration, and supporting same-sex marriage long before many members of her own party came around to the same position. She taught high school science before getting involved in politics.

Learn what Betty McCollum says about finding common ground