AJ Gubash
Name: AJ Gubash
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 8087834838
Campaign Website: ajgubashforhouse.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: Facebook
Candidate Bio
AJ Gubash is a lifelong Minnesotan, Army veteran, legal professional, and community advocate running to represent House District 53A. After graduating from high school, AJ served as an Infantryman in the United States Army. Following his military service, he deployed to Afghanistan as a private security contractor supporting U.S. operations overseas, experiences that reinforced the values of duty, accountability, liberty and service.
AJ graduated with honors from Hamline University, earning a bachelor's degree in Legal Studies and Political Analysis. He also completed The Heritage Foundation's Young Leaders Program in Washington, D.C., where he gained firsthand experience in public policy, government relations, and the legislative process.
AJ currently works at a nonprofit public-interest law center dedicated to defending constitutional rights, government accountability, and individual freedoms. His professional experience in the legal field, public policy, and advocacy has given him a deep understanding of the challenges facing Minnesota families and the importance of responsible government.
AJ is running for the Minnesota House to bring a new generation of leadership to St. Paul, leadership focused on accountable government, transparency in taxpayer spending, safer communities, and lower taxes. He believes in limited government, free markets, individual liberty, and the principle that economic prosperity is best achieved when government gets out of the way of hardworking Minnesotans.
What are your top three priorities if elected, and how might they be affected by growing uncertainty around state and federal funding?
My top three priorities are government accountability, public safety, and tax relief.
First, Minnesota needs far greater accountability and transparency in government. Taxpayers are tired of watching billions of dollars flow through government programs with little oversight while waste, fraud, and abuse continue to make headlines. I will fight for stronger oversight, real consequences for those who misuse public funds, and complete transparency so Minnesotans can see where their tax dollars are going.
Second, public safety must come first. I support fully funding law enforcement, and ensuring officers have the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. I also support tougher penalties for repeat violent offenders. Too often, career criminals cycle through the justice system and are released back into our communities. Protecting law-abiding citizens must take priority over accommodating repeat offenders.
Third, Minnesota families need relief from high taxes and rising costs. State government should live within its means just like families do. Before asking taxpayers for more money, we should eliminate wasteful spending and focus the government on its core responsibilities.
Uncertainty in state and federal funding makes these priorities even more critical. When resources are tight, government must focus on public safety, fiscal responsibility, and essential services, not wasteful spending, bureaucracy, or special-interest projects.
How would you characterize the business climate in the East Metro? Please elaborate on your answer.
Minnesota has tremendous economic potential. We have strong local businesses, skilled workers, and communities that want to grow. From small businesses and family-owned companies to manufacturers and contractors, businesses here play a major role in creating jobs and supporting our local economy. But many are being held back by high taxes, excessive regulation, rising costs, and government red tape.
I believe free markets are the best driver of economic growth. When businesses have the freedom to compete and innovate, everyone benefits. Jobs are created, wages rise, and communities become stronger. Government should allow for a fair and predictable environment for businesses, not make it harder for them to succeed.
I support lowering taxes, cutting unnecessary regulations, and making it easier to start, grow, and expand a business in Minnesota. Too often, lawmakers create new rules without considering the burden they place on employers, workers, and consumers.
Minnesota should be a state where businesses want to invest, hire, and grow. If elected, I will advocate for policies that strengthen the private sector, encourage investment, and keep government from standing in the way of economic opportunity.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges such as education, housing, workforce development, or other priority areas.
Government and the business community both have a role to play in preparing the next generation for success, but we need to be honest about where we are today. While high school graduation rates are near record highs, student performance on measures like the ACT has declined significantly. A diploma should represent real achievement and meaningful preparation for adulthood, whether a student chooses college, the trades, military service, or the workforce.
I believe we need to restore high expectations in education and refocus schools on academic excellence. Students should be developing the knowledge, skills, and work ethic necessary to succeed in the real world. Schools that consistently demonstrate strong student outcomes and effective teaching should be recognized and rewarded.
