“Could I Make Laws One Day?”: Amanda Matchett and the Power of Seeing Yourself in Leadership

A Question That Captures the Meaning of Representation

At a parade in Minnesota’s north metro, Amanda Matchett encountered a moment that would stay with her throughout her campaign for the Minnesota House of Representatives. A young Black girl approached her and asked what a state representative does. Matchett explained that state representatives help make the laws that shape their communities.

The girl considered the answer before asking a simple question: “Could I make laws one day?”

Matchett told her yes.

The exchange lasted less than a minute, but its significance extended far beyond the conversation. For Matchett, an attorney, educator, community leader, and candidate for House District 32A, the question captured something fundamental about representation: sometimes, seeing someone occupy a position of leadership changes what another person believes is possible.

“I don't want any child in this community to grow up believing that making the laws is something other people get to do,” Matchett said.

Her campaign, Amanda Matchett for Minnesota, brings that message to the north-metro communities of Blaine, Ham Lake, and Columbus. Running as a Black woman in a predominantly suburban district, she is asking voters to consider not only the policies they want from their representative but also what leadership should look like and whom it should serve.

For Matchett, representation is not simply about identity. It is about access, opportunity, and ensuring that people from different backgrounds can imagine themselves participating in the decisions that affect their lives.

A Career Built Around Solving Problems

Before entering the race, Matchett developed a career spanning law, business, education, and community leadership. With more than 15 years of legal experience, she has worked on complex organizational challenges and currently serves as a vice president of legal.

Her professional background has required her to navigate competing interests, interpret complicated issues, and work toward practical solutions. These experiences inform the approach she says she would bring to public service.

Matchett also teaches law students and has worked to expand access to the legal profession. Through her leadership with the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, she helped co-found its Law School Pathways Program, an initiative recognized by the American Bar Association for its work in broadening opportunities within the profession.

She also earned an Executive MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and has served on state boards and commissions. Her professional work has received recognition from Minnesota Lawyer, the American Bar Association, and other organizations.

Together, these experiences have shaped a professional perspective that connects problem-solving with the importance of opening doors for others. For Matchett, leadership means more than holding a position. It also means helping create conditions in which people who have historically faced barriers can participate and succeed.

That philosophy now informs her decision to seek elected office.

Who Gets to See Themselves in Power?

The young girl's question at the parade raised a broader issue that Matchett hopes her campaign will bring into focus: how do people come to believe that leadership is an option for them?

In politics, law, business, and other fields, people often form ideas about who belongs in positions of authority based on the leaders they see around them. When certain groups are rarely represented, some people may find it harder to imagine themselves following the same path.

Matchett believes visibility can help challenge those assumptions.

“Sometimes seeing someone who looks like you in a position of power changes the trajectory of what you believe is possible for yourself. But I think that is bigger than race. Everyone deserves to understand that leadership and power aren't things reserved for somebody else,” she said.

Her message extends beyond the experience of any single community. A child who sees a potential future in public service, an adult who decides to become more involved in local issues, or a resident who begins organizing neighbors can all experience a shift in how they understand their own influence.

Representation, in this sense, is both immediate and long-term. It affects whose perspectives are present in public decision-making today, while helping shape who may be willing to lead tomorrow.

Matchett's campaign invites residents to consider how their community can make room for a broader range of voices without expecting everyone to share the same background or political views.

Running Where Change Is Difficult

Seeking elected office as a challenger to a long-serving incumbent requires more than a compelling message. It means introducing oneself to voters, listening to concerns, building relationships, and making the case for a different direction.

Matchett is running against incumbent Minnesota Representative Nolan West, who has served in the Legislature since 2017. Her campaign points to the controversy surrounding social-media posts attributed to West before he first ran for office. The posts, which reportedly involved race, women, the Confederacy, and LGBTQ people, drew widespread condemnation. West apologized at the time, saying the comments did not reflect who he was or what he believed.

For Matchett, the history helped prompt questions about what residents should expect from their elected representatives and whether every member of a community feels respected by the person speaking on their behalf.

Still, she does not want her campaign to be defined solely by her opponent's record. Her focus is on what she hopes to contribute and the priorities she believes matter to families across the district.

“I am running in a district where this is hard. But if we only step forward in the places where change is easy, we leave a lot of communities—and a lot of people—behind,” she said.

Her candidacy presents an opportunity for voters to consider their choices and decide which candidate's experience, priorities, and approach to representation best align with their expectations.

Affordability, Stability, and Opportunity

Matchett's campaign focuses on Affordability, Stability, and Opportunity, addressing household costs, strong schools, safe communities, infrastructure, and opportunities for families and businesses. Drawing on her legal and business experience, she emphasizes listening to residents, treating everyone with dignity, and finding practical solutions across differing perspectives.

Leadership Begins With Believing You Belong

A young girl's question at a parade, “Could I make laws one day?” captures Matchett's message about representation. Her answer was yes, reflecting her belief that leadership should be accessible to everyone.

Through her campaign, Matchett encourages residents to recognize their ability to shape their communities, whether by speaking up, organizing neighbors, or pursuing public office. Her candidacy highlights the importance of expanding who sees themselves as capable of leading and influencing the decisions that affect their lives.

Learn More About Amanda Matchett for Minnesota

Amanda Matchett's campaign for Minnesota House District 32A centers on Affordability, Stability, and Opportunity, alongside a broader message about representation and participation in public life.

Residents can learn more about her background, campaign priorities, and upcoming activities through the official Amanda Matchett for Minnesota website. Updates are also available on Instagram and Facebook.

For Matchett, the question posed by a young girl at a parade continues to express what representation can make possible. When people see leadership as something they can pursue rather than something reserved for others, they may begin to imagine new paths for themselves and their communities.

Sometimes, that change begins with a simple answer to a child's question: yes, you could make laws one day.