Tarryl was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in a special election in 2005, putting a previously Republican seat back into the Democratic column. She was re-elected in 2006 by double-digit margins. Tarryl won through a commitment to grassroots voter contact– and she brings this same commitment and campaign style to her campaign for Minnesota’s 6th Congressional seat.

Tarryl’s campaign for Congress is off to a strong start: she has received the endorsements of every group in this race, from the Minnesota DFL to the Minnesota AFL-CIO, committing hundreds of thousands of constituents across the District to Tarryl’s campaign. Through the first quarter of 2010, Tarryl raised more than $1.1 million dollars from more than 13,000 donors – shattering previous fundraising records and even beating Michele Bachmann with grassroots donations.

As a legislator, Tarryl has been a voice for fiscal responsibility and sensible solutions. She’s been an effective leader on behalf of her constituents, from securing the funds to upgrade the facilities at Saint Cloud State University, to ensuring Central Minnesota’s nursing homes are paid fairly, to establishing a special law enforcement unit to fight gang activities in Central Minnesota. She’s been a champion for issues including early childhood and higher education, health care, serving our veterans, and investing in our communities. In 2006, Tarryl was elected by her colleagues to serve as the Senate’s Assistant Majority Leader, where she has been a statewide voice on issues from job growth to transportation to economic development.