I also strongly support parental rights in education. Parents know their children best and should have a greater voice in their education, including where they attend school. Expanding educational options and school choice helps ensure families can find the learning environment that best fits their child's needs.
The business community should be a partner in this effort by helping schools understand workforce needs, supporting career and technical education programs, and creating opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, and hands-on learning. Government should focus on setting high standards, empowering parents, and creating an environment where schools can succeed in preparing students for productive and successful lives.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address our state’s critical labor shortage?
First, we need to do a better job preparing young people for successful careers. Not every student needs a four-year degree, and we should place greater emphasis on skilled trades, technical education, apprenticeships, and career pathways that lead directly to good-paying jobs.
Second, we should reduce unnecessary licensing requirements and regulatory barriers that make it harder for people to enter certain professions. Government should not stand in the way of individuals who are willing and able to work.
Third, we need to make Minnesota a more attractive place to live, work, and raise a family. High taxes, rising costs, and excessive regulation make it harder for businesses to grow and compete for workers. Creating a stronger economy will help retain talent and attract new workers to our state.
We should also ensure that public assistance programs are focused on the people they were intended to help. These programs are an important safety net for individuals facing hardship and for those who need temporary support while getting back on their feet. However, government should avoid creating policies that discourage work or create dependency. Assistance should serve as a bridge to self-sufficiency whenever possible, while preserving resources for those who genuinely need help.
Ultimately, the best way to address the labor shortage is through economic growth, workforce development, and policies that reward work. Businesses create jobs, and government should focus on removing obstacles rather than creating new ones.
The Legislature enacted several new workplace mandates in recent years, including Paid Family and Medical Leave, Earned Safe and Sick Time, and Worker Misclassification standards. If elected, how would you evaluate the impact of these policies on the East Metro economy and workforce, and what principles would guide any changes you'd seek to make?
I would evaluate these mandates based on their impact on workers, employers, and workforce participation, not their political appeal.
Minnesota is already facing a labor shortage, and government should be careful about creating programs that incentivize people to stay out of the workforce while still collecting a paycheck. At the same time, these mandates place additional costs and administrative burdens on employers who are already struggling to fill positions.
These concerns are magnified by Minnesota's history of massive government fraud scandals. Before creating new taxpayer-funded benefit programs, lawmakers should ensure there is strong oversight, accountability, and fraud prevention. Frankly, it is reckless to expand government programs without first proving the state can properly safeguard taxpayer dollars.
I support protecting workers and ensuring people have access to temporary assistance when they truly need it. But public policy should encourage work, reward productivity, and support economic growth, not create new barriers to employment or new opportunities for waste and abuse.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your district and the state?
Public safety is the most important responsibility of government. If government cannot protect its citizens and maintain law and order, everything else becomes secondary.
My approach starts with supporting law enforcement. Police officers should have the resources, training, and staffing they need to do their jobs effectively. I also support expanding grant opportunities for specialized units, including narcotics, gang, and tactical teams that target serious criminal activity and keep dangerous offenders off our streets.
I believe Minnesota must take a much tougher approach toward repeat violent offenders. Rehabilitation has a place, but public safety must come first. Violent offenders who repeatedly victimize our communities should face meaningful consequences. Tougher penalties for repeat offenders would also help free up valuable law enforcement resources, allowing officers to spend more time preventing crime and protecting our communities rather than repeatedly responding to the same offenders.
We should also invest in prevention by strengthening families, improving educational outcomes, and expanding economic opportunity. But addressing root causes cannot become an excuse for failing to enforce the law. Prevention and accountability must work together.
As an Army veteran, legal professional, and the son of a police officer who served 29 years with the West St. Paul Police Department, I have a deep appreciation for those who dedicate their lives to protecting others. My goal is this: support law enforcement, hold criminals accountable, and ensure that every Minnesotan can live, work, and raise a family in a safe community.
