The Minnesota Republican hierarchy didn't want me to run against their incumbent in 2000; they didn't know who I was. And once many party bigwigs did get to know me, they weren't sure that I could win the seat.

My husband and I had five biological children but we also have been raising 23 foster children.

A lot of families deal with messy, inconvenient situations. Because that's life. Life doesn't turn out and it's not perfect. My life hasn't been perfect but it's what I'm going to make out of it.

I'd like to give zero out capital gains tax and zero out the dividends tax, zero out alternative minimum tax, and zero out the death tax.

While I am reluctant to cite sexism as a political issue, sexism certainly can exist.

My heart really softens when I think about mothering because the greatest lessons that I've learned in life have been as a mother.

Many children in the foster care system are often in the midst of a family challenge. Marcus, my husband and I sought to assist families during difficult times. We aren't perfect people, nor are we a perfect family, but these children didn't expect us to be either. They needed a loving home and care, and we tried our best every single day.