# 70th Minnesota Legislature

The seventieth Minnesota Legislature first convened on January 4, 1977. The 67 members of the Minnesota Senate and the 134 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives were elected during the General Election of November 2, 1976. It was the first Minnesota Legislature since the thirty-eighth Minnesota Legislature whose members of the Minnesota Senate were chosen in partisan elections.

## Sessions

The legislature met in a regular session from January 4, 1977 to May 23, 1977. A continuation of the regular session was held between January 17, 1978 and March 24, 1978. There were no special sessions of the 70th Legislature.

## 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) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | Vacant |
| | DFL | Ind. | IR | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 37 | 1 | 28 | 66 | 1 |
| Begin | 48 | 0 | 18 | 66 | 1 |
| February 15, 1977 | 49 | 0 | 18 | 67 | 0 |
| November 1, 1977 | 48 | 0 | 18 | 66 | 1 |
| December 9, 1977 | 48 | 0 | 19 | 67 | 0 |
| December 1, 1978 | 47 | 0 | 19 | 66 | 1 |
| December 29, 1978 | 47 | 0 | 20 | 67 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 70% | 0% | 30% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 47 | 0 | 20 | 67 | 0 |

### House of Representatives

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | Vacant |
| | DFL | IR | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 103 | 31 | 134 | 0 |
| Begin | 104 | 30 | 134 | 0 |
| February 15, 1977 | 103 | 30 | 133 | 1 |
| March 18, 1977 | 103 | 31 | 134 | 0 |
| July 31, 1977 | 102 | 31 | 133 | 1 |
| August 1977 | 101 | 32 | 133 | 1 |
| October 11, 1977 | 101 | 33 | 134 | 0 |
| November 4, 1977 | 100 | 33 | 133 | 1 |
| December 19, 1977 | 100 | 34 | 134 | 0 |
| March 21, 1978 | 99 | 35 | 134 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 74% | 26% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 67 | 67 | 134 | 0 |

## Leadership
### Senate
#### President of the Senate

    Edward J. Gearty (DFL-Minneapolis)

#### Senate Majority Leader

    Nicholas D. Coleman (DFL-Saint Paul)

#### Senate Minority Leader

    Robert O. Ashbach (IR-St. Paul)

### House of Representatives
#### Speaker of the House

    Martin O. Sabo (DFL-Minneapolis)

#### House Majority Leader

    Irvin N. Anderson (DFL-International Falls)

#### House Minority Leader

    Henry J. Savelkoul (IR-Albert Lea)