How would you work to improve transportation options in the district/state, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
Ensuring safe and effective infrastructure is one of the fundamental responsibilities of government. I support investing in roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure while ensuring transportation dollars are spent responsibly. Public safety must also be a central part of any transportation discussion. Transit riders deserve to feel safe using public transportation, and stronger security and enforcement measures are needed to address crime and disorder on our transit systems.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
Housing affordability is a growing challenge across Minnesota, and government has contributed to the problem. Excessive regulations, lengthy permitting processes, zoning restrictions, and rising construction costs have made it harder and more expensive to build housing.
I believe the best way to improve affordability is to increase supply. That means streamlining permitting, reducing unnecessary regulations, and allowing the private sector to build the housing our communities need. Government cannot regulate its way to affordable housing.
We should also invest in the infrastructure needed to support responsible growth while ensuring local communities have a voice in the process. If we want more affordable housing, we need more housing, and that starts by getting government out of the way and allowing the market to respond to demand.
Minnesota's current two-year budget shows a surplus, but state forecasters project a significant structural imbalance beginning in the 2028-2029 biennium. What steps would you take to address this long-term challenge? Please include specific ideas for reducing spending, increasing revenue, or reforming state programs.
Minnesota’s long-term budget challenge is not a revenue problem, it is a spending problem. While the state currently projects a $3.7 billion surplus for FY 2026-27, state forecasters continue to warn of future structural deficits as spending is projected to grow faster than revenue.
One of the most irresponsible things government can do is use a temporary budget surplus to create permanent spending commitments. A surplus is not a blank check to expand government. When lawmakers create programs that require ongoing funding based on temporary revenue, they are effectively passing the bill to future taxpayers and setting the state up for future budget shortfalls. That's like getting a one-time bonus at work and then taking on new monthly bills you can't afford once the bonus is gone. Eventually, the money runs out, but the spending remains.
I would push for stronger oversight and regular reviews of state programs to ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent effectively. I would also look to eliminate waste, duplicative programs, and unnecessary bureaucracy while requiring government programs to demonstrate measurable results.
Minnesota should focus on responsible budgeting, funding core government responsibilities, and living within its means, not growing government today and sending taxpayers the bill tomorrow.
Minnesota has faced several high-profile fraud cases involving public programs in recent years. The Legislature recently passed a new Office of the Inspector General on a bipartisan basis. Beyond this new office, what additional steps would you support to strengthen fraud prevention and rebuild public trust in how the state manages taxpayer-funded programs?
Minnesotans are tired of watching government lose hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to fraud and then act surprised when it happens again. The creation of the Office of the Inspector General is a good start, but it will mean very little if we do not fundamentally change the culture of accountability in state government.
The first step is aggressive oversight. High-risk programs should be subject to regular audits, real-time monitoring, strict eligibility verification, and immediate investigation when red flags appear. The state should not be learning about fraud after the money is already gone.
Second, we need to empower and protect whistleblowers. In many of Minnesota's largest fraud scandals, people raised concerns long before action was taken. Employees and citizens who report waste, fraud, and abuse should be protected from retaliation and given clear avenues to report misconduct. We should encourage people to speak up, not punish them for doing the right thing.
Third, there must be real accountability for government officials and agencies that ignore warning signs. When fraud occurs on a massive scale, responsibility should not stop with the people who stole the money. We need to know who failed to do their job, why safeguards were ignored, and what consequences will follow.
Finally, penalties for public fraud should be severe. Stealing taxpayer dollars is not a victimless crime. Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar taken from the taxpayers who earned it and from the public services those dollars were intended to support.
