Summary
Minnesota is located in the Midwest region of the USA with Saint Paul as its capital. Tim Walz (D) is Governor.
The Minnesota legislature has Senators are elected from 67 single-member districts. In order to account for decennial redistricting, members run for one two-year term and two four-year terms each decade. They are elected for four-year terms in years ending in 2 and 6, and for two-year terms in years ending in 0. Representatives are elected for two-year terms from 134 single-member districts formed by dividing the 67 senate districts in half (ie. Senate District 1 Contains House Districts 1A and 1B).38 Senate members and 100 House members.
OnAir Post: Minnesota onAir
News
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About
The Minnesota onAir Hub supports Minnesotans to become more informed about and engaged in local, state, and federal politics while facilitating more civil and positive discussions with their representatives, candidates, and fellow citizens.
- Minnesota onAir is one of 50 state governance and elections hubs that the US onAir Network is providing to help reinvigorate US democracy. This post has short summaries of current state and federal representatives with links to their complete Hub posts. Students curate post content from government, campaign, social media, and public websites. Key content on the Minnesota Hub is also replicated on the US onAir nations Hub at: us.onair.cc.
- Minnesotastudents will be forming onAir chapters in their colleges and universities to help curate Hub content. As more students participate and more onAir chapters are started, we will expand to include more state and local content as well as increase the number of aircasts – student-led, livestreamed, online discussions with candidates, representatives, and the public.
Find out more about Who Represents Me in Minnesota
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Web Links
State Representatives
Governor Tim Walz
Current Position: Governor since 2019
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: US Representative from 2007 – 2019
Walz was a member of the Army National Guard, and worked in agriculture, manufacturing, and teaching after high school. He served for 24 years in the Army National Guard and as a social studies teacher in the Mankato school district
Featured Quote:
Congratulations, Minnesota! Reaching President Biden’s goal of 70% of adults with at least one vaccine dose before July 4 is a remarkable achievement. Thank you to every Minnesotan who has rolled up their sleeves.
OnAir Post: Tim Walz – MN
US Representatives
Senator Amy Klobuchar
Current Position: US Senator since 2007
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: Hennepin County Attorney from 1999 – 2007
Other Positions: Chair, Judiciary Committee; Chair, Rules and Administration Committee; Chair, Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee
Before seeking public office, besides working as a prosecutor, Klobuchar was a partner at the Minnesota law firms Dorsey & Whitney and Gray Plant Mooty, where she specialized in “regulatory work in telecommunications law”.
Klobuchar’s political positions align with modern liberalism. She has focused on healthcare reform, consumer protection, agriculture, and climate change. She is known for her folksy, Midwestern demeanor and ability to win in rural Minnesota.
Featured Quote:
When high school kids in northern Minnesota are doing their bio quizzes in liquor store parking lots because we don’t have high speed broadband statewide, you know it is time to pass a federal infrastructure bill. Like, now!
OnAir Post: Amy Klobuchar – MN
Senator Tina Smith
Current Position: US Senator since 2019
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2022 US Senator
Former Position: Lt. Governor from 2015 – 2018
Other Positions:
Chair, Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
Featured Quote:
When I was a young mom, my top priority was always the well-being of my kids. Working parents need to know that their children are safe and cared for, which is why I’m pushing for big investments to help working families across America afford childcare.
OnAir Post: Tina Smith – MN
Brad Finstad MN-01
Current Position: US Representative of MN District 1 since 2022
Affiliation: Republican
District: primarily rural district built on a strong history of agriculture, though this is changing rapidly due to strong population growth in the Rochester combined statistical area. The district is also home to several of Minnesota’s major mid-sized cities, including Rochester, Mankato, Winona, Austin, Owatonna, Albert Lea, Red Wing, New Ulm, Worthington, and Lake City.
Upcoming Election:
Finstad previously served as an area director for the Minnesota Farm Bureau and as the agricultural policy advisor to U.S. Representative Mark Kennedy. In 2002, he was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, where he served three terms.
President Donald Trump appointed Finstad as the USDA Rural Development director for Minnesota. He served until shortly after Trump left office in 2021. In addition to his government service, Finstad operates a family farm.
