Melissa Halvorson Wiklund

Melissa Halvorson Wiklund (born 1962) is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represents District 51 in the southern Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Bloomington and Richfield. Wiklund's legislative priorities include education, health care, and job creation.

Early life, education, and career Wiklund was raised in Bloomington, Minnesota, and graduated from Bloomington Kennedy High School. Before her election to the Senate, she served on the Bloomington School Board for three years. She was elected to the school board in 2009 and later became its chair. In 1991, she graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.E.E. and a degree in interior design.

Personal life Wiklund is married to her husband, Craig. They have two children and reside in Bloomington.

On December 16, 2025, Wiklund announced she would retire at the end of 2026, when her fourth Senate term ends.

Past committees 94th Legislative Session (2025–2026): Health and Human Services (Chair), Commerce and Consumer Protection, Finance, Human Services. 90th Legislative Session (2017–2018): This bill would establish an insulin assistance program; establish an insulin assistance account in the special revenue fund; require drug manufacturers to pay an insulin product fee; provide for emergency refills; and appropriate money.

SF 820, Great Start for All Minnesota Children Act. This bill aims to address opportunity gaps and help the state's youngest residents. It would provide additional funding for early childhood education and development, child care, prenatal care and home visiting.

SF 1708, Spoken Language Health Care Interpreter Registry. This bill would create a registry of interpreters that pass a test in English on health care terms and interpreter ethics and standards to minimize errors and restore patient confidence. In addition to registered interpreters, the bill includes a tier called "certified interpreters". To get this designation on the registry, interpreters must have a certification in health care interpreting from an organization specified by the Department of Health.

Electoral history