Minnesota does not have a shortage of taxpayer money, it has a shortage of accountability. Until government proves it can safeguard the public's money, taxpayers should be skeptical of calls for more spending, larger programs, and higher taxes. Restoring trust starts with transparency, oversight, whistleblower protections, and consequences.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 8087834838
Campaign Website: ajgubashforhouse.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: Facebook
Candidate Bio
AJ Gubash is a lifelong Minnesotan, Army veteran, legal professional, and community advocate running to represent House District 53A. After graduating from high school, AJ served as an Infantryman in the United States Army. Following his military service, he deployed to Afghanistan as a private security contractor supporting U.S. operations overseas, experiences that reinforced the values of duty, accountability, liberty and service.
AJ graduated with honors from Hamline University, earning a bachelor's degree in Legal Studies and Political Analysis. He also completed The Heritage Foundation's Young Leaders Program in Washington, D.C., where he gained firsthand experience in public policy, government relations, and the legislative process.
AJ currently works at a nonprofit public-interest law center dedicated to defending constitutional rights, government accountability, and individual freedoms. His professional experience in the legal field, public policy, and advocacy has given him a deep understanding of the challenges facing Minnesota families and the importance of responsible government.
AJ is running for the Minnesota House to bring a new generation of leadership to St. Paul, leadership focused on accountable government, transparency in taxpayer spending, safer communities, and lower taxes. He believes in limited government, free markets, individual liberty, and the principle that economic prosperity is best achieved when government gets out of the way of hardworking Minnesotans.
What are your top three priorities if elected, and how might they be affected by growing uncertainty around state and federal funding?
My top three priorities are government accountability, public safety, and tax relief.
First, Minnesota needs far greater accountability and transparency in government. Taxpayers are tired of watching billions of dollars flow through government programs with little oversight while waste, fraud, and abuse continue to make headlines. I will fight for stronger oversight, real consequences for those who misuse public funds, and complete transparency so Minnesotans can see where their tax dollars are going.
Second, public safety must come first. I support fully funding law enforcement, and ensuring officers have the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. I also support tougher penalties for repeat violent offenders. Too often, career criminals cycle through the justice system and are released back into our communities. Protecting law-abiding citizens must take priority over accommodating repeat offenders.
Third, Minnesota families need relief from high taxes and rising costs. State government should live within its means just like families do. Before asking taxpayers for more money, we should eliminate wasteful spending and focus the government on its core responsibilities.
Uncertainty in state and federal funding makes these priorities even more critical. When resources are tight, government must focus on public safety, fiscal responsibility, and essential services, not wasteful spending, bureaucracy, or special-interest projects.
How would you characterize the business climate in the East Metro? Please elaborate on your answer.
Minnesota has tremendous economic potential. We have strong local businesses, skilled workers, and communities that want to grow. From small businesses and family-owned companies to manufacturers and contractors, businesses here play a major role in creating jobs and supporting our local economy. But many are being held back by high taxes, excessive regulation, rising costs, and government red tape.
I believe free markets are the best driver of economic growth. When businesses have the freedom to compete and innovate, everyone benefits. Jobs are created, wages rise, and communities become stronger. Government should allow for a fair and predictable environment for businesses, not make it harder for them to succeed.
I support lowering taxes, cutting unnecessary regulations, and making it easier to start, grow, and expand a business in Minnesota. Too often, lawmakers create new rules without considering the burden they place on employers, workers, and consumers.
Minnesota should be a state where businesses want to invest, hire, and grow. If elected, I will advocate for policies that strengthen the private sector, encourage investment, and keep government from standing in the way of economic opportunity.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges such as education, housing, workforce development, or other priority areas.
Government and the business community both have a role to play in preparing the next generation for success, but we need to be honest about where we are today. While high school graduation rates are near record highs, student performance on measures like the ACT has declined significantly. A diploma should represent real achievement and meaningful preparation for adulthood, whether a student chooses college, the trades, military service, or the workforce.
I believe we need to restore high expectations in education and refocus schools on academic excellence. Students should be developing the knowledge, skills, and work ethic necessary to succeed in the real world. Schools that consistently demonstrate strong student outcomes and effective teaching should be recognized and rewarded.
