East Side upbringing and union roots
Raised in a union household and later a Teamster, Jay says these experiences formed his views on fairness, work and accountability.
Meet Jay
Minnesota roots. A life of service.
From Saint Paul’s East Side to union work, military leadership, data integrity and family life in Victoria.
Jay’s story
Service has taken many forms.
Jay Reeves was born and raised on the East Side of Saint Paul in a union family. He later became a Teamster, learning firsthand the importance of fairness, hard work and accountability.
After the attacks of September 11, Jay chose to enlist in the U.S. Army while raising a young family. Across nearly 17 years of service, he rose from Private (PV2) to Major (O-4), deployed to Iraq, led soldiers and worked with data analytics in support of the Military Health System.
While serving, Jay earned a master’s degree in Health Informatics from the University of Minnesota, with a concentration in data analytics and data visualization. He later worked as a data integrity analyst for the Defense Health Agency and in the civilian sector.
In 2022, Jay was diagnosed with cancer presumptively linked to burn-pit exposure during his deployment. He was medically retired in 2023 and has publicly described himself as healthy, grateful and determined to continue serving.
Experience timeline
The path to this campaign.
A concise timeline based on Jay’s published campaign biography and endorsement remarks.
Private to Major
Nearly 17 years in the U.S. Army included an Iraq deployment, leadership roles and work supporting military health data.
Health informatics and data visualization
Jay earned a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota and worked in data integrity and analytics roles.
Cancer diagnosis and medical retirement
After treatment and medical retirement, Jay chose a new public-service mission focused on financial oversight in Minnesota.
Family and community
Jay lives in Victoria with deep family ties. He is a father of six, grandfather of three and is married to his high-school sweetheart, an educator of more than 25 years.
Why State Auditor
Data should produce clarity, not just reports.
Jay’s stated focus is to pair professional oversight with earlier analytics, accessible public information, simpler reporting and strong cybersecurity.
Explore the platformIndependent
Service to Minnesotans rather than a political machine is a central theme of the campaign.
Proactive
Earlier detection and continuous monitoring are intended to identify risks before they grow.
Data-driven
Analytics, visualization and accessible dashboards sit at the center of the proposed modernization.
Mission-focused
The campaign presents financial integrity and accountable service as the organizing mission.
Next
See the principles Jay says will guide the office.
Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.