## Members
### Senate

| Name | District | City | Party |
| Anderson, Jerald C. | 19 | North Branch | DFL |
| Ashbach, Robert O. | 48 | Saint Paul | IR |
| Bang, Jr., Otto T. | 39 | Edina | IR |
| Benedict, Robert M. | 38 | Bloomington | DFL |
| Bernhagen, John J. | 22 | Hutchinson | IR |
| Borden, Winston W. | 13 | Brainerd | DFL |
| Brataas, Nancy | 33 | Rochester | IR |
| Chenoweth, John C. | 66 | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Chmielewski, Sr., Florian W. | 14 | Sturgeon Lake | DFL |
| Coleman, Nicholas D. | 65 | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Davies, II, John Thomas | 60 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Dieterich, Neil | 62 | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Dunn, Robert G. | 18 | Princeton | IR |
| Engler, Steven | 25 | Randolph | IR |
| Frederick, Mel | 32 | West Concord | IR |
| Gearty, Edward J. | 54 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Gunderson, Jerome O. | 35 | Mabel | DFL |
| Hanson, Marvin B. | 01 | Hallock | DFL |
| Hughes, Jerome M. | 50 | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Humphrey, III, Hubert H. | 44 | New Hope | DFL |
| Jensen, Carl A. | 28 | Sleepy Eye | IR |
| Johnson, Douglas J. | 06 | Cook | DFL |
| Keefe, Sr., John B. | 40 | Hopkins | IR |
| Keefe, Stephen | 59 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Kirchner, William G. | 37 | Richfield | IR |
| Kleinbaum, Jack I. | 17 | Saint Cloud | DFL |
| Knaak, Delores J. | 49 | White Bear Lake | IR |
| Knoll, Franklin J. | 61 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Knutson, Howard A. | 53 | Burnsville | IR |
| Laufenburger, Roger A. | 34 | Lewiston | DFL |
| Lessard, Bob B. | 03 | International Falls | DFL |
| Lewis, Sr., B. Robert | 41 | Saint Louis Park | DFL |
| Luther, William Paul | 45 | Brooklyn Center | DFL |
| McCutcheon, William W. | 67 | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Menning, Marion O. | 26 | Edgerton | DFL |
| Merriam, Eugene R. | 47 | Coon Rapids | DFL |
| Milton, John Watson | 49 | White Bear Lake | DFL |
| Moe, Roger D. | 02 | Ada | DFL |
| Nelson, Tom A. | 31 | Austin | DFL |
| Nichols, James W. | 20 | Lake Benton | DFL |
| Ogdahl, Sr., Harmon T. | 58 | Minneapolis | IR |
| Olhoft, Wayne | 11 | Herman | DFL |
| Olson, Howard D. | 27 | Saint James | DFL |
| Penny, Timothy Joseph | 30 | New Richland | DFL |
| Perpich, George F. | 05 | Chisholm | DFL |
| Peterson, Collin Clark | 10 | Detroit Lakes | DFL |
| Pillsbury, George Sturgis | 42 | Wayzata | IR |
| Purfeerst, Clarence Mark | 24 | Faribault | DFL |
| Renneke, Earl W. | 23 | Le Sueur | IR |
| Schaaf, David D. | 46 | Fridley | DFL |
| Schmitz, Robert J. | 36 | Jordan | DFL |
| Schrom, Ed | 16 | Albany | DFL |
| Setzepfandt, A. O.H. | 21 | Bird Island | DFL |
| Sieloff, Ronald B. | 63 | Saint Paul | IR |
| Sikorski, Gerald Edward | 51 | Stillwater | DFL |
| Sillers, Douglas H. | 09 | Moorhead | IR |
| Solon, Sam George | 07 | Duluth | DFL |
| Spear, Allan H. | 57 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Staples, Emily Anne | 43 | Plymouth | DFL |
| Stokowski, Eugene E. | 55 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Strand, Roger Ernest | 15 | Cyrus | DFL |
| Stumpf, Jr., Peter P. | 64 | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Tennessen, Robert J. | 56 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Ueland, Jr., Arnulf | 29 | Mankato | IR |
| Ulland, James E. | 08 | Duluth | IR |
| Vega, Conrado M. | 52 | South Saint Paul | DFL |
| Wegener, Myrton O. | 12 | Bertha | DFL |
| Willet, Gerald L. | 04 | Park Rapids | DFL |

