The eighty-fifth Minnesota Legislature first convened on January 3, 2007. The 67 members of the Minnesota Senate and the 134 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives were all elected during the General Election on November 7, 2006.

Eighty-fifth Minnesota Legislature
84th Minnesota Legislature 86th Minnesota Legislature
Overview
Legislative bodyMinnesota Legislature
JurisdictionMinnesota, United States
Meeting placeMinnesota State Capitol
TermJanuary 3, 2007 (2007-01-03) – January 6, 2009 (2009-01-06)
Election2006 General Election
Minnesota State Senate
Members67 Senators
PresidentJames Metzen
Majority LeaderLawrence Pogemiller
Minority LeaderDavid Senjem
Party controlDemocratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Minnesota House of Representatives
Members134 Representatives
SpeakerMargaret Anderson Kelliher
Majority LeaderAnthony Sertich
Minority LeaderMarty Seifert
Party controlDemocratic-Farmer-Labor Party

Sessions

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The legislature met in regular session beginning January 3, 2007 and ending May 21, 2007. A bill passed on February 22 required the state to generate a significant amount of its energy needs from renewable sources.[1]

A special session was convened September 11, 2007 to pass legislature relating to floods in southeast Minnesota and the I-35W Mississippi River bridge.[2]

The legislature re-convened for regular session on February 12, 2008 and adjourned in May.

Party summary

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Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Membership changes" section, below.

Senate

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Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total Vacant
DFL R
End of previous Legislature 38 29 67 0
Begin 44 23 67 0
January 1, 2008 22 66 1
January 3, 2008 45 67 0
July 28, 2008 21 66 1
November 5, 2008 44 65 2
Latest voting share 68% 32%
Beginning of the next Legislature 46 21 67 0

House of Representatives

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Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total Vacant
DFL IR R
End of previous Legislature 66 0 67 133 1
Begin 85 0 49 134 0
July 17, 2007 48 133 1
August 7, 2007 49 134 0
December 1, 2007 1 48 134 0
Latest voting share 63% 1% 36%
Beginning of the next Legislature 87 0 47 134 0

Leadership

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Senate

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President of the Senate
James Metzen (DFL-South St. Paul)
Senate Majority Leader
Lawrence Pogemiller (DFL-Minneapolis)
Senate Minority Leader
David Senjem (R-Rochester)

House of Representatives

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Speaker of the House
Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL-Minneapolis)
House Majority Leader
Anthony Sertich (DFL-Chisholm)
House Minority Leader
Marty Seifert (R-Marshall)

Members

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Senate

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Name District City Party
Anderson, Ellen 66 St. Paul DFL
Bakk, Thomas M. 06 Cook DFL
Berglin, Linda 61 Minneapolis DFL
Betzold, Don 51 Fridley DFL
Bonoff, Terri 43 Minnetonka DFL
Carlson, Jim 38 Eagan DFL
Chaudhary, Satveer S. 50 Fridley DFL
Clark, Tarryl 15 St. Cloud DFL
Cohen, Dick 64 St. Paul DFL
Dahle, Kevin[3] 25 Northfield DFL
Day, Dick 26 Owatonna Rep
Dibble, D. Scott 60 Minneapolis DFL
Dille, Steve 18 Dassel Rep
Doll, John P. 40 Burnsville DFL
Erickson Ropes, Sharon 31 Winona DFL
Fischbach, Michelle 14 Paynesville Rep
Foley, Leo 47 Coon Rapids DFL
Frederickson, Dennis 21 New Ulm Rep
Gerlach, Chris 37 Apple Valley Rep
Gimse, Joe 13 Willmar Rep
Hann, David 42 Eden Prairie Rep
Higgins, Linda 58 Minneapolis DFL
Ingebrigtsen, Bill 11 Alexandria Rep
Johnson, Debbie 49 Ham Lake Rep
Jungbauer, Mike 48 East Bethel Rep
Koch, Amy T. 19 Buffalo Rep
Koering, Paul 12 Fort Ripley Rep
Kubly, Gary W. 20 Granite Falls DFL
Langseth, Keith 09 Glyndon DFL
Larson, Dan 63 Bloomington DFL
Latz, Ron 44 St. Louis Park DFL
Limmer, Warren 32 Maple Grove Rep
Lourey, Tony 08 Kerrick DFL
Lynch, Ann 30 Rochester DFL
Marty, John 54 Roseville DFL
Metzen, James P. 39 South St. Paul DFL
Michel, Geoff 41 Edina Rep
Moua, Mee 67 St. Paul DFL
Murphy, Steve 28 Red Wing DFL
Neuville, Tom[4] 25 Northfield Rep
Olseen, Rick 17 Harris DFL
Olson, Gen 33 Minnetrista Rep
Olson, Mary 04 Bemidji DFL
Ortman, Julianne E. 34 Chanhassen Rep
Pappas, Sandy 65 St. Paul DFL
Pariseau, Patricia 36 Farmington Rep
Pogemiller, Lawrence J. 59 Minneapolis DFL
Solon, Yvonne Prettner 07 Duluth DFL
Rest, Ann H. 45 New Hope DFL
Robling, Claire 35 Jordan Rep
Rosen, Julie A. 24 Fairmont Rep
Rummel, Sandy 53 White Bear Lake DFL
Saltzman, Kathy 56 Woodbury DFL
Saxhaug, Tom 03 Grand Rapids DFL
Scheid, Linda 46 Brooklyn Park DFL
Senjem, David H. 29 Rochester Rep
Sheran, Kathy 23 Mankato DFL
Sieben, Katie 57 Newport DFL
Skoe, Rod 02 Clearbrook DFL
Skogen, Dan 10 Hewitt DFL
Sparks, Dan 27 Austin DFL
Stumpf, LeRoy 01 Plummer DFL
Tomassoni, David J. 05 Chisholm DFL
Torres Ray, Patricia 62 Minneapolis DFL
Vandeveer, Ray 52 Forest Lake Rep
Vickerman, Jim 22 Tracy DFL
Wergin, Betsy 16 Princeton Rep
Wiger, Chuck 55 North St. Paul DFL