I also strongly support parental rights in education. Parents know their children best and should have a greater voice in their education, including where they attend school. Expanding educational options and school choice helps ensure families can find the learning environment that best fits their child's needs.
The business community should be a partner in this effort by helping schools understand workforce needs, supporting career and technical education programs, and creating opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, and hands-on learning. Government should focus on setting high standards, empowering parents, and creating an environment where schools can succeed in preparing students for productive and successful lives.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address our state’s critical labor shortage?
First, we need to do a better job preparing young people for successful careers. Not every student needs a four-year degree, and we should place greater emphasis on skilled trades, technical education, apprenticeships, and career pathways that lead directly to good-paying jobs.
Second, we should reduce unnecessary licensing requirements and regulatory barriers that make it harder for people to enter certain professions. Government should not stand in the way of individuals who are willing and able to work.
Third, we need to make Minnesota a more attractive place to live, work, and raise a family. High taxes, rising costs, and excessive regulation make it harder for businesses to grow and compete for workers. Creating a stronger economy will help retain talent and attract new workers to our state.
We should also ensure that public assistance programs are focused on the people they were intended to help. These programs are an important safety net for individuals facing hardship and for those who need temporary support while getting back on their feet. However, government should avoid creating policies that discourage work or create dependency. Assistance should serve as a bridge to self-sufficiency whenever possible, while preserving resources for those who genuinely need help.
Ultimately, the best way to address the labor shortage is through economic growth, workforce development, and policies that reward work. Businesses create jobs, and government should focus on removing obstacles rather than creating new ones.
The Legislature enacted several new workplace mandates in recent years, including Paid Family and Medical Leave, Earned Safe and Sick Time, and Worker Misclassification standards. If elected, how would you evaluate the impact of these policies on the East Metro economy and workforce, and what principles would guide any changes you'd seek to make?
I would evaluate these mandates based on their impact on workers, employers, and workforce participation, not their political appeal.
Minnesota is already facing a labor shortage, and government should be careful about creating programs that incentivize people to stay out of the workforce while still collecting a paycheck. At the same time, these mandates place additional costs and administrative burdens on employers who are already struggling to fill positions.
These concerns are magnified by Minnesota's history of massive government fraud scandals. Before creating new taxpayer-funded benefit programs, lawmakers should ensure there is strong oversight, accountability, and fraud prevention. Frankly, it is reckless to expand government programs without first proving the state can properly safeguard taxpayer dollars.
I support protecting workers and ensuring people have access to temporary assistance when they truly need it. But public policy should encourage work, reward productivity, and support economic growth, not create new barriers to employment or new opportunities for waste and abuse.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your district and the state?
Public safety is the most important responsibility of government. If government cannot protect its citizens and maintain law and order, everything else becomes secondary.
My approach starts with supporting law enforcement. Police officers should have the resources, training, and staffing they need to do their jobs effectively. I also support expanding grant opportunities for specialized units, including narcotics, gang, and tactical teams that target serious criminal activity and keep dangerous offenders off our streets.
I believe Minnesota must take a much tougher approach toward repeat violent offenders. Rehabilitation has a place, but public safety must come first. Violent offenders who repeatedly victimize our communities should face meaningful consequences. Tougher penalties for repeat offenders would also help free up valuable law enforcement resources, allowing officers to spend more time preventing crime and protecting our communities rather than repeatedly responding to the same offenders.
We should also invest in prevention by strengthening families, improving educational outcomes, and expanding economic opportunity. But addressing root causes cannot become an excuse for failing to enforce the law. Prevention and accountability must work together.
As an Army veteran, legal professional, and the son of a police officer who served 29 years with the West St. Paul Police Department, I have a deep appreciation for those who dedicate their lives to protecting others. My goal is this: support law enforcement, hold criminals accountable, and ensure that every Minnesotan can live, work, and raise a family in a safe community.