### House of Representatives

| Name | District | City | Party |
| Abeln, Lyle G. | 38B | Bloomington | DFL |
| Adams, Leo G. | 44B | New Hope | DFL |
| Albrecht, Raymond John | 23A | Brownton | IR |
| Anderson, Bruce W. | 26A | Slayton | DFL |
| Anderson, Delbert F. | 15A | Starbuck | IR |
| Anderson, Glen H. | 15B | Bellingham | DFL |
| Anderson, Irvin N. | 03A | International Falls | DFL |
| Anderson, Robert A. | 10B | Ottertail | IR |
| Arlandson, John R. | 41A | Golden Valley | DFL |
| Battaglia, David Peter | 06B | Two Harbors | DFL |
| Beauchamp, David J. | 09A | Moorhead | DFL |
| Begich, Joseph R. | 06A | Eveleth | DFL |
| Berg, Thomas K. | 56B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Berglin, Linda Lee | 59A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Berkelman, Thomas R. | 08B | Duluth | DFL |
| Biersdorf, John S. | 32A | Owatonna | IR |
| Birnstihl, Orville E. | 24B | Faribault | DFL |
| Brandl, John E. | 61A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Braun, Arthur Michael | 01A | Greenbush | DFL |
| Brinkman, Bernard J. | 16B | Richmond | DFL |
| Byrne, Margaret Mary | 64B | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Carlson, Sr., Arne Helge | 58B | Minneapolis | IR |
| Carlson, Douglas W. | 14A | Sandstone | IR |
| Carlson, Sr., Lyndon R. | 44A | Brooklyn Center | DFL |
| Casserly, James R. | 56A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Clark, Janet H. | 60A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Clawson, John T. | 19A | Center City | DFL |
| Cohen, Richard J. | 63B | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Corbid, John R. | 01B | Oklee | DFL |
| Cummiskey, David R. | 29A | Mankato | DFL |
| Dahl, Harold J. | 22B | Howard Lake | DFL |
| Dean, William D. | 58A | Minneapolis | IR |
| Den Ouden, Gaylin L.R. | 21B | Prinsburg | IR |
| Eckstein, Anton Joseph | 28B | New Ulm | DFL |
| Eken, Willis Roy | 02B | Twin Valley | DFL |
| Ellingson, Robert L. | 45B | Brooklyn Center | DFL |
| Enebo, Stanley A. | 60B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Erickson, Wendell O. | 26B | Hills | IR |
| Esau, Gilbert D. | 28A | Mountain Lake | IR |
| Evans, James | 10A | Detroit Lakes | IR |
| Ewald, Douglas | 40A | Minnetonka | IR |
| Faricy, Ray W. | 63A | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Fjoslien, David O. | 11B | Brandon | IR |
| Forsythe, Mary M. | 39A | Edina | IR |
| Friedrich, Donald L. | 32B | Rochester | IR |
| Fudro, Stanley J. | 55A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Fugina, Peter X. | 05A | Virginia | DFL |
| George, Michael J. | 50A | Mahtomedi | DFL |
| Gunter, Clarence L. | 21A | Raymond | DFL |
| Hanson, Walter R. | 62B | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Haugerud, Neil Sherman | 35A | Preston | DFL |
| Heinitz, Orlando Jacob | 43A | Plymouth | IR |
| Hokanson, Shirley A. | 37A | Richfield | DFL |
| Jacobs, Joel | 47A | Coon Rapids | DFL |
| Jaros, Mike | 07B | Duluth | DFL |
| Jensen, Robert C. | 53B | Farmington | DFL |
| Johnson, Carl M. | 23B | Saint Peter | DFL |
| Jude, Thaddeus | 42A | Mound | DFL |
| Kahn, Phyllis L. | 57A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Kaley, John R. | 33A | Rochester | IR |
| Kalis, Henry J. | 30A | Walters | DFL |
| Kelly, Randy Cameron | 66B | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Kelly, William Nelson | 02A | East Grand Forks | DFL |
| Kempe, Arnold E. | 67A | West Saint Paul | DFL |
| Kempe, Raymond J. | 53A | West Saint Paul | DFL |
| King, Dwayne A. | 43B | Golden Valley | DFL |
| Knickerbocker, Gerald C. | 40B | Hopkins | IR |
| Kostohryz, Sr., Richard J. | 50B | North Saint Paul | DFL |
| Kroening, Carl W. | 54A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Kvam, Adolph Leonard | 22A | Litchfield | IR |
| Laidig, Gary W. | 51A | Stillwater | IR |
| Langseth, Keith L. | 09B | Glyndon | DFL |
| Lehto, Arlene Ione | 08A | Duluth | DFL |
| Lemke, Richard R. | 34A | Lake City | DFL |
| Mangan, Thomas J. | 19B | Anoka | DFL |
| Mann, George L. | 27A | Windom | DFL |
| McCarron, Paul | 46A | Unknown | DFL |
| McCollar, Maurice D. | 49B | White Bear Lake | DFL |
| McDonald, Kenneth James | 36A | Watertown | IR |
| McEachern, Robert O. | 18B | Saint Michael | DFL |
| Metzen, James P. | 52A | South Saint Paul | DFL |
| Moe, Donald M. | 65B | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Munger, Sr., Willard M. | 07A | Duluth | DFL |
| Murphy, Mary Catherine | 14B | Hermantown | DFL |
| Neisen, Howard J. | 49A | Mounds View | DFL |
| Nelsen, Bruce G. | 12A | Staples | IR |
| Nelsen, Jr., Marlin B. | 13B | Aitkin | DFL |
| Nelson, Ken G. | 59B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Niehaus, Sr., Joseph T. | 16A | Sauk Centre | IR |
| Norton, Fred C. | 65A | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Novak, Steven G. | 48A | New Brighton | DFL |
| Onnen, Tony D. | 22B | Cokato | IR |
| Osthoff, C. Thomas | 64A | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Patton, Al W. | 17A | Sartell | DFL |
| Pehler, James C. | 17B | Saint Cloud | DFL |
| Peterson, Darrel L. | 27B | Fairmont | IR |
| Petrafeso, Paul R. | 41B | Saint Louis Park | DFL |
| Pleasant, Ray O. | 39B | Bloomington | IR |
| Prahl, Norman Rudolph | 03B | Grand Rapids | DFL |
| Redalen, Elton R. | 35A | Fountain | IR |
| Reding, Leo John | 31B | Austin | DFL |
| Rice, James Isaac | 54B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Rose, John T. | 48B | Roseville | IR |
| Sabo, Martin Olav | 57B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Samuelson, Donald B. | 13A | Brainerd | DFL |
| Sarna, John J. | 55B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Savelkoul, Henry J. | 31A | Albert Lea | IR |
| Scheid, Linda J. | 45A | Brooklyn Park | DFL |
| Schulz, Victor H. | 25B | Goodhue | DFL |
| Searle, Sr., Rodney Newell | 30B | Waseca | IR |
| Searles, Robert L. | 42B | Wayzata | IR |
| Setzepfandt, A. O.H. | 21B | Bird Island | DFL |
| Sherwood, Glen A. | 04B | Pine River | IR |
| Sieben, Jr., Harry A. | 52B | Hastings | DFL |
| Sieben, Michael R. | 51B | Newport | DFL |
| Simoneau, Wayne A. | 46B | Fridley | DFL |
| Skoglund, Wesley J. | 61B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Smogard, Ellsworth G. | 20A | Madison | DFL |
| Spanish, John J. | 05B | Hibbing | DFL |
| St. Onge, Doug J. | 04A | Bemidji | DFL |
| Stanton, Russell P. | 20B | Marshall | DFL |
| Stoa, Tom | 34B | Winona | DFL |
| Suss, Ted L. | 36B | New Prague | DFL |
| Swanson, James C. | 37B | Richfield | DFL |
| Tomlinson, John D. | 67B | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Vanasek, Robert E. | 24A | New Prague | DFL |
| Voss, Gordon Owen | 47B | Blaine | DFL |
| Waldorf, Eugene T. | 66A | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Welch, Richard J. | 18A | Cambridge | DFL |
| Wenstrom, Gene R. | 11A | Elbow Lake | DFL |
| Wenzel, Stephen G. | 12B | Little Falls | DFL |
| White, Jim F. | 25A | Farmington | DFL |
| Wieser, Jr., Al W. | 35B | La Crescent | IR |
| Wigley, Richard E. | 29B | Lake Crystal | IR |
| Williamson, Bruce D. | 38A | Bloomington | DFL |
| Wynia, Ann | 62A | Saint Paul | DFL |
| Zubay, Kenneth Peter | 33B | Rochester | IR |