House of Representatives

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Name District City Party
Abeler, Jim 48B Anoka Rep
Anderson, Bruce 19A Buffalo Township Rep
Anderson, Sarah 43A Plymouth Rep
Anzelc, Tom 03A Balsam Township DFL
Atkins, Joe 39B Inver Grove Heights DFL
Beard, Michael 35A Shakopee Rep
Benson, John 43B Minnetonka DFL
Berns, John 33B Wayzata Rep
Bigham, Karla 57A Cottage Grove DFL
Bly, David 25B Northfield DFL
Brod, Laura 25A New Prague Rep
Brown, Robin 27A Austin DFL
Brynaert, Kathy 23B Mankato DFL
Buesgens, Mark 35B Jordan Rep
Bunn, Julie 56A Lake Elmo DFL
Carlson, Lyndon 45B Crystal DFL
Clark, Karen 61A Minneapolis DFL
Cornish, Tony 24B Good Thunder Rep
Davnie, Jim 62A Minneapolis DFL
Dean, Matt 52B Dellwood Rep
DeLaForest, Chris 49A Andover Rep
Demmer, Randy 29A Hayfield Rep
Dettmer, Bob 52A Forest Lake Rep
Dill, David 06A Crane Lake DFL
Dittrich, Denise 47A Champlin DFL
Dominguez, Augustine "Willie" 58B Minneapolis DFL
Doty, Al 12B Royalton DFL
Drazkowski, Steve[5] 28B Wabasha Rep
Eastlund, Rob 17A Isanti Rep
Eken, Kent 02A Twin Valley DFL
Emmer, Tom 19B Delano Rep
Erhardt, Ron[6] 41A Edina Rep
Erickson, Sondra 16A Princeton Rep
Faust, Tim 08B Mora DFL
Finstad, Brad 21B Comfrey Rep
Fritz, Patti 26B Faribault DFL
Gardner, Paul 53A Shoreview DFL
Garofalo, Pat 36B Farmington Rep
Gottwalt, Steve 15A St. Cloud Rep
Greiling, Mindy 54A Roseville DFL
Gunther, Bob 24A Fairmont Rep
Hackbarth, Tom 48A Cedar Rep
Hamilton, Rod 22B Mountain Lake Rep
Hansen, Rick 39A South St. Paul DFL
Hausman, Alice 66B St. Paul DFL
Haws, Larry 15B St. Cloud DFL
Heidgerken, Bud 13A Freeport Rep
Hilstrom, Debra 46B Brooklyn Center DFL
Hilty, Bill 08A Finlayson DFL
Holberg, Mary Liz 36A Lakeville Rep
Hoppe, Joe 34B Chaska Rep
Hornstein, Frank 60B Minneapolis DFL
Hortman, Melissa 47B Brooklyn Park DFL
Hosch, Larry 14B St. Joseph DFL
Howes, Larry 04B Walker Rep
Huntley, Thomas 07A Duluth DFL
Jaros, Mike 07B Duluth DFL
Johnson, Sheldon 67B St. Paul DFL
Juhnke, Al 13B Willmar DFL
Kahn, Phyllis 59B Minneapolis DFL
Kalin, Jeremy 17B Lindstrom DFL
Kelliher, Margaret Anderson 60A Minneapolis DFL
Knuth, Kate 50B New Brighton DFL
Koenen, Lyle 20B Clara City DFL
Kohls, Paul 34A Victoria Rep
Kranz, Scott 51A Blaine DFL
Laine, Carolyn 50A Columbia Heights DFL
Lanning, Morrie 09A Moorhead Rep
Lenczewski, Ann 40B Bloomington DFL
Lesch, John 66A St. Paul DFL
Liebling, Tina 30A Rochester DFL
Lieder, Bernard 01B Crookston DFL
Lillie, Leon 55A North St. Paul DFL
Loeffler, Diane 59A Minneapolis DFL
Madore, Shelley 37A Apple Valley DFL
Magnus, Doug 22A Slayton Rep
Mahoney, Tim 67A St. Paul DFL
Mariani, Carlos 65B St. Paul DFL
Marquart, Paul 09B Dilworth DFL
Masin, Sandra 38A Eagan DFL
McFarlane, Carol 53B White Bear Lake Rep
McNamara, Denny 57B Hastings Rep
Moe, Frank 04A Bemidji DFL
Morgan, Will 40A Burnsville DFL
Morrow, Terry 23A St. Peter DFL
Mullery, Joe 58A Minneapolis DFL
Murphy, Erin 64A St. Paul DFL
Murphy, Mary 06B Hermantown DFL
Nelson, Michael 46A Brooklyn Park DFL
Nornes, Bud 10A Fergus Falls Rep
Norton, Kim 29B Rochester DFL
Olin, Dave 01A Thief River Falls DFL
Olson, Mark[7] 16B Big Lake IR
Otremba, Mary Ellen 11B Long Prairie DFL
Ozment, Dennis 37B Rosemount Rep
Paulsen, Erik 42B Eden Prairie Rep
Paymar, Michael 64B St. Paul DFL
Pelowski, Gene 31A Winona DFL
Peppin, Joyce 32A Rogers Rep
Peterson, Aaron 20A Appleton DFL
Peterson, Neil W. 41B Bloomington Rep
Peterson, Sandra 45A New Hope DFL
Poppe, Jeanne 27B Austin DFL
Rukavina, Tom 05A Virginia DFL
Ruth, Connie 26A Owatonna Rep
Ruud, Maria 42A Minnetonka DFL
Sailer, Brita 02B Park Rapids DFL
Scalze, Bev 54B Little Canada DFL
Seifert, Marty 21A Marshall Rep
Sertich, Tony 05B Chisholm DFL
Severson, Dan 14A Sauk Rapids Rep
Shimanski, Ron 18A Silver Lake Rep
Simon, Steve 44A St. Louis Park DFL
Simpson, Dean 10B Perham Rep
Slawik, Nora 55B Maplewood Rep
Slocum, Linda 63B Richfield DFL
Smith, Steve 33A Mound Rep
Solberg, Loren 03B Grand Rapids DFL
Sviggum, Steve[8] 28B Kenyon Rep
Swails, Marsha 56B Woodbury DFL
Thao, Cy 65A St. Paul DFL
Thissen, Paul 63A Minneapolis DFL
Tillberry, Tom 51B Fridley DFL
Tingelstad, Kathy 49B Andover Rep
Tschumper, Ken 31B La Crescent DFL
Urdahl, Dean 18B Grove City Rep
Wagenius, Jean 62B Minneapolis DFL
Walker, Neva 61B Minneapolis DFL
Ward, John 12A Brainerd DFL
Wardlow, Lynn 38B Eagan Rep
Welti, Andy 30B Plainview DFL
Westrom, Torrey 11A Elbow Lake Rep
Winkler, Ryan 44B Golden Valley DFL
Wollschlager, Sandy 28A Cannon Falls DFL
Zellers, Kurt 32B Maple Grove Rep

