Esther Agbaje facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Esther Agbaje
Agbaje in 2024
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 59B district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 5, 2021
Preceded by	Raymond Dehn
Constituency	59B (2021-present)
Personal details
Born	(1985-03-19) March 19, 1985 (age 39) Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Residences	Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Education	George Washington University (BA) University of Pennsylvania (MPA) Harvard University (JD)
Occupation	Attorney Legislator

Esther Agbaje (born March 19, 1985) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2021. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Agbaje represents District 59B, which includes portions of north and downtown Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Early life, education, and career

Agbaje was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to parents who immigrated to Minnesota from Nigeria. She grew up in Brainerd and Faribault, and graduated from Shattuck-St. Mary's Boarding School.

Agbaje graduated from George Washington University with a bachelor of arts in political science, the University of Pennsylvania with a master of public administration, and Harvard University with a juris doctor. As a law student, she worked at Harvard's Legal Aid Bureau and volunteered for Volunteer Lawyers Network Housing Court Project.

Before law school, Agbaje worked at the United States Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer focusing on the Middle East. She is an associate attorney with Ciresi Conlin LLP, where she practices in general civil litigation and medical malpractice. She also did pro bono work helping renters dealing with housing insecurity and evictions.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Agbaje was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2020 and reelected in 2022. She challenged four-term DFL incumbent Raymond Dehn, winning the DFL endorsement and defeating Dehn in the primary election.

Agbaje serves as vice chair of the Housing Finance and Policy Committee, and sits on the Elections Finance and Policy, Taxes, and Ways and Means Committees. She has served as an assistant majority leader since 2023. Agbaje co-chairs the House People of Color & Indigenous (POCI) Caucus and is vice chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus.

Political positions

Housing and tenants' rights

Agbaje has called for greater investment in housing, calling housing a human right, and authored a bill that would provide $45 million in funding to Minneapolis to repair affordable housing units.

As vice chair of the Housing Committee, Agbaje authored many tenant protection provisions contained in the final housing budget, saying expungement of eviction filings was her top concern due to its impact on people's ability to find housing. She sponsored legislation that gave more rights and protections to those who use self-storage units, especially those who have recently been evicted.

The CROWN Act

Agbaje authored the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act. The legislation adds a definition of race that includes natural hairstyles and protects Minnesotans from discrimination based on hairstyle. Agbaje testified about her experience straightening her hair for fear of losing a job or not being perceived as professional. The legislation passed the House in February 2022 but was not acted on by the Republican-controlled Minnesota Senate. In 2023 the bill passed both houses of the legislature and was signed by Governor Tim Walz.

Other political positions

..... She sponsored a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to access MinnesotaCare, the state's health insurance for low-income families.

In 2023, Agbaje advocated against fully eliminating the state tax on Social Security income, saying it should be targeted to low- and middle-income seniors. She joined environmental advocates in pushing for the closing of a metal shredder in North Minneapolis after a stockpile caught fire.

Electoral history

Personal life

Agbaje lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.