## Membership changes
### Senate

| District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date successor seated |
| 21 | None | Incumbent DFLer and then-Senate President Alec G. Olson had been reelected during the General Election of 1976. However, during the same election cycle, U.S. Senator Walter Mondale was elected Vice President of the United States, causing Mondale to resign from the U.S. Senate. Governor Wendell Anderson proceeded to appoint himself to Mondale's vacated seat, which caused Lieutenant Governor Rudy Perpich to succeed to the office of Governor, and hence created a vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor. As per the provisions of the Minnesota Constitution, Olson, as the last-elected President of the Senate, then succeeded to the office of Lieutenant Governor, causing him to automatically resign his seat in the Minnesota Senate effective December 29, 1976. Thus, this seat was already vacant when the 70th Legislature convened. | A. O.H. Setzepfandt (DFL) | February 15, 1977 |
| 49 | John Watson Milton (DFL) | Milton resigned effective November 1, 1977. | Delores J. Knaak (IR) | December 9, 1977 |
| 13 | Winston W. Borden (DFL) | Borden resigned to become the Executive Secretary of the Minnesota Association of Commerce and Industry. | David E. Rued (IR) | December 29, 1978 |

### House of Representatives

| District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date successor seated |
| 21B | A. O.H. Setzepfandt (DFL) | Setzepfandt resigned from the Minnesota House of Representatives after having won the special election to represent district 21 in the Minnesota Senate. | Gaylin L.R. Den Ouden (IR) | March 18, 1977 |
| 22B | Harold J. Dahl (DFL) | Dahl resigned on July 31, 1977 to accept appointment as a judge. | Tony Onnen (IR) | October 11, 1977 |
| 35A | Neil Sherman Haugerud (DFL) | Haugerud resigned on November 4, 1977, to accept appointment by President Jimmy Carter to serve on the Upper Mississippi River Basin Commission. | Elton R. Redalen (IR) | December 19, 1977 |