Esther Agbaje facts for kids

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 graduated from George Washington University with a B.A. in political science, the University of Pennsylvania with a M.P.A., and Harvard University with a J.D.

Agbaje previously served at the United States Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer. She is an associate attorney with Ciresi Conlin LLP, where she practices in general civil litigation and medical malpractice.

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.