stringtranslate.com

Minnesota House of Representatives

The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house of the U.S. state of Minnesota's legislature. It operates in conjunction with the Minnesota Senate, the state's upper house, to craft and pass legislation, which is then subject to approval by the governor of Minnesota.

Established in 1858, the Minnesota House of Representatives has 134 members elected from single-member districts across the state. Representatives serve two-year terms without term limits, with all seats up for election every two years. The House is led by the Speaker, who is elected by members of the House, while political party leadership is governed by the Majority and Minority Leaders.

The Minnesota House of Representatives meets in the north wing of the State Capitol in Saint Paul. Member and staff offices, as well as most committee hearings, are in the nearby State Office Building.

History

The Minnesota House of Representatives was officially established on May 11, 1858, when Minnesota was admitted as the 32nd state in the Union. It replaced the Minnesota Territorial Legislature. It was formed alongside the Minnesota Senate to create the Minnesota State Legislature, the bicameral legislative body of the state.

In 1913, Minnesota legislators began to be elected on nonpartisan ballots. While campaigning and caucusing, legislators identified themselves as "Liberals" or "Conservatives." In 1973, a law change brought party designations back, beginning with the 1974 Minnesota House of Representatives election.[2]

After the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified in 1920, women were eligible for election to the legislature. In 1922, Mabeth Hurd Paige, Hannah Kempfer, Sue Metzger Dickey Hough, and Myrtle Cain were elected to the House of Representatives.[3] As of 2023, a record-high 54 women serve in the House.[4]

Elections

Each Senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B (for example, House district 32B is in Senate district 32). Members are elected to two-year terms.[5] Districts are redrawn after the decennial United States Census in time for the primary and general elections in years ending in 2. The most recent election was on November 8, 2022.

Composition

93rd Minnesota Legislature (2023–2025)

Members, 2023–24

House districts by party
  DFL
  Republican

The 2023–24 Minnesota Legislature was sworn into office on January 3, 2023 with 70 DFL members and 64 Republican members.[11]

The effects of redistricting and a large number of retirements at the end of the previous session resulted in 39 races without an incumbent. 16 races went uncontested, all in noncompetitive districts. In the 2022 Minnesota House of Representatives elections, eight incumbents lost, with five Republicans and three DFLers failing to be reelected.[11]

The 2023-24 class of representatives has 47 newly elected members, or 35% of the total membership. Of those 47, 25 are Republican and 19 are DFL. Three former DFL members returned to the chamber for non-consecutive terms (Jeff Brand, Jerry Newton and Brad Tabke).[11]

On September 1, 2023, DFL Representative Ruth Richardson announced her resignation, effective immediately, from the House to focus on her role at Planned Parenthood.[12] In a special election held on December 5, DFL nominee Bianca Virnig won the seat by 17 points.[13]

On February 11, 2024, Republican Representative Kurt Daudt resigned.[14] In a special election held on March 19, 2024, Republican nominee Bryan Lawrence won the seat by 69 points.[15]

On May 28, 2024, DFL Representative Heather Edelson resigned after being elected to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners.[16]

Historical composition

Past notable members

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Elected in a special election.[17]
  2. ^ Elected in a special election. Lost re-election in 2006. Elected again in 2008.

References

  1. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions - Representatives and Senators - Minnesota Legislature".
  2. ^ "Party Control of the Minnesota House of Representatives - Minnesota Legislative Reference Library". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  3. ^ "Women Wielding Power: Pioneer Female State Legislators". National Women's History Museum. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  4. ^ "Women in the Legislature Over Time - Tables". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  5. ^ "Minn. Const. art. IV, § 4". Constitution of the State of Minnesota. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  6. ^ Ruth Richardson (District 52B) resigned to focus on her role at Planned Parenthood. [1]
  7. ^ Bianca Virnig elected in a Special Election for House District 52B. [2]
  8. ^ Kurt Daudt (District 27B) resigned. [3]
  9. ^ Bryan Lawrence elected in a Special Election for House District 27B. [4]
  10. ^ Heather Edelson (District 50A) resigned. [5]
  11. ^ a b c Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services (January 5, 2023). "2022 ELECTION DIRECTORY for the 2023-2024 MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE" (PDF). Minnesota House of Representatives. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  12. ^ Miles, Kyra (September 2, 2023). "Minnesota State Rep. Ruth Richardson resigns to focus on Planned Parenthood role". MPR News. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  13. ^ MPR News Staff (December 5, 2023). "Democrats keep Dakota County seat in Minnesota House special election". MPR News. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  14. ^ Mohr, Jonathan (January 10, 2024). "Former House speaker Daudt announces resignation". Minnesota Legislature. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  15. ^ Mohr, Jonathan (March 20, 2024). "Republican candidate easily wins District 27B special election". Minnesota Legislature. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  16. ^ "Final Legislative Update". Minnesota Legislature. May 24, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  17. ^ "Party Control of the Minnesota House of Representatives, 1951–present". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.

External links

44°57′20″N 93°6′8″W / 44.95556°N 93.10222°W / 44.95556; -93.10222