Cindy Pugh | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theMinnesota House of Representatives from the 33B district | |
| In office January 8, 2013 – January 7, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Connie Doepke |
| Succeeded by | Kelly Morrison |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1957-05-01)May 1, 1957 (age 68) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Jack |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Madison (BS) |
Cindy Pugh (born May 1, 1957) is anAmerican politician and former member of theMinnesota House of Representatives. A member of theRepublican Party of Minnesota, she represented District 33B in the westernTwin Cities metropolitan area.
Pugh attended theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison, graduating with aB.S. inConsumer Science.[1] She also received a FastTrac Certificate from the School of Entrepreneurship at theUniversity of St. Thomas.[2]
Pugh was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2012. Pugh, a Tea Party leader, followed "Republican Michele Bachmann’s call to politics."[3]
Democrat Kelly Morrison, a first-time candidate, defeated Pugh in the 2018 general election. Morrison's election represents the first time the bulk of the area composing today's District 33B have been represented by a member of the DFL party in nearly 4 decades.
Pugh is married to her husband, Jack. They have two children and reside inChanhassen, Minnesota.[2]
Pugh was a co-founder of the Southwest Metro Tea Party[4] and follower of Michele Bachmann.[3]
Pugh and two other Republicans generated controversy in 2018 when they claimed to have knowledge of a "plot to 'mobilize Muslims to infiltrate our Republican caucuses'."[5] The chairperson of the Minnesota Republican Party later rejected the post, stating that Muslims were welcome to caucus with Republicans and noting that "there is no religious test to participate in the Republican caucus."[5] Pugh later renounced the post,[6] but charges of Islamophobia based on this event and others continued to follow her.[7]