Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn
# Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn

Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (born 1986/1987) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2019. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Kotyza-Witthuhn represents District 49B in the southwestern Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the city of Eden Prairie and parts of Hennepin County, Minnesota.

## Early life, education, and career

Kotyza-Witthuhn grew up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and attended the University of St. Thomas, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in entrepreneurship. She is an operations analyst.

## Minnesota House of Representatives

Kotyza-Witthuhn was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018 and has been reelected every two years since. She defeated five-term Republican incumbent Jenifer Loon.

Kotyza-Witthuhn has served as vice chair of the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee since 2021. She also sits on the Children and Families Finance and Policy, Economic Development Finance and Policy, and Human Services Finance Committees.

### Abortion

Kotyza-Witthuhn is pro-choice, criticized the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and was a founding member of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus. In 2023, she authored the Minnesota House's H.F. 1, also known as the Protect Reproductive Options Act, or PRO Act. The bill added a "fundamental right" to "continue the pregnancy and give birth, or obtain an abortion" in state law. It also protects rights to contraception, sterilization, family planning and counseling. The bill passed the House on January 19 and was signed by Governor Tim Walz on January 31, 2023.

### Education and child care

Kotyza-Witthuhn has spoken about the challenges of being a mother to a young child while in the legislature, and has spoken about the benefits of remote work for legislators with children at home. She authored legislation to significantly increase Parent Aware funding, which funds day care and early-learning providers. She has supported proposals to increase prenatal and early childhood education.

### Other political positions

Kotyza-Witthuhn authored a bill to reinstate the angel tax credit program, giving tax breaks to investors who help start businesses in Minnesota. She also introduced legislation to ban nonessential PFAS chemicals in children's products.

## Electoral history

2018 Minnesota State House - District 48B :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn | 10,397 | 50.53 |
| | Republican | Jenifer Loon (incumbent) | 10,156 | 49.36 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 24 | 0.12 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,577 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican |

2020 Minnesota State House - District 48B :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (incumbent) | 13,410 | 55.00 |
| | Republican | Holly Link | 10,962 | 44.96 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 12 | 0.05 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,384 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold |

2022 Minnesota State House - District 49B :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (incumbent) | 11,406 | 57.62 |
| | Republican | Thomas Knecht | 8,374 | 42.30 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 15 | 0.08 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,795 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold |

## Personal life

Kotyza-Witthuhn and her husband, Rory, have four children, three of whom were adopted from the foster care system. They reside in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and attend St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Edina.