Membership changes

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Senate

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District Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date successor
elected
25 Tom Neuville
(R)
Resigned effective January 1, 2008 to accept appointment as Third Judicial District trial court judge. Kevin Dahle
(DFL)
January 3, 2008
16 Betsy Wergin
(R)
Resigned July 28, 2008 to accept appointment to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Successor elected November 4, 2008, but did not assume office until the convention of the 86th Minnesota Legislature. Lisa Fobbe
(DFL)
November 4, 2008
63 Dan Larson
(DFL)
Resigned effective November 5, 2008. Successor elected November 4, 2008, but did not assume office until the convention of the 86th Minnesota Legislature. Ken Kelash
(DFL)
November 4, 2008

House of Representatives

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District Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date successor
elected
28B Steve Sviggum
(R)
Resigned July 17, 2007 to become Minnesota Commissioner of Labor and Industry. Steve Drazkowski
(R)
August 7, 2007

Notes

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  1. ^ Minnesota to require 25% renewable energy production, Wikinews
  2. ^ Bill Number Search- Minnesota House of Representatives
  3. ^ Kevin Dahle was elected in January 2008 to replace Tom Neuville.
  4. ^ Tom Neuville resigned in December 2007 accept a District Court appointment.
  5. ^ Steve Drazkowski was elected via special election held August 7, 2007 to succeed resigned representative Steve Sviggum.
  6. ^ Ron Erhardt lost the Republican endorsement for re-election in 2008 and ran as an Independent. Erhardt lost the election.
  7. ^ Mark Olson was suspended from the Republican Caucus and declared himself as an Independent-Republican.
  8. ^ On July 17, 2007, Steve Sviggum resigned his seat to become Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce and Industry; a special election held on August 7, 2007 named Steve Drazkowski as his successor.
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Preceded by Eighty-fifth Minnesota Legislature
2007—2009
Succeeded by