About TJ

Hello! My name is Trenton Hawthorne, and I am known by friends and family as TJ. I was born in Minnesota then moved to Oklahoma as a toddler. My father and I moved back to Minnesota in 1989 and tied my roots back to North St Paul, where he also grew up.

I attended district #622 schools of Richardson, John Glenn, and North High where I graduated in 1998 as the first class of the ‘new’ school.

I played hockey, baseball, and football in the North St. Paul Athletic Association and was paid to umpire the younger leagues as I made my way up in the association. I have so many wonderful memories inside Polar Arena, at Casey Park, and anywhere competing against Oakdale and the Tartan side of town. The inner district rivalry was a great motivator for my young & competitive heart! I also enjoyed the comradery that came along with that competition. I see now that many of the big sports are not getting the quantity of participants and these rivalries are turning into teammates. 

I enlisted in the United States Navy in 2001 and served my first five years of active duty in Pensacola, Virginia Beach, San Diego, Whidbey Island, and Iwakuni Japan. Then, as a reservist, I was mobilized to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait for eight months in 2007.

Soon after my first honorable discharge, I began my career as a field service engineer. I have been traveling all over the US and the world, including trips into Afghanistan, Diego Garcia, Republic of Korea, Japan and UAE while working as a defense contractor. I have been working for the same company, that was founded in North St. Paul in the 1970’s, since 2006. 

I am divorced but still great friends with my sons' mother and her family. We are all great friends and believe that our boys are our priority. I'm now married to the most wonderful woman that loves me and my children. We love to spend time outside, on the canoe or kayaks, or just exploring what this wonderful world has to offer. There is something to be said about experiencing the differences in culture within just the US and even Minnesota. 

I decided to get involved and run for State Representative for the Libertarian Party. It has become clear to me that the DFL & GOP are failing our citizens and I can’t stand by and watch anymore.