| Kelly Morrison | |
| State Senate: | Minnesota |
| District: | 45th |
| Term Start: | January 3, 2023 |
| Term End: | June 6, 2024 |
| Predecessor: | redistricted |
| Successor: | Vacant |
| State House1: | Minnesota |
| District1: | 33B |
| Term Start1: | January 8, 2019 |
| Term End1: | January 3, 2023 |
| Predecessor1: | Cindy Pugh |
| Successor1: | redistricted |
| Birth Date: | 2 February 1969 |
| Birth Place: | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Party: | Democratic (DFL) |
| Spouse: | John Willoughby |
| Children: | 3 |
| Education: | Yale University (BA) Boston University Case Western Reserve University (MD) |
Kelly Louise Morrison (born February 2, 1969)[1] is an American doctor and politician who was a member of the Minnesota Senate from 2023 to 2024. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, Morrison represented District 45 in the western Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Minnetonka, Mound, Minnetrista, and Orono in Hennepin County. She served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023.
On November 9, 2023, Morrison announced she would run in the Democratic primary for Minnesota's 3rd congressional district in the 2024 House elections, after the incumbent, Dean Phillips, announced his run against President Joe Biden in the 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries.[2]
Morrison was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She attended Jefferson Elementary in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[3]
Morrison attended Yale University and graduated cum laude[4] with a Bachelor of Arts in history. She attended Boston University for her pre-medical requirements and graduated with a Doctor of Medicine from Case Western University.
Morrison is a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist.[5]
Morrison was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018, defeating Republican incumbent Cindy Pugh.[6] She was reelected in 2020, defeating Republican nominee Andrew Myers.[7]
Morrison represented District 33B, including portions of Hennepin and Carver counties. During the 2021-2022 session, she served as an assistant majority leader for the House DFL Caucus.
2019-2020 committee assignments:
2021-2022 committee assignments:
After legislative redistricting in 2022, Morrison announced she would run for the DFL endorsement in the newly created Senate District 45. She was endorsed by Speaker of the Minnesota House Melissa Hortman and U.S. Representative Dean Phillips.[8] Morrison won the party's endorsement over incumbent Senator Ann Johnson Stewart. Stewart announced she would not challenge Morrison in the primary and endorsed her.[9] In the general election, Morrison defeated Republican nominee Kathleen Fowke.[10]
Morrison served as an assistant majority leader for the Senate DFL Caucus during the 2023-2024 session.
Morrison resigned from the Minnesota Senate on June 6, 2024, to focus on her 2024 congressional campaign.[11]
2023-2024 committee assignments:
On November 9, 2023, Morrison announced she would run in the Democratic primary for Minnesota's 3rd congressional district after the incumbent, Dean Phillips, decided to run against President Joe Biden in the 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries. Morrison said she strongly supports Biden, calling him a "transformational president".
Morrison and Phillips have endorsed each other in previous races, and Morrison called Phillips "a good friend of hers". Her announcement emphasized her work passing pro-choice legislation and that she would be the only OB-GYN in Congress if elected.[12] Morrison's campaign has been endorsed by several state legislators, former Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, and a former president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States.[13]
On November 24, Phillips announced he would not seek reelection to the House regardless of the outcome of his presidential campaign. He also said he would not endorse anyone in the race for his former seat.[14] Morrison thanked Phillips for his service in a statement after his announcement.
Morrison and her husband, John Willoughby, have three children. She resides in Deephaven, Minnesota. She is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Excelsior, Minnesota.