Why I'm Running

For me, everything begins with being a parent and now a grandparent. I was born and raised in Minnesota, and for more than 35 years my husband Joe and I have called District 13 our home, raising our children in the ROCORI schools. This is where our roots are, and it’s the place I want to keep strong for the next generation. 

I graduated from the College of Saint Benedict and built my career in management, staffing, human resources, and business development right here in Central Minnesota. That work has put me at the intersection of employers, employees, and government policy. I’ve seen how decisions made in St. Paul on taxes, regulations, and workforce rules, show up in very real ways: in hiring freezes, canceled expansions, tighter family budgets, and young people wondering if they have to leave Minnesota to get ahead.

Over the years, I’ve been deeply involved with the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, serving as Chair of the Board, Chair of Government Affairs, and Chair of the Business Development Council, as well as a Board Member for the Career Solutions Foundation. I’ve been a member of the Central Minnesota Manufacturers Association (CMMA), the Central Minnesota Society for Human Resource Management (CMSHRM), and as PTO Chair in the ROCORI schools. These roles have allowed me to listen to manufacturers, small business owners, teachers, parents, HR professionals, and community leaders who are working hard to grow, create jobs, and do right by their employees while navigating an increasingly heavy load of taxes, mandates, and red tape. In each of these positions, my focus has been the same: listen carefully, bring people together, and pursue practical solutions that help families, job creators, and our communities thrive.

For more than a decade, I’ve had the privilege of serving on the board of Central Minnesota Youth for Christ, walking alongside an organization that invests in young people and shares hope with kids who often feel overlooked. I also serve on the steering team for Celebrate Minnesota, a faith-based community outreach effort that builds stronger faith-based connections across our region. These experiences have deepened my belief that changed lives and flourishing communities start with people of faith stepping up to serve their neighbors.

I’m running for the Minnesota House because I believe our state is at a crossroads. Right now, we are headed in the wrong direction. Families, small businesses, and retirees are being squeezed by high taxes, growing fees, and layers of regulation. Too many people are quietly asking whether they can afford to stay in Minnesota, and some are being told by financial professionals that the best way to protect their retirement is to move to a lower-tax state. At the same time, we’ve seen massive fraud and waste in state programs, with losses measured in the billions of dollars. These dollars should have supported schools, vulnerable Minnesotans, and essential services, not lined the pockets of fraudsters.

That has to change. I want to restore trust in our state government by putting real safeguards in place on the front end of our systems, demanding ongoing oversight, and refusing to be complacent about fraud, waste, and abuse. I want Minnesota to once again be a place where people are moving in, not moving out; where our economic rankings reflect our potential; and where families feel hopeful about their future here.

I am also running to protect the conservative values that define Central Minnesota: strong families, personal responsibility, and respect for law and order.  I believe women’s and girls’ sports and spaces should be protected, that criminals should face real consequences, and that our students deserve better educational outcomes focused on core academics. I want Minnesota to be a place where our kids can build a life, our retirees can stay close to home, and our businesses and farms can grow without burdensome regulations.

If I have the honor of serving you in the Minnesota House, I will bring common-sense leadership and a collaborative spirit to St. Paul. But most of all, I want to hear from you! Please share your concerns, your ideas, and your hopes for the future. By working together, we can get Minnesota back on the right track and build a stronger future for Central Minnesota and communities across District 13A.

-Tanja Goering