If you’re driving through the western suburbs of the Twin Cities, you’re likely in the Minnesota 3rd congressional district. It’s a place that feels familiar but is actually going through some of the fastest political and social shifts in the Midwest. People often think of it as just a collection of quiet, leafy suburbs. That’s not the whole story anymore.
Who is Rep. Kelly Morrison?
Honestly, the biggest news lately is the change in leadership. For a few years, Dean Phillips was the face of the district. Then he ran for president, and everything changed. Now, we have Kelly Morrison. She’s not your typical career politician. Before she was sworn into the 119th Congress on January 3, 2025, she spent over two decades as an OB-GYN.
She's basically the first pro-choice doctor to represent this area in D.C.
In the 2024 election, Morrison beat Republican Tad Jude with about 58% of the vote. It wasn't even that close, which tells you a lot about where the district’s head is at. She’s already been busy. Just recently, in January 2026, she made headlines by cosponsoring articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. She’s leaning hard into her medical background too, pushing bills for veteran sexual assault response and children’s health safety.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 3rd District
People call this "purple" territory. Is it, though?
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Maybe ten years ago. Back then, Republicans like Erik Paulsen held the seat for a decade. But look at the numbers now. The Cook Political Report has the district at D+11. That’s a pretty solid blue tilt.
The geography covers a massive chunk of Hennepin County and a sliver of Anoka. We're talking:
- Bloomington (Home of the Mall of America, obviously).
- Eden Prairie and Minnetonka (The high-income corporate hubs).
- Brooklyn Park (One of the most diverse cities in the state).
- Plymouth and Maple Grove (The fast-growing residential giants).
It’s the wealthiest district in Minnesota. The median household income sits north of $106,000. But don't let that fool you into thinking it’s a monolith. While places like Wayzata are known for lakefront estates, Brooklyn Park has a huge Liberian and Vietnamese immigrant population. This mix of high-earning professionals and diverse immigrant communities is exactly why the politics have shifted so much.
The 2026 Political Climate
Right now, things are getting a little tense on the ground. As we move through early 2026, the big story in the Twin Cities is the federal lawsuit filed by Attorney General Keith Ellison. He's suing the Department of Homeland Security over a surge of ICE agents in the area.
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Even though the 3rd District is suburban, this hits home. In cities like Brooklyn Park and Coon Rapids, local police resources are being strained, and there have been reports of schools going into lockdown because of federal enforcement actions nearby.
Morrison has to balance these "big city" issues with the concerns of suburban parents who are more worried about:
- Gun Violence: This is a massive issue for the Eden Prairie and Edina crowd.
- The Opioid Crisis: It’s hitting the suburbs hard, and Morrison has used her medical expertise to champion school-based mental health support.
- The Economy: While income is high, the cost of living in Hennepin County is no joke. Taxes and housing fraud have been major talking points in the state legislature this session.
Why the Economy is the Secret Sauce
If you want to understand the Minnesota 3rd congressional district, look at the job board. This isn't a district of factories. It’s a district of headquarters.
Manufacturing is still the biggest employer—over 56,000 people—but it's "advanced" manufacturing. We’re talking medical tech and life sciences. When companies like UnitedHealth Group or Best Buy make a move, this district feels it.
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The unemployment rate here is usually lower than the national average, but there’s a weird trend happening. From 2022 to 2024, total employment actually dipped slightly, even as household income rose. It suggests the district is becoming even more "white-collar" and management-heavy. About 21% of people here work from home. That changes everything—from how much traffic is on I-494 to which local coffee shops stay in business.
What Really Happened With the Borders?
The boundaries you see today aren't what they were a few years ago. After the 2020 Census, the lines were shifted to keep the population balanced at roughly 710,000 people.
It’s almost entirely urban or suburban now. Only about 4% of the district is considered rural. Those few farming communities on the far western edge are basically the last holdouts before you hit the true "Greater Minnesota" country.
Actionable Insights for Residents
If you live here or are moving in, there are a few things you should actually do to stay ahead of the curve.
- Track the 2026 Midterms: Kelly Morrison is up for reelection in November 2026. Keep an eye on Jeremy Westby, who is running on the Republican side.
- Monitor the DHS Lawsuit: If you live in the northern parts of the district (Brooklyn Park/Coon Rapids), federal enforcement surges are affecting local school safety protocols and traffic.
- Leverage the "Medical Caucus": Since your representative is a doctor, the district has a unique "in" for federal healthcare grants. If you work in life sciences or healthcare, monitor Morrison’s "Democratic Doctors’ Caucus" initiatives.
- Property Tax Forecasts: With the state projecting a $2.5 billion surplus but "red ink" in the future, watch how the 2026 legislative session handles the Paid Leave program, which officially starts its benefits and job protections on January 1, 2026.
The 3rd District is basically a mirror of the modern American suburb: wealthy, highly educated, increasingly diverse, and moving steadily to the left. It’s no longer the "quiet" part of the state. It’s where the power is.