Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

The **Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL)** is a major political party in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was created on April 15, 1944, when the **Minnesota Democratic Party** and the **Farmer–Labor Party** merged. Hubert Humphrey was a major part in this merger. The party is affiliated with the national Democratic Party. Both members of the party and non-members in Minnesota often use "DFLer" instead of "Democrat".

### Challengers

- Margaret Anderson Kelliher for Minnesota Governor
- Dan Powers for US Representative (2nd District )
- Jim Meffert for US Representative (3rd District )
- Tarryl Clark for US Representative (6th District )

### Incumbents

- Mark Ritchie for Minnesota Secretary of State
- Rebecca Otto for Minnesota State Auditor
- Lori Swanson for Minnesota Attorney General
- Tim Walz for US Representative (1st District )
- Betty McCollum for US Representative (4th District )
- Keith Ellison for US Representative (5th District )
- Collin Peterson for US Representative (7th District )
- Jim Oberstar for US Representative (8th District )

### Constitutional officers

- Attorney General Lori Swanson
- Auditor Rebecca Otto
- Secretary of State Mark Ritchie

### State legislative leaders

- President of the Senate James Metzen
- Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives Margaret Anderson Kelliher
- Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller
- Minnesota Senate Asst. Majority Leader Tarryl Clark
- Minnesota House of Representatives Majority Leader Tony Sertich

### Members of Congress

- Senator Amy Klobuchar
- Senator Tina Smith
- U.S. Representative (1st District ) – Tim Walz
- U.S. Representative (4th District ) – Betty McCollum
- U.S. Representative (5th District ) – Keith Ellison
- U.S. Representative (7th District ) – Collin Peterson
- U.S. Representative (8th District ) – Jim Oberstar

## Current leadership

- **Chair** – Brian Melendez
- **Associate Chair** – Donna Cassutt
- **Treasurer** – Lori Sellner
- **Secretary** – Sue Rego
- **Affirmative Action Officer** – Frank Brown

## Related pages

- United States presidential election, 1984

## Other websites

- Official Minnesota DFL Party website
- Official Dodge County DFL Party website
- Minneapolis City DFL Party website

## Further reading

- Delton, Jennifer A. _Making Minnesota Liberal: Civil Rights and the Transformation of the Democratic Party_. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2002.
- Haynes, John Earl. _Farm Coops and the Election of Hubert Humphrey to the Senate_. _Agricultural History_ 57, no. 2 (Fall 1983).
- Haynes, John Earl. _Dubious Alliance: The Making of Minnesota's DFL Party_. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1984.
- Henrickson, Gary P. _Minnesota in the 'McCarthy' Period": 1946–1954._ Ph.D. diss. University of Minnesota, 1981.
- Lebedoff, David. _The 21st Ballot: A Political Party Struggle in Minnesota_. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1969.
- Lebedoff, David. _Ward Number Six_. New York: Scribner, 1972. Discusses the entry of radicals into the DFL party in 1968.
- Mitau, G. Theodore. _The Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Schism of 1948_. _Minnesota History_ 34 (Spring 1955).