OnAir Post: Brad Finstad MN-01
Angie Craig MN-02
Current Position: US Representative of MN District 2 since 2019
Affiliation: Democrat
District: south Twin Cities metro area and contains all of Scott, Dakota, and Le Sueur counties. It also contains part of northern and eastern Rice County including the city of Northfield, as well as southern Washington County including the city of Cottage Grove. Lakeville and Eagan are the largest cities in the district
Upcoming Election:
Craig worked in journalism and corporate communications. She moved to Minnesota in 2005 for a job at St. Jude Medical. Craig first ran for Congress in 2016, losing to Jason Lewis, whom she defeated in their 2018 rematch.[1]
Featured Quote:
This week, I was proud to receive the 2021 Retiree Hero Award from @ActiveRetirees
for my 100% pro-retiree voting record in Congress. I’ll always work to ensure our nation’s seniors receive the benefits they’ve earned and deserve.
OnAir Post: Angie Craig MN-02
Dean Phillips MN-03
Current Position: US Representative of MN District 3 since 2019
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: President
Former Position: Business owner from 1991 – 2019
Other Positions: Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations – Small Business committee
District: suburbs of Hennepin and Anoka counties to the west, south, and north of Minneapolis.
Upcoming Election:
Phillips has both owned and started several companies in addition to serving as president and CEO of his family’s liquor business, the Phillips Distilling Company.He is the former co-owner of Talenti gelato and co-owns Penny’s Coffee. On November 24, 2023, Phillips announced that he would not run for reelection.
In 2023, he announced his intent to challenge Biden for the Democratic nomination in the 2024 presidential election.
Featured Quote:
To the community I love: If you’re feeling fearful and anxious this week, imagine feeling this way every day of your life and employ that empathy as inspiration to ensure that future American generations ALL know justice, peace, and opportunity.
OnAir Post: Dean Phillips MN-03
Betty McCollum MN-04
Current Position: US Representative of MN District 4 since 2001
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: State Delegate from 1993 – 2001
Other Positions: Defense Subcommittee – House Appropriations Committee
District: nearly all of Ramsey County, and part of Washington County. It includes all of St. Paul, and most of its northern and eastern suburbs
Upcoming Election:
McCollum has worked as a high school social sciences teacher and as a sales manager. She first won election to the North St. Paul city council in 1986
Featured Quote:
My @AppropsDems colleagues and I are currently working to ensure Congress passes funding bills that improve the lives of all Americans. Watch this video to see how we make it happen #ForThePeople
OnAir Post: Betty McCollum MN-04
Ilhan Omar MN-05
Current Position: US Representative of MN District 5 since 2019
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: State Delegate from 2017 – 2019
Other Positions: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations – House Foreign Affairs Committee
District: eastern Hennepin County, including the entire city of Minneapolis, along with parts of Anoka and Ramsey counties
Upcoming Election:
Omar serves as deputy chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and has advocated for a $15 minimum wage, universal healthcare, student loan debt forgiveness, the protection of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A frequent critic of Israel, Omar supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and has denounced Israel’s settlement policies and military campaigns in the occupied Palestinian territories,.
Featured Quote:
We urge @POTUS to reopen the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem, reissue State Department & customs guidances to clarify that settlements are inconsistent with international law, & oppose the forced expulsion of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem & throughout Palestinian territory.
OnAir Post: Ilhan Omar MN-05
Tom Emmer MN-06
Current Position: US Representative of MN District 7 since 2015
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: State Delegate from 2005 – 2011
District: Most or all of Benton, Carver, Sherburne, Stearns, Wright, and Anoka counties.
Upcoming Election:
Emmer chaired the National Republican Congressional Committee from 2019 to 2023. After Republicans gained a majority in the 2022 U.S. House of Representatives elections, he successfully ran for majority whip. Emmer was the House Republican Conference’s third nominee for the October 2023 Speaker of the House election.
Emmer began his legal career representing cities and counties through the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust and the League of Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust, handling lawsuits against police officers.
Featured Quote:
Police reform must focus on efforts that improve relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. @StCloudPDMN is doing just that & my Community OutPost Outreach and Engagement Act will take their effort nationwide.
OnAir Post: Tom Emmer MN-06
Michelle Fischbach MN-07
Current Position: US Representative of Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District since 2021
Affiliation: Republican
Former Positions: Lt. Governor from 2018 – 2019; State Senator from 1996 – 2018
District: covers the majority of western Minnesota. It is by far the state’s largest district, and has a very rural character. Cities in the district include Moorhead (its largest city), Fergus Falls, Alexandria and Willmar.
