Athena Hollins

American state politician (born 1983)

Athena Hollins


Majority Whip of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Kaohly Her
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 66B district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 5, 2021
Preceded by	John Lesch

Personal details
Born	(1983-10-18) October 18, 1983 (age 40) Hawaii
Political party	Democratic (DFL)
Spouse	married
Children	2
Residence	Saint Paul, Minnesota
Education	Reed College (B.A.) University of Saint Thomas (J.D.)
Occupation	Attorney Legislator
Website	Government website Campaign website

Athena Hollins (born October 18, 1983) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2021. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Hollins represents District 66B, which includes parts of Saint Paul in Ramsey County, Minnesota.^[1]^[2]

Since 2023, Hollins has served as majority whip for the House DFL caucus.^[3]

Early life, education, and career

Born in Hawaii, Hollins attended Reed College, graduating with a B.A., and the University of Saint Thomas, graduating with a J.D in 2011.^[1]

After graduating from law school, Hollins practiced family law and estate planning. She served as president of the Payne-Phalen Community Council.^[4] She works in community relations and diversity and inclusion, serving as a senior director of diversity and foundations.^[5]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Hollins was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2020 and was reelected in 2022. She challenged nine-term DFL incumbent John Lesch for the DFL endorsement and lost, but defeated him in the primary election.^[6]^[7]

Hollins serves as the majority whip for the House DFL caucus and vice chair of the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee. She sits on the Climate and Energy Finance and Policy and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committees, as well as the Property Tax Division of the Taxes Committee.^[1] Hollins is a member of the House People of Color & Indigenous (POCI) Caucus, the Black Maternal Health Caucus, and the Queer Caucus.^[8]^[9]^[10]

Hollins authored a bill to ban the use of conversion therapy for minors and vulnerable adults, which passed the House floor in 2021 and 2023.^[11] She also introduced legislation to ban the "gay panic defense" used to plead down murder charges against LGBTQ victims.^[12] Hollins sponsored successful legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations on reporting sexual assault.^[13]

In 2021, Hollins introduced legislation to ban the use of no-knock warrants in the state of Minnesota, however lawmakers ended up approving a less restrictive policy.^[14] After the police killing of Amir Locke, she introduced a bill to further limit no-knocks, which Governor Walz stated he would sign if it came to his desk. That proposal passed the House floor in 2022 as part of a larger public safety bill, but was opposed by Senate Republicans and chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee, Warren Limmer.^[15]^[16] Hollins has been critical of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officer's Association, stating the MPPOA has been "steadfast in support of the status quo".^[17]

Hollins signed on to a letter calling on the Biden administration to stop Line 3, a tar sands pipeline proposed to cut through Minnesota tribal lands.^[18] She authored legislation requiring manufacturers to disclose when PFAS chemicals are added to their products, and a bill to jump-start the battery industry for storing renewable energy.^[19]^[20] Hollins supports legalizing marijuana and expunging prior convictions.^[21]

Electoral history

2020 DFL Primary for Minnesota State House - District 66B^[22]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Athena Hollins	2,974	60.73
	Democratic (DFL)	John Lesch (incumbent)	1,923	39.27
Total votes			4,897	100.00

2020 Minnesota State House - District 66B^[23]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Athena Hollins	12,871	78.59
	Republican	Mikki Murray	3,449	21.06
	Write-in		57	0.35
Total votes			16,377	100.0
	Democratic (DFL) hold

2022 Minnesota State House - District 66B^[24]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Athena Hollins (incumbent)	8,640	78.42
	Republican	Jay Hill	2,364	21.46
	Write-in		14	0.13
Total votes			11,018	100.0
	Democratic (DFL) hold

Personal life

Hollins lives in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota, with her spouse.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Hollins, Athena - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
^ "Rep. Athena Hollins (66B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ Oot, Torey Van (2022-11-14). "Meet Minnesota's new legislative leaders". Axios. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
^ Coolican, J. Patrick; Van Oot, Torey (October 27, 2019). "Impatient for change, progressives line up to challenge DFL incumbents". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ Hilger, Carrie (November 30, 2020). "Q&A with School of Law Alumna Athena Hollins '11 J.D."
^ Oot, Torey Van; Condon, Patrick (August 12, 2020). "Progressives shake up DFL incumbents in Minnesota". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ "Athena Hollins Wins Seat In Minnesota State House, Pledging To Fight For Broad Police Reforms". The Appeal.
^ authors, Multiple (May 19, 2022). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Find room in the budget deal for communities of color". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ Kian, Ava (2023-02-01). "Black Maternal Health Caucus pushing for change in new Minnesota legislative session". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ Faircloth, Ryan (January 29, 2023). "Minnesota's LGBTQ lawmakers form Queer Caucus". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ Tribune, Ryan Faircloth Star. "Minnesota House votes to ban conversion therapy for minors". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ Dibble, Scott; Hollins, Athena; Kennedy, Ellen J. (March 3, 2021). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Minnesota must ban the 'gay panic' defense". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ Bierschbach, Briana (September 14, 2021). "How two women helped eliminate Minnesota's time limit on reporting sexual assault". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ Orenstein, Walker (2022-02-21). "Why the Legislature is considering carving out exceptions for no-knock entries that already exist". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ Pugmire, Tim (February 17, 2022). "House panel advances bill to limit no-knock warrants". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ Navratil, Liz; Montemayor, Stephen; Tribune, Susan Du Star. "Amir Locke's family, activists renew calls for ban on no-knock warrants after prosecutors opt not to charge officer". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ Orenstein, Walker (2022-11-03). "Police association endorsements among most coveted, controversial in Minnesota". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ Keeler, Heather; McEwen, Jen; Kunesh, Mary. "OPINION EXCHANGE | Next up for Biden: Stop Line 3". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ Marohn, Kristi (January 24, 2023). "DFL lawmakers push to restrict use of 'forever chemicals'". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ Orenstein, Walker (2023-02-27). "With carbon-free in place, Minnesota DFLers now debate energy storage mandate". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ The Associated Press. "What Minnesota's most diverse Legislature means for policy". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
^ "2020 DFL Primary Results for State Representative District 66B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
^ "2020 Results for State Representative District 66B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 66B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.