Join WASRG on Monday, March 24, for a special Inside the Dome featuring Minnesota House Speaker Lisa DeMuth alongside seasoned lobbyists Brian McDaniel and Alysen Nesse of Momentum Advocacy.
This virtual event will explore Minnesota's unique political landscape in 2025, marked by a power-sharing agreement in the evenly split Senate and a contentious House battle following a court ruling that temporarily shifted the majority to Republicans. Despite these challenges, key legislative priorities have emerged, including child care, health care, and housing.
Speaker DeMuth and our expert panel will provide valuable insights into navigating this complex environment and discuss the implications for policy-making in the state.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear directly from the Speaker and gain a deeper understanding of Minnesota's current political dynamics and their impact on the legislative process.
A FREE EVENT | WASRG MEMBERS ONLY
The WASRG Inside the Dome series invites in-state contract lobbyists to share intel on legislative sessions, elections and political dynamics with WASRG members.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
First elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018, House Speaker Lisa DeMuth quickly emerged as a leader within her caucus, serving as Minority Whip and later as Deputy Minority Leader before being elected Speaker in 2024. She represents District 13A, which includes portions of Stearns County.
Before joining the legislature, Speaker DeMuth served on the Rocori School Board for 11 years, including terms as chair and vice chair. Her extensive background in education policy, combined with her experience as a small business owner, has shaped her commitment to improving Minnesota’s schools, supporting economic growth, and strengthening rural communities.
As the first Republican woman to serve as Speaker of the Minnesota House, Speaker DeMuth is dedicated to fostering bipartisan dialogue and advancing policies that reflect the needs of all Minnesotans.
Brian McDaniel is an attorney, college professor, and governmental relations professional with over 25 years of experience at the Minnesota State Capitol. He has held key roles, including Legislative Director to the Speaker of the Minnesota House, Government Relations Director for the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development, and Fiscal Policy Director for the Minnesota Business Partnership. A former Metropolitan Council member, he also served as Committee Administrator for the House Commerce, Jobs & Economic Development Committee. Outside politics, Brian is a stand-up comedian, podcaster, and media commentator, earning a 2024 Upper Midwest Emmy for a televised client event at the Capitol.
Alysen Nesse brings 13 years of public and private sector leadership to the Momentum team. In the past three years, she has played a key role in securing Minnesota’s largest ongoing investment to combat homelessness with the 2023 Pathway Home Act, advancing funding for HIV/AIDS supportive services, and helping establish the Metro Area Sales Tax for housing. Before joining Momentum in 2022, she was the Senior Government Relations Representative for the City of Minneapolis, leading policy efforts on capital investment, housing, economic development, and public finance at the state and federal levels. Previously, she worked as a Project Manager for the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, focusing on post-9/11 economic and housing redevelopment. Committed to community-driven policy solutions, Alysen also teaches Neighborhood & Community Politics at Concordia University in St. Paul. She holds a bachelor's in political science and a master's in urban public policy.