Upcoming Election:
She first got involved in politics as an intern to Rudy Boschwitz, then a U.S. senator for Minnesota. In 1994, Fischbach became the first woman elected to the Paynesville City Council, where she served until she was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1996.
While serving as the incumbent lieutenant governor of Minnesota, Fischbach was former Governor Tim Pawlenty’s nominee for lieutenant governor in the Minnesota Republican Party primary during the 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election.
Featured Quote:
A person’s wealth is irrelevant. Taxpayer funded abortion is wrong. Every innocent human life is precious and needs to be protected. #HydeSavesLives #MN07
OnAir Post: Michelle Fischbach MN-07
Pete Stauber MN-08
Current Position: US Representative of MN District 8 since 2019
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: Member of the St. Louis County Commission from 2013 – 2019
District: anchored by Duluth, the state’s fifth-largest city. It also includes most of the Mesabi & Vermilion iron ranges, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in the Superior National Forest.
Upcoming Election:
He played college hockey for Lake Superior State University, where as a star player on the team, he led the Lakers to a national championship in the 1988 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament. Stauber met his political idol President Ronald Reagan when the team visited the White House after winning the national championship. He later said this event formed his political ambition.
Stauber served as a lieutenant in the Duluth Police Department from 1995 to 2017.
Featured Quote:
Minnesotans deserve to feel safe. That’s why, as my Democrat colleagues push forward harmful policies to take away funds and resources from law enforcement, I will continue to act as a firewall and fight back against their efforts to defund the police.
OnAir Post: Pete Stauber MN-08
More Information
Wikipedia
The law of Minnesota refers to the legal framework that governs the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is a combination of the federal legal system, applicable throughout the United States, and state-specific laws and regulations. Minnesota has its own constitution, first ratified in 1857, which provides the fundamental structure and guidance for the state’s legal processes.
History
Minnesota became the 32nd state of the United States on May 11, 1858. The first constitution was ratified a year prior, in 1857. The legal system of Minnesota, like that of other states, has evolved over time to adapt to the changing social, economic, and political landscape, while also incorporating the federal legal framework set by the United States Constitution.
Sources of law
Minnesota Constitution
The Minnesota Constitution serves as the foundational legal document for the state. The constitution establishes the structure of Minnesota’s government and outlines the basic rights and freedoms of its citizens. Any law enacted in Minnesota must comply with both the United States Constitution and the Minnesota Constitution.
Statutory law
Statutory laws in Minnesota are enacted by the Minnesota Legislature, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. These laws are codified in the Minnesota Statutes, a comprehensive collection of laws organized by subject matter.[1] Statutory law addresses a broad array of topics, from criminal and civil law to administrative, corporate, and tax law.[2][3]
Administrative regulations
Administrative agencies in Minnesota are empowered to create rules and regulations that provide more detailed guidelines on the implementation of statutory laws. These agencies, boards, and commissions focus on specialized areas such as healthcare, transportation, and environmental protection. Administrative law is compiled in the Minnesota Administrative Rules.[4]
Case law
Minnesota’s judicial system contributes to the development of law through the decisions made by its courts. Courts interpret statutes, regulations, and constitutional provisions, creating what is known as case law. This body of law is particularly important for clarifying ambiguities in statutes or for addressing issues not explicitly covered by statutory law.
Local ordinances
In addition to state-level laws and regulations, local governments in Minnesota, such as cities and counties, have the authority to enact ordinances. These typically pertain to issues like zoning, public safety, and local governance.
Federal law
Federal law, including the United States Constitution, federal statutes, and regulations, also applies within Minnesota. Where federal and state laws conflict, federal law takes precedence, according to the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
See also
References
- ^ “Minnesota Session Laws”. Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
- ^ “Statutes Info”. Minnesota Legislature, The Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
- ^ Huesman, Sonya (2022-06-06). “Minnesota Legal Research: Legislature/Statutes”. Hamline University School of Law, Warren E. Burger Library. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
- ^ “Frequently Asked Questions – Laws, Statutes and Rules”. Minnesota Legislature. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
External links
