Awards & Recognition
25 Years of Bipartisan Service & Proven Leadership
Throughout his time in the Minnesota House and Senate, Senator Jim Abeler has earned nearly 100 recognitions from community advocates, local businesses, healthcare providers, and civic leaders across Minnesota.
Featured Awards
Cancer Fighter Award—American Cancer Society
Recognized for legislative efforts expanding access to care and funding vital health programs.
Legislator of Distinction—League of Minnesota Cities
Awarded for supporting local mayors, emergency responders, and municipal needs across District 35.
Paul Wellstone Advocacy Award—The Minnesota Psychiatric Society
Honored for long-standing, cross-party commitment to advancing mental healthcare parity.
Guardian of Small Business—National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
2002, 2012, 2020, 2022, & 2024
Recognized for voting to protect local employers, small businesses, and economic growth.
Categorized Awards Record
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Cancer Fighter Award — American Cancer Society
Legislator of the Year — Minnesota Homecare Association
Legislator of the Year — Minnesota Chapter of the National MS Society
Healthy Body Healthy Mind Award — Mental Wellness Campaign for Anoka County
Legislator of the Year — National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
Leadership and Service Award — Gillette Children’s
Friend of EMS — Regions Hospital
Public Official Award — Minnesota Nurses Association
Legislator of the Year — Minnesota Psychological Association
Legislator of the Year (2019, 2021) — MARRCH
Distinguished Legislator Award (2017) — Minnesota Pediatric Medical Association
Public Official of the Year (2017 & 2022) — Leading Age Minnesota
Public Official Champion of the Year (2022) — Care Providers of Minnesota
Children’s Health Hero — Children’s Minnesota
Betty Bednarczyk Courage Award — SEIU Healthcare MN & IA
Appreciation for Contributions — American Psychiatric Association
John Allenburg Meritorious Award — Minnesota Chiropractic Association
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Outstanding Community Services Award — Hemophilia Foundation of Minnesota/Dakotas
Mn Legislative Session All Star Advocate — Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities
Legislator of the Year — ARC Minnesota
Special Transportation Accessible Ridership Award — Minnesota Paratransit Providers Assoc / Minnesota Ambulance Assoc / Special Transportation Services Assoc
Lifetime Champion Award — Comm of Deaf, Blind, and Hard of Hearing MN’s
Leadership Award — Minnesota Habilitation Coalition
Lifetime Achievement Award — MNDACA–MOHR
Legislative Session All Star Advocate / Outstanding Legislator — Minnesota Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities
Elinor D. Hands Award — Brain Injury Association of Minnesota
Autism Hero of the Year (2016) — Autism Recovery Foundation
Outstanding Leadership — Achieve Services, Inc.
ARRM Cares Leadership Award — ARRM
Certificates / Letters of Appreciation — Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, Opportunity Partners, MN Coalition for the Homeless, MN Commission of the Deaf, Deafblind & Hard of Hearing, MN Council on Disability, MN School of Social Workers Association
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Champion for Babies — March Of Dimes
Friend of Professional School Counseling — Minnesota School Counselors Association
Guardian of Minnesota Public Schools — Minnesota School Boards Association
Headstart Support Award — Headstart Program
Representative of the Year — Minnesota State College Students’ Association
Legislative Champion Award — Start Early Funders Coalition
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Community Partner of the Year — RISE
Hero of Hope Award — Anoka Community Mission
Paul Wellstone Advocacy Award — The Minnesota Psychiatric Society
Nonprofit Ally Award — Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
Public Policy Champion — Lutheran Social Services of MN
Housing Hero Award — Clare Housing
Lifetime Achievement Award — Opportunity Partners / MOHR / ARRM
Legislative Champion Award — Adult and Teen Challenge Minnesota
Community Champion Award — ISUROON
Wellness In the Woods Honors — Wellness in the Woods
Governing Board of Directors Award — ACCAP
Outstanding Leadership — Organization of Liberians in Minnesota
Outstanding Service — Parker College of Chiropractic
Dedication and Service — MCCL
Recognition & Leadership — Benedictine Living Community Anoka, YMCA
Certificates of Appreciation — People Incorporated, Center for Victims of Torture, Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Assoc of MN, MN Displaced Homemaker Program Consortium, Minnesota Counseling Association, Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Association of MN
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Guardian of Small Business — NFIB / Minnesota (2002/2012)
Friend of Agriculture — Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation
Friend Of Retail — Minnesota Retailers Association
Honorary Biodiesel Buddy — Minnesota Biodiesel Council
Legislator of Distinction — League of Minnesota Cities
Legislative Dean’s List — MN State University Student Association
Outstanding Legislator — Legislative Evaluation Assembly
5% Campaign Award — 5% Campaign
Northstar Chapter Leadership Award — Sierra Club
Conservative Achievement — The American Conservative Union Foundation
Accra Champion Award — Accra Champions of Homecare
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Friend of EMS — Regions Hospital & Minnesota Ambulance Association
Special Transportation Accessible Ridership Award — MN Paratransit Providers / Ambulance / STS Assoc
Legislator Appreciation Day — Minnesota Department of Corrections
Certificate of Commendation — State of Minnesota – Jesse Ventura
Certificate of Commendation — World Autism Awareness Day
Proclamation for Disability Employment Awareness Month — State of Minnesota
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Champion for Racial Justice — Organizing Apprenticeship Project
Champion For Racial Equity — Voices for Racial Justice
All Star Champions for Choice — A Team MN
Counselor Advocate — MACD
Endorsements | Organizations
What People are Saying
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“I so appreciate your support of Hope4Youth and other efforts to address youth homelessness.”
— JW, Hope4Youth
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“Thank you for supporting nurses throughout the process with well-thought-out comments. I am so proud of your work.”
— WW, Minnesota Nurses Association
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“Thank you for your principled and compelling work.”
— CB, FAIR MN
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“Our team is grateful to have your support of the MN Medication Repository Program to reduce medication waste.”
— RR, Pharmacist
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“Health Policy Advocates appreciates your diplomatic leadership.”
— DP, Health Policy Advocates
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“Thanks for being one of the ‘good guys’ and sticking up for people.”
— KP, Citizen
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“Thank you for your support. You’ve been with us each step of the way.”
— DY, MN Pipe Trades
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“Thank you for supporting real change at the community level and we are so grateful.”
— MEL, CDF-MN, Voices & Choices for Children
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“I greatly appreciated your advice and insights and working on issues to support patients.”
— MR, Physician
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“Keep doing what you are doing to make a difference in our disabled children’s lives.”
— SP, Partners 40
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“Your support makes a huge difference for so many MN families, including mine.”
— HK, Parent
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“We appreciate all your work and advocacy for people with disabilities in MN.”
— JJ, Advocate
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“Thanks for your counsel.”
— PSA, Union Gospel Mission
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“Thank you for the leadership at the Statehouse. I am so grateful.”
— ERY, Citizen
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“Thank you. I personally felt heard and supported. I feel even more inspired…”
— SS, Client