# 85th Minnesota Legislature

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.

## Sessions

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.
A special session was convened September 11, 2007 to pass legislature relating to floods in southeast Minnesota and the I-35W Mississippi River bridge.
The legislature re-convened for regular session on February 12, 2008 and adjourned in May.

## Party summary

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

### Senate

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

### House of Representatives

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

## Leadership
### Senate
#### 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
#### Speaker of the House

    Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL-Minneapolis)

#### House Majority Leader

    Anthony Sertich (DFL-Chisholm)

#### House Minority Leader

    Marty Seifert (R-Marshall)

## Members
### Senate

| 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 | 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 | 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

| 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 | 28B | Wabasha | Rep |
| Eastlund, Rob | 17A | Isanti | Rep |
| Eken, Kent | 02A | Twin Valley | DFL |
| Emmer, Tom | 19B | Delano | Rep |
| Erhardt, Ron | 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 | 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 | 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
### Senate

| 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

| 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 |