Liish Kozlowski

Liish Kozlowski (; ; born January 12, 1988) is an American politician serving as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), Kozlowski represents District 8B in northeastern Minnesota, which includes the city of Duluth and parts of St. Louis County. They are the first openly trans-nonbinary state legislator in Minnesota.

Early life, education and career Born in Duluth, Minnesota, Kozlowski is the child of a Mexican union electrician father and a Grand Portage/Fond du Lac Band Ojibwe mother. They were raised by their grandmother and adopted in adulthood by a native family. Their adoptive father, Ray "Skip" Sandman, was an Anishinaabe spiritual leader and ran twice for Minnesota's 8th Congressional District.

Minnesota House of Representatives Kozlowski was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in November 2022. They first ran after four-term DFL incumbent Jennifer Schultz announced they would not seek reelection and would run for the 8th Congressional District. When they took office, Kozlowski became the first openly trans non-binary member of the Minnesota Legislature and the second two-spirit member after Susan Allen, in addition to the first Mexican, Ojibwe, and trans non-binary or two-spirit person to represent Duluth.

Kozlowski serves on the Capital Investment and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committees and is co-vice chair of the Housing Finance and Policy and Labor and Industry Finance and Policy Committees.

Kozlowski was highlighted as part of Minnesota Public Radio's 2023 "Changemakers" series, which showcases Minnesotans from diverse backgrounds making an impact in the state. They have spoken out in favor of legislation making Minnesota a "trans refuge state" for those seeking gender-affirming care and have pushed for creating inclusive schools and increasing housing access for disadvantaged communities. Kozlowski authored a law adding gender-neutral bathrooms in Minnesota schools in 2023.

Kozlowski championed efforts to increase funding for the state's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office. Native American women, girls, and Two Spirit relatives are only 1% of Minnesota's population but made up 8% of all murdered women, girls, and Two Spirit people from 2010 through 2018.

Electoral results

Personal life Kozlowski lives in Duluth, Minnesota. Their Ojibwe name is Ozaawaa Anakwad ("Yellow Cloud") and they identify as trans, non-binary, and two-spirit.