How would you work to improve transportation options in the district/state, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
Ensuring safe and effective infrastructure is one of the fundamental responsibilities of government. I support investing in roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure while ensuring transportation dollars are spent responsibly. Public safety must also be a central part of any transportation discussion. Transit riders deserve to feel safe using public transportation, and stronger security and enforcement measures are needed to address crime and disorder on our transit systems.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
Housing affordability is a growing challenge across Minnesota, and government has contributed to the problem. Excessive regulations, lengthy permitting processes, zoning restrictions, and rising construction costs have made it harder and more expensive to build housing.
I believe the best way to improve affordability is to increase supply. That means streamlining permitting, reducing unnecessary regulations, and allowing the private sector to build the housing our communities need. Government cannot regulate its way to affordable housing.
We should also invest in the infrastructure needed to support responsible growth while ensuring local communities have a voice in the process. If we want more affordable housing, we need more housing, and that starts by getting government out of the way and allowing the market to respond to demand.
Minnesota's current two-year budget shows a surplus, but state forecasters project a significant structural imbalance beginning in the 2028-2029 biennium. What steps would you take to address this long-term challenge? Please include specific ideas for reducing spending, increasing revenue, or reforming state programs.
Minnesota’s long-term budget challenge is not a revenue problem, it is a spending problem. While the state currently projects a $3.7 billion surplus for FY 2026-27, state forecasters continue to warn of future structural deficits as spending is projected to grow faster than revenue.
One of the most irresponsible things government can do is use a temporary budget surplus to create permanent spending commitments. A surplus is not a blank check to expand government. When lawmakers create programs that require ongoing funding based on temporary revenue, they are effectively passing the bill to future taxpayers and setting the state up for future budget shortfalls. That's like getting a one-time bonus at work and then taking on new monthly bills you can't afford once the bonus is gone. Eventually, the money runs out, but the spending remains.
I would push for stronger oversight and regular reviews of state programs to ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent effectively. I would also look to eliminate waste, duplicative programs, and unnecessary bureaucracy while requiring government programs to demonstrate measurable results.
Minnesota should focus on responsible budgeting, funding core government responsibilities, and living within its means, not growing government today and sending taxpayers the bill tomorrow.
Minnesota has faced several high-profile fraud cases involving public programs in recent years. The Legislature recently passed a new Office of the Inspector General on a bipartisan basis. Beyond this new office, what additional steps would you support to strengthen fraud prevention and rebuild public trust in how the state manages taxpayer-funded programs?
Minnesotans are tired of watching government lose hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to fraud and then act surprised when it happens again. The creation of the Office of the Inspector General is a good start, but it will mean very little if we do not fundamentally change the culture of accountability in state government.
The first step is aggressive oversight. High-risk programs should be subject to regular audits, real-time monitoring, strict eligibility verification, and immediate investigation when red flags appear. The state should not be learning about fraud after the money is already gone.
Second, we need to empower and protect whistleblowers. In many of Minnesota's largest fraud scandals, people raised concerns long before action was taken. Employees and citizens who report waste, fraud, and abuse should be protected from retaliation and given clear avenues to report misconduct. We should encourage people to speak up, not punish them for doing the right thing.
Third, there must be real accountability for government officials and agencies that ignore warning signs. When fraud occurs on a massive scale, responsibility should not stop with the people who stole the money. We need to know who failed to do their job, why safeguards were ignored, and what consequences will follow.
Finally, penalties for public fraud should be severe. Stealing taxpayer dollars is not a victimless crime. Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar taken from the taxpayers who earned it and from the public services those dollars were intended to support.
Minnesota does not have a shortage of taxpayer money, it has a shortage of accountability. Until government proves it can safeguard the public's money, taxpayers should be skeptical of calls for more spending, larger programs, and higher taxes. Restoring trust starts with transparency, oversight, whistleblower protections, and consequences.