👋 I wanted to e-introduce myself: I’m Peggy Flanagan, and once upon a time I was a kid with a different colored lunch ticket.

When there was no more money in my account, I stood in line for a cheese sandwich while others got hot lunch.

Being raised by a single mom in St. Louis Park in the 80s, there were times when our pantries were empty. While the colored lunch tickets have long been dispensed, the shame of feeling different for receiving reduced lunch and being raised food insecure continued.

Today, 1 in 6 Minnesota children experience hunger, with many living in households that don’t qualify for the federal free and reduced meal program.

Now, I’m no longer one of those hungry kids; I’m the Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota with the power to help.

As Lt. Governor, I don’t get to wave a wand and make good policy happen — but what I can do is open doors for people to be heard. So we used that to our advantage and took students directly to the Capitol to demand our state legislators pass Universal Free School Meals. And as you may have heard…it worked.

Me and Governor Walz at the universal school meals bill signing.

Now, every public school student in Minnesota receives free, nutritious breakfast and lunch. No stigma, no questions, no different colored tickets.

Friends, this ☝️is the good that comes from electing Democratic lieutenant governors who have lived the experiences of our states.

We use our voices for those who don’t have one. We lift up the stories of the communities hurting the most. We share the power with the people.

If your budget allows, can you split a $20 donation between my campaign and the DLGA so we can keep electing lieutenant governors who will champion compassionate policy like universal school meals?

Thanks for helping us do more good in more states.

— Peggy Flanagan
Lt. Governor